It is time to consider the Internet as a fundamental right. Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Mustafa Jabbar said that digital connectivity has become an essential service for the livelihood of every human being in the continuation of the implementation of Digital Bangladesh program. He said the government is determined to bring high-speed internet highways beyond the city limits to the doorsteps of people in remote villages.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at a virtual discussion meeting on ‘Internet integration’ organized by Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum-BIGF in Dhaka on Thursday (August 27th).
BTRC Vice Chairman Subrata Roy Maitra, BTCL Managing Director Dr. Rafiqul Matin, AMTOB Secretary General Brigadier General (Retd.) SM Farhad, former Secretary General TIM Nurul Kabir, Icon Officer Sameeran Gupta and ISPAB President Aminul Hakim spoke.
The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications said that the demand for internet in the villages now is more than in cities. The people of the villages used to use mobile phones only for talking. In that place they have now started using the internet. Many village elders do not have the skills to use smartphones, but they are learning from the new generation.
He said requests for high-speed internet connection were coming from the villages. By 2021, there will be no union where the optical fiber network connection will not reach. Attempts are being made to overcome the weakness of the digital infrastructure that has been prevailing for so long.
Hasanul Haque Inu stressed on the need to ensure high speed internet at affordable prices, adding that there should be reduction in spectrum and sharing system to ensure quality of mobile service. People demand quality internet. Digitization will be easier through this, the people of the country will benefit, he mentioned. He expressed the view that the Internet should be included in the constitution as a fundamental right like Mexico and other countries of the world.