Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina commented that those who satirized Digital Bangladesh, are now using it the most of it for spreading propaganda. She made this comment after participating in the first meeting of the ‘Smart Bangladesh Task Force’ in the Cabinet Room of the Prime Minister’s office on Thursday (August 3).
Planning Minister Md Abdul Mannan, Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, Agriculture Minister Abdur Razzak, Industries Minister Nurul Majid Mahmud Humayun, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury Naufel, a2i Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury along with 30 members of the committee were present in the meeting.
However, addressing that comment with confidence, after the implementation of Digital Bangladesh, the government is working to create skilled manpower to form Smart Bangladesh. The Prime Minister said, Bangladesh is now ahead of many developed countries. The government is working to move the country forward. So no one can keep Bangladesh in check.
Referring to her four-year-old grandson in the discussion, she said, “My four-year-old grandson said to me, ‘No worries, grandma;’ keep Clicking; click on and on. Thus, skills should be developed by using information technology in new applications”.
The word Digital Bangladesh first came up in 2008. In the election manifesto of Awami League on December 12 of that year, it was said to make the country ‘Digital Bangladesh’ in the 50th year of independence in 2021. The aim of this plan was to create a knowledge and technology based country. But many people, including the opposition parties, made various jokes about ‘Digital Bangladesh’.
In the meeting of the Smart Bangladesh Task Force, the Prime Minister highlighted the issue and said that after coming to power, Awami League made the country digital. But we were ridiculed about this. Those who satirized Digital Bangladesh are now using it more in various propaganda.
The daughter of Bangabandhu commented that the country is improving in all areas by working according to the election manifesto. And by fulfilling this manifesto, the Prime Minister has given proof that the people of Bangladesh can achieve the impossible.
Highlighting the various technological developments taken during the current government, the Prime Minister said that submarine cables have been arranged for fast internet access. Every telephone we had was analogue. We were the first to introduce digital telephones. And mobile phones did not work anywhere except Dhaka and Chattogram. There was only one company, 10 taka per minute for mobile calls, 10 taka per minute if picked up. From that place our effort was to deliver mobiles to the hands of people. Today everyone is running the Internet, speaking at low cost.
She said, we were far behind. After Awami League came to power in 2009, now we are moving fast. People in our country can grasp technology very quickly. Now everyone has learned to use mobile-internet. We want everyone to become tech-savvy. We have provided computers at schools in village level.
While referring to digital payment, the Prime Minister said, we have experimentally arranged to pay various bills online. Now the people are enjoying the benefits. Now, you don’t need to stand in queues as before. We have prepared people to move to advanced technology. But once upon a time, many criticized and satirized this digital Bangladesh. We did not listen to them. We have moved forward to realize our dreams. Today they are taking the most advantage of it.