The three-day long seminar on 18th Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum-2023 started at the conference center of BTRC building in Agargaon of the capital. Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar was present as the chief guest at the inaugural program. The program was presided over by the BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikdar on Thursday. KM Abdus Salam, Senior Secretary of Jatiya Sangsad was also present as the guest of honour.
The arrangement was a joint initiative of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF). In the seminar, a total of 8 sessions were attended by technicians, researchers, university teachers, students, entrepreneurs, and officials of various public and private organizations, representatives of Bangladesh Women’s Internet Governance Forum. And BTRC officials will participate.
Addressing as the chief guest at the opening ceremony, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said that the position Bangladesh has reached today after 52 years of independence is a role model for the whole world. In the last 26 years, almost 100% of the country’s areas have come under mobile network coverage. The disparity in internet prices between urban and rural areas has been reduced with ‘one country one rate’ service in broadband internet. But to enjoy the benefits of this smart Bangladesh, every citizen must be tech savvy.
As the President of the program, Mr. Shyam Sundar Sikder, Chairman of BTRC said that, Bangladesh is lagging behind in research and development (R&D) in the telecommunication sector. Therefore, apart from expanding internet connectivity, smart devices should also be made available to all. As internet has become essential in people’s daily life, BTRC has taken various initiatives to develop digital connectivity and telecommunication infrastructure.
While speaking as the honorable guest, the Senior Secretary of Jatiya Sangsad KM Abdus Salam said that the journey of digital Bangladesh started by the present government in 2009, its benefits have reached all the people of the country. Pointing out that Bangladesh has made significant progress in the digital sector in the last 10 years, he said that if the current trend of digital transformation continues, the vision of building a smart Bangladesh by 2041 will be implemented on time.
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication Chief Executive Officer Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman, among others, spoke at the opening ceremony. Among others, Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) Secretary General Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu, opinion-based news portal Views Bangladesh Editor Rashed Mehdi, Country representative of Asia Foundation Bangladesh Md. Kazi Faisal Bin Siraj and the Secretary General of Association of Mobile Telecom Operator’s Bangladesh Lt. Colonel (Retd.) Mohammad Zulfikar were present.
Also BTRC Vice Chairman Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed, Commissioner of Legal and Licensing Department Abu Syed Dilzar Hossain, Commissioner of Spectrum Department Engineer Sheikh Riaz Ahmed and Commissioner of Finance, Accounts and Revenue Department Dr. Mushfique Mannan Chowdhury were present.
On the first day of the seminar, two sessions titled ‘Internet becomes a human right in Smart Bangladesh’ and ‘The internet we want empowering all people in Bangladesh’ were held. Abu Syed Dilzar Hossain, Commissioner of Legal and Licensing Department of BTRC, Director General of Systems and Services Department of BTRC, Brigadier General Md. Khalil-ur-Rahman, Executive Editor of Dainik Aamar Zahraan Moinul Alam, Associate Professor of Law Department of Jagannath University Khair Mahmud, Professor of Dhaka International University Shah Alam Chowdhury, Assistant Professor of North South University Dr. Zulkarin Jahangir, Article-19 South Asia Senior Program Officer Rumki Farhana.
In the discussion, the speakers said that most of the Upazilas of the country have been brought under high speed fiber optic cable to bring all the people of the country under the connectivity and to bring the benefits of digital transformation to the doorsteps of the people. In the discussion, the speakers emphasized on network coverage, uninterrupted high-speed internet, availability of smart devices and data prices, building digital infrastructure. They also opined that sustainable internet facilities, meaningful use of internet and research in this sector are very important.
The speakers will discuss four topics on the second day of the seminar. Today, The internet we want empowering all women in Bangladesh: progress, challenges, opportunities and way forward/cyber security, cyber crime and online safety’; Bangladesh Women IGF Closing ceremony: The Internet we want: Meaningful Connectivity in rural Bangladesh and Accountability of social media platform and on the third day The internet we want: meaningful and sustainable internet management and Bangladesh road to Kingdom of Saudi Arabia-UNIGF 2024: GDC and Summit of the Future 2024 will hold two sessions.