Internet is a great force in youth empowerment. Not only Facebooking; but this reservoir of digital power- the Internet, can be compared with a sharp sword. Therefore, to ensure its use for own welfare, the three-day long Youth IGF started today with more than one and a half hundred young representatives at CIRDAP Auditorium in the capital on Thursday. Secretary of Posts and Telecommunication Division Abu Hena Morshed Zaman was the chief guest on the first day of this conference held for the third time organized by Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum-BIGF.
In his opening speech, the Secretary said that Bangladesh is becoming the next emerging tiger with the power of youth. 35 percent of the total population is youth. But still 30 percent of people in the country are not connected to the Internet. With public-private partnership, we will reach the ranks of the developed world in the next 5 years.
On the empowerment of youth on the Internet, the secretary said that taking a role in decision-making is empowerment. So, we want to build a knowledge-based society with them. But they will drop in e-library rather than TikTok, Facebook, Instagram. By focusing on research, it will contribute to the country’s decision-making.
Abu Hena Morshed Zaman said that the ChatGPT can never take the place of creativity; technology should not swallow us; Let’s not get lost in technology again.
Faisal Ahmed Bhuban, Secretary General of the organization gave a welcome speech at the event moderated by BYGF Chairperson Syeda Kamrun Jahan Ripper.
Youth in Digital Awareness project coordinator and Startup Khulna team leader Mosammat Sharifa Alam presented the main article in the opening meeting.
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In the speech of the special guest, ISPAB President Emdadul Hoque said that although there are 1 crore connections, the number of broadband internet users in Bangladesh is more than 6 crore. After the implementation of one country one rate, this time they are giving importance to improving the quality of internet. Hopefully, after the next 5 years no broadband connection in the country will be below 100 Mbps.
On behalf of the organizers, Bangladesh Youth Internet Governance Forum Secretary General Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu.
Addressing the participants in the meeting as new work-force of Digital Bangla, BIGF Chairperson Hasanul Haque Inu said in the president’s speech that you have to create new history by knowing and respecting history. Otherwise, the country will stagnate. So, to win the Internet war with your new digital weapon, we have to shake our heads. Everyone must be a skilled cyber combatant.
After village-city, rich-poor, now digital inequality has been added to the society, Inu said, this inequality should be overcome through multi-stakeholder approach. Along with strengthening digital signatures, digital devices and connectivity should be made affordable and accessible to all. So, if tax is imposed on it, it falls on the citizens.
With the three pillars of farmers, garment industry and expatriate income, now the fourth pillar of the economy is ‘digital industry’ or ‘digital personnel’. Bangladesh will go one step further with these digital soldiers. That prosperity requires looking at new technologies through the lens of equality. Hopefully, the Internet has created a world of peace. Brings clarity. Empowered with just one click. 16 crore people can speak through it.
After the inaugural event, two separate seminars were held on Youth Power and Emerging Artificial Intelligence in Digital and Smart Bangladesh.