# E-Waste Management # 500 Smart Service Points at Post Offices # Digital Island Haors & Bills Project Proposed
Bangladesh wants to establish an e-waste management system, setting digital islands of fixed broadband in Haors and islands and establish 5000 smart service points across the country and conduct cyber drills with the countries of European Union. In addition, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak has given an advance warning to ensure the security of citizen information, to take initiatives to overcome the problem of birth registration within a week and stop illegal or unregistered mobile phones from next July.
He conveyed this information in response to questions from journalists after a courtesy meeting with European Union (EU) Ambassador Charles Whitley at the Secretariat on Tuesday, January 23.
In the meeting, it was discussed to increase the export of IT services to various European countries and create smart employment. The Minister of State discussed the European Union’s financial support, investment and getting their technology and know-how support as well as legislative support to provide smart government services.
After the meeting, European Union (EU) Ambassador Charles Whitley said that the meeting discussed how the European Union countries will stand by Bangladesh in Bangladesh’s digital to smart journey. I have expressed my possible support.
State Minister Palak said that the EU ambassador has been drawn to three issues of discussion. The European Investment Bank is already providing financial assistance of 500 million dollars to combat climate change. In the next few days, they are ready with another billion dollars in financal assistance. Out of this I have made a proposal to set up an e-waste management project with 200 million euros. Also, to create employment opportunities through fixed broadband internet in remote areas, we have proposed ‘Digital Island Haors and Bills’ project in Haors with support of 100 million Euros. So that the EU arranges a financing here for us. It will also go through ERD. He assured about this. Apart from this, smart service points will be made in 500 post offices of districts and upazilas across the country. Which is a project of only 49 crore taka.
Also, in response to questions from journalists, Palak said that various proposals and suggestions have been given to the local government department to overcome the problem of birth registration. I will follow up on our suggestions and try again.’
Answering the question, Palak said, ‘We expect that it will take us 5 months to develop the technology, to test it and make it operational. We don’t want to suddenly impose any policy that creates instability.’
He said, ‘This is why we are saying from the beginning that no one should bring a phone illegally. No one should buy the phone illegally, so that they don’t suffer later. That’s why we are giving a reasonable time, we will develop the technology in the next three months, then we will do the testing in two months. We hope to make it operational by July. So, in the meantime everyone should be careful and avoid this illegal way and buy the right way.’
Stating that the unregistered phones will have the opportunity to register, the state minister said that this is the reason why the registration of new phones and the transfer of the name of second-hand phones are delayed.
He said, ‘BTRC is trying very sincerely so that unregistered phones do not come in the market, they do not come in the way of theft, they do not come through smuggling. We are trying to make the best use of technology to protect our local industries and work to maintain law and order.’
Regarding Smart Service Points, the State Minister said, ‘We have 500 post offices in district and upazila headquarters in the country, which are in very good locations. We will set up smart points along with government post office services there. We want to do smart service points as government and private service providers there. This service will be provided at 500 points. From here a boy and a girl entrepreneur will provide e-commerce services along with smart government services.
About the cyber drill, he said, ‘We will do some workshops and training programs together on cyber security in Bangladesh, European Union and the whole world. Charles Wheatley has also agreed to conduct a joint EU-Bangladesh cyber drill.