State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak has called upon the ISP entrepreneurs to remove the hanging internet cables from the city before any untoward accident occurs. At the same time, he expressed hope that ISP entrepreneurs will become more efficient and play a backbone role in building a smart Bangladesh.
He expressed this optimism at the opening ceremony of the own permanent office of Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh- ISPAB, in Banani on Monday. Meanwhile, the state minister promised to set up a Sheikh Russell computer lab in the permanent office. The State Minister also directed BTRC to take steps to solve the CDN problem by ensuring the rights of ISP members, active sharing, license renewal and cyber security from SOF funds.
In his speech, the State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said that ISPAB will be the backbone of Smart Bangladesh. In the last 15 years, 3 thousand ISP entrepreneurs have played a key role in the Internet revolution in Bangladesh. Each of them has played the role of a warrior during the Covid-19 pandemic.
He also said that we want to bring 17 crore people to broadband internet. One lakh connections will be provided at union level in next two to three months in public private partnership. That’s why you need to be more efficient. BTRC will sustain the ISP business as guardian. Broadband internet will be delivered to villages through them.
Meanwhile, according to the rules of BTRC, ISPs requested to bring the hanging cable down to zero by pulling the line under the ground up to three kilometers.
Speaking as a special guest at the event, BTRC Chairman Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed said that ISP is not a dish business. Here you have to be skilled and talented. So, you have to be smart in professionalism. Policies and guidelines should be appropriate. You will convey your needs. We will amend the law according to your needs.
General Secretary Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan and Director Md. Zakir Hossain spoke at the opening ceremony. They highlighted several demands for protection of ISP business. In this, the attention of the state minister was drawn to obstruct the way of broadband internet service by providing wireless internet connection through the router of the mobile operators.
After delivering his speech, State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak formally inaugurated the permanent office by cutting the cake. ISPAB Senior Vice President Saiful Islam Siddique, Vice President Anwarul Azim, Joint General Secretary Md. Abdul Qayyum Rashed, Treasurer Asaduzzaman Sujan were present at that time.
Then the birthday of ISPAB Senior Vice President Saiful Islam was celebrated by cutting the cake. After some time, he handed over the check of life membership to the ISPAB president.