The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved a project titled ‘Digital Connection’ to provide government services to the people quickly and easily by converting them to e-services and to set up the necessary ICT infrastructure to increase the use of ICT in all fields. Under this project costing Tk. 5,883.74 crore for establishing broadband internet connection across the country, broadband internet connection will be set up in 8 divisions, 64 districts, all Upazilas, all unions of all parts of the country to reach government services easily and quickly.
The ‘Establishing Digital Connectivity Project’ was approved at the ECNEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Tuesday. As a result, the project will now be implemented by the Department of Information and Communication Technology between July this year and June 2025.
According to the Ministry of Planning, the project is aimed at implementing digital economy and human resource development by equipping educational institutions with modern ICT labs, expediting transparency, good governance and providing services to the people through the use of information technology. The project is in line with the aims and objectives of the Eighth Five Year Plan.
Regarding the approval of the project, the Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology said, “On behalf of the Department of Information and Communication Technology, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for approving the ‘Digital Connectivity’ project. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Sajeeb Wazed Joy Bhai, Architect of Digital Bangladesh, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Information and Communication Technology as well.”
Under the project, 1 lakh 9 thousand 244 Broadband and User Connectivity, 10 thousand Sheikh Russell Digital Labs and 57 specialized labs, Central Cloud Platform and Frontier Technology Center of Excellence Labs will be set up across the country.
Establishment of LAN NOC (Network Operation Center) with IT infrastructure in district and Upazila complexes, training facilities, 555 Digital Service and Employment Training Centers (DSETs), central server infrastructure for field level cloud file service and digital storage; Establish a digital literacy center with the necessary ICT infrastructure facilities, including ICT labs, smart virtual classrooms and distance learning platforms; Establishment of CRVS Center ISDP Server for implementation of Civil Registration and Vital Statistics, installation of 5,500 enrollment infrastructure at field level and distribution of 17,314 Service Delivery Devices; Establishment of 10 Digital Village Stations; Construction of 492 non-residential buildings, construction of a 21-storey DOICT tower, one-storey upward expansion of 491 Upazila buildings for Upazila Shared ICT Operations Center; Field survey under 10 digital village stations, providing smart sensor devices to 20,000 farmers; Purchase of six motor vehicles (two jeeps, two microbuses, two double cabin pickups); Purchase of 26 categories of consulting services and procurement of computer accessories and software.
At the same time 102 office equipment and 3 lakh 61 thousand 782 pieces of furniture ; Overseas training (foreign venue: 40 people, Bangladesh venue: three thousand 335 people), local training: 16 thousand 821 people; Seminars and conferences will be organized and 49 manpower of different levels will be recruited.
The project will be funded by the government at a cost of Tk. 2,505.16 crore and the Chinese government will provide a loan of Tk. 3,378.57 crore.