The Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said Bangladesh is moving towards a cashless society by building a strong digital infrastructure. Our aim is to build a paperless society. Digitization has transformed financial institutions since 2009. Digital banking has become a well-known and popular service for the common people of the country. The Minister called upon all concerned to work together to accelerate the progress of cashless society by reducing the cost of mobile financial services cash out and remittance to a reasonable level and protect the interests of the customers.
The minister said these things in a chief guest speech at a program titled Economic Empowerment of Women Domestic Workers and Role of Women Employers through Digital Financial Services at Tourism Corporation Hall in Agargaon, Dhaka today.
Roksana Sultana, Executive Director of Breaking the Silence, Nahid Sultana Mallick, Joint Secretary of Information and Communication Technology Department, Shaheen Akhtar Jolly, Officer of Non-governmental organization Nari Maitri, spoke at the event while Shaheen Anam, Executive Director of Foundation for Humanity presided over the session. Banashree Mitra Niyogi, director of the Foundation for People, presented the keynote speech at the event.
Stating that Mobile Financial Service (MFS) has achieved incredible progress in the country as a result of expansion of digital connectivity, the Telecommunication Minister said that Bangladesh is fast moving towards a cashless society through MFS as mobile is the most used digital device.
Pointing out that the demand for Internet among the people of the country is increasing very rapidly as a result of the Digital Bangladesh program, this pioneer of digital technology development said that in 1997, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina initiated a revolutionary change in the development of mobile technology in the country by allowing four mobile operators to provide mobile services in the country. In 2008, the internet demand in the country was 7.5 Gbps and the number of users was only 8 lakh. Currently 4100 Gbps internet is being used and the number of users is around 13 crores. Internet bandwidth demand may exceed 30,000 Gbps in 2030. He said that we are working on providing smartphones in easy installments to make smartphones available to low income people. Our aim is to develop human resources with digital skills.
The minister appreciated the role of the non-governmental organization Manaman Par Foundation for popularizing mobile financial services among women domestic workers. He said, terming the training program of the Foundation and their partner Breaking the Silence and other organizations as a good initiative for people related to digital services, they can transform themselves into entrepreneurs if they can operate digital tools efficiently. Mr. Mustafa Jabbar, the pioneer of digital transformation of education, said that if the opportunities of digital technology are used, the opportunity to achieve financial solvency will be created. The minister said, we have achieved digital Bangladesh. Government is working to achieve Smart Bangladesh. The main pillar of smart Bangladesh is smart people. The minister emphasized the need to develop the new generation as smart people for future by acquiring digital skills.
Emphasizing the need to ensure greater digital security in financial institutions, the minister said the continued progress of MFS is admirable for establishing a cashless society. He said, this is an example for Bangladesh. This position will serve as our foundation for the future. We are working towards the advancement of the mobile financial sector and the government is determined to provide any assistance. The minister emphasized on the need to create a database for domestic workers, on the basis of which it will be easier for them to work on the special benefits of mobile financial services.
Elaborating on the program taken to encourage employers and domestic workers in the economic empowerment of women domestic workers through digital financial services, Shaheen Anam opined that women’s economic empowerment is essential for women’s empowerment.
Roksana Sultana, executive director of Breaking the Silence, pointed out that women’s economic empowerment is essential in building a smart Bangladesh and said that paying the salaries of domestic workers through mobile financial services will ensure recognition of their work as well as secure their earned income.
Nahid Sultana Mallick stressed on the need to train domestic workers about digital devices and said that smart people are essential for a smart Bangladesh.
Domestic workers and domestic workers who employ them share their experiences at the event.