The Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar, calling for the use of technology for human needs and human welfare, said that it is not technology that excludes people. Keeping that philosophy in mind, all efforts should be made to implement Smart Bangladesh Vision in the continuation of achieving Digital Bangladesh. Smart Bangladesh will be developed on the path of digital connectivity. The capacity of the Department of Posts and Telecommunication to fulfill its mandate in building the digital connectivity highway needs to be strengthened in the coming days.
The minister expressed his thoughts while speaking as the chief guest at the annual performance agreement signing ceremony between the Department of Posts and Telecommunications and the Directorates, Offices and Organizations under its jurisdiction on Tuesday in the conference room of the Department of Posts and Telecommunications at the Secretariat.
The Posts and Telecommunications Division Secretary Abu Hena Morshed Zaman presided over the ceremony among others BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikdar and Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited Chairman and CEO Dr. Shahjahan Mahmud and heads of departments and organizations under the Division of Posts and Telecommunications were present on the occasion.
Emphasizing the need for skilled human resources to speed up the transformation process for their purpose, the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications said that if people do not work, the work will not be done. The main objective of the government is to try to stand up from backward countries. We build technology highways. From that point of view, the role of the Posts and Telecommunications Division is very important in building Smart Bangladesh.
He said, the fourth industrial revolution is a topic discussed. Due to the shortage of people, Europe thought of technology as a substitute for people, but no technology can be a substitute for people. Japan is working on the idea of society five point zero or fifth industrial revolution combining people and technology. Just like the fifth industrial revolution or Smart Bangladesh is the struggle to establish a developed and prosperous Bangladesh through the combination of technology and people. We have to play a leading role in advancing this struggle.
This pioneer of digital technology development mentioned that under the visionary and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, there has been an incredible transformation in Bangladesh during the implementation of the Digital Bangladesh Program in the last 14 and a half years.
Mr. Mustafa Jabbar, the inventor of Bengali language in digital technology, said that the foundation of digital transformation was established in Bangladesh between 1996 and 2001. Before this, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman sowed the seeds of Smart Bangladesh by standing on the ruins of the war, through the acquisition of membership of ITU and UPU in 1973 and the launch of the satellite geocenter at Betbunia on 14 June 1975. The minister expressed hope that through the successful implementation of the performance agreement, the assigned responsibilities of the respective institutions will be successful in the coming days as well.
The Posts and Telecommunications Secretary expressed hope that the Directorates and organizations under the Post and Telecommunication Division will be successful in the coming days as well as in the past days in the construction of Smart Bangladesh.
Later, on behalf of their respective institutions, the heads of departments and organizations signed the agreement with Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Abu Hena Morshed Zaman in the presence of the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications.