In order to ensure a safe experience of the public in the digital environment, the government is providing training on digital literacy and cyber security for the media workers under the initiative of the Information and Communication Technology Division. Projects have been taken up to implement secure email and digital literacy centers across the country. Under the project, Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Digital Literacy Center and Digital Security Agency conducted a day-long training at Hotel Intercontinental in the capital Dhaka on Monday.
50 members of Technology Media Guild Bangladesh (TMGB) participated in the training workshop. Senior Secretary of Information and Communication Technology Department NM Zeaul Alam delivered the inaugural address in the training program. BCC Executive Director Ranjit Kumar, TMGB President Mohammad Kawsar Uddin and General Secretary Mursalin Haque Junaid were present as special guests on the occasion.
Digital Security Agency Director General and Additional Secretary Md. Khairul Amin presided over the event. Mohammad Saiful Alam Khan, project director of the project to establish a secure email and digital literacy center for the government of Bangladesh delivered a welcome speech on the occasion.
In a press release of the ICT Division, the Senior Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division NM Zeaul Alam said in the workshop that cyber attacks are increasing in Bangladesh as well as the rest of the world. We are cautious, but it needs to be increased. Only then can cyber attacks be countered. He said, now the youth should be more careful and aware in the cyber world. Moreover, major incidents can happen in cyber world, so we all have to deal with it through collective cooperation.
He said that recently the Hon’ble Prime Minister held our first Digital Security Council meeting and important discussions were held there. The meeting also discussed how we will deal with it, how coordinated initiatives are needed. Apart from this, a digital security agency will have its office in Kaliakoir and how the work will be done has also dominated the discussion.
He said, we have already received the instructions to create a unified force or power which will work to keep this cyber world safe. We are implementing those in phases.
The Senior Secretary also said that our digital devices are not safe now. Cybercriminals are always on the move. I believe that we can secure digital Bangladesh with coordinated initiatives through such arrangements.
Ranjit Kumar, Executive Director of BCC, said that the number of internet users is constantly increasing all over the world. Only through cyber security can one protect oneself from external threats on the internet. He said that everyone’s caution and awareness can create a safe cyber environment. This is why we need to be aware of cyber security. Digital Security Agency Director General and Additional Secretary Md. Khairul Amin presided over the event.
He said that Bangladesh is getting accelerated benefits from the use of technology in economic and social development. He said that in this era of increasing development, promotion, dissemination and use of information technology, the Internet is an easy means of providing various types of information and services to people. It is very important to ensure its safety and use it safely. TMGB President Mohammad Kawsar Uddin said that digital literacy and cyber security are very important for journalists.
He said that the current information technology revolution has affected our lives so much that it has been applied in almost every field of daily life including education, health, economy, communication system. All these technologies and their uses are improving every day. Therefore, digital security should be given importance in keeping with this. Finally, he said, we hope that journalists will be able to play a leading role in keeping the people of the country safe online in addition to keeping themselves safe online through this training initiative in the advancement of information technology. TMGB General Secretary Mursalin Haque Junaid thanked the ICT department for organizing this training for the journalists. I think it will be possible to spread awareness about cyber security through such an event.
Project Director Mohammad Saiful Alam Khan said, Internet and technology has become a daily necessity for us. So digital education and knowledge about cyber security is a must for everyone. Zahirul Islam Khan, consultant for the project of setting up a secure e-mail and digital literacy center for the Bangladesh government, gave training on digital literacy at the event.
By participating in this training, media personnel are able to gain knowledge about cyber security, cyber bullying, rumours, online privacy, digital footprint etc. and can make the digital world safer by applying this knowledge in real life. Digital Literacy Certificates are awarded to the media workers participating in the training after the training.