State Minister for Telecommunication and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said that through initiating the related projects, the journey of building ‘Smart Bangladesh by 2041’ with the help of Japan will start within a couple of months.
The state minister said that Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman wanted to make Bangladesh like Japan. Japan’s technology sector, social and economic development inspired Bangabandhu to build Sonar Bangla. In the light of the Smart Bangladesh program announced by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, it is possible to finally inaugurate the Smart Bangladesh Master Plan together with the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Japan Embassy and JICA in the next two months or even earlier.
He conveyed the message after the courtesy meeting of Japanese Ambassador to Bangladesh Iwama Kiminori at the Secretariat on Thursday morning.
Stating that Japan is cooperating in the formulation and implementation of the master plan in the information technology sector, the state minister said, besides, Japan’s assistance has also been sought to modernize the country’s postal department and increase cyber security.
The state minister said that a summit will soon be organized jointly by the two countries to further increase Japanese investment in Bangladesh.
He said that the country’s ambassador assured Japan’s continued cooperation in building a smart Bangladesh and for the welfare of people.
According to the ministry sources, during the meeting, they exchanged views on various issues related to bilateral interests, especially the postal, telecommunication and information and communication technology sectors. The Minister of State for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology termed the excellent relations between Bangladesh and Japan, as two friendly countries.
Zunaid Ahmed Palak pointed out that Japan has significant investment and cooperation in the ICT sector and said that hundreds of engineers are working in Japan under the ICT Engineers Program. Thousands of students have passed IT programs and are working in Japanese companies in Dhaka, Japan and many cities outside Dhaka. The state minister said that Japan is one of the destinations for IT exporters from Bangladesh to 60 countries of the world.
He said that during Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s visit to Japan last year, under the Memorandum of Cooperation signed between Bangladesh and Japan, the two countries have expressed their interest in working together to ensure cyber security through mutual cooperation and exchange of technology and knowledge.
In the meeting, more Japanese investment in the telecom and ICT sector was also highlighted.
the state minister also highlighted the opportunities of increasing exports in Japan, investing in Teletalk and TSS. He said, Japan’s postal system has been modernized under PPP. The state minister mentioned that we have asked for investment and other support for the development of our post office.
The Japanese ambassador said that fruitful discussions were held on various issues including ICT and cyber security. We will continue to work to meet the needs of the government in various sectors including ICT.
JICA Chief Representative Ichiguuchi Tomohidi and JETRO Deputy Representative Yamada Kazunuri were present at the courtesy meeting.
