Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said that acquiring digital skills is the main tool to face the challenges of digital technology. Digital transformation of education is essential to replace the conventional education system introduced by the colonial regime. We have started the journey of digital transformation of education right from the elementary level. The minister called upon the government as well as private entrepreneurs to work together in a coordinated initiative to implement the vision of building a smart Bangladesh by 2041, standing on the strong foundation of Digital Bangladesh.
The minister made this call while speaking as the chief guest at the National Entrepreneurship Conference organized by the Entrepreneurship Forum in Cox’s Bazar on Wednesday.
The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications highlighted the need for digital skills to become a successful entrepreneur and said that there is no alternative to acquiring digital skills for job creation. Acquiring digital skills doesn’t mean you need to be a programmer or an expert. Learning how to manage digital devices, including robotics, AI, blockchain, IoT and big data, is essential to transform lives. Through this, it is possible to create your own employment. Many entrepreneurs have already developed using social media in our country. Among them, women are more ahead than men in mobile usage and they are using different social media to be successful entrepreneurs. They are even earning dollars from home by outsourcing jobs using internet. Highlighting the continuity of computer technology development in the country, he said, the people of this agrarian economy continent missed the three industrial revolutions of the past and were hundreds of years behind in technology. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman stood on the ruins of war and started the journey of Bangladesh to participate in the third industrial revolution. He sowed the seeds of digital Bangladesh by taking and implementing various groundbreaking programs including gaining membership of ITU, UPU, establishment of geo-satellite center at Betbunia on June 14, 1975, formation of T&T Board, nationalization of primary education, formation of Kudrate Khuda Education Commission and so on. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina converted the seeds sown by Bangabandhu into saplings by adopting and implementing various visionary programs in the development of digital technology from 1996 to 2001. The minister mentioned that he has transformed the digital Bangladesh program in the last 14 years from 2009 to great success. He said, the Internet is now as essential a tool as breathing in national life. We have delivered high speed internet to almost every union in the country. 98 percent area of the country has been reached by 4G network. 5G technology has been launched on a trial basis. It is in the process of launching it on a commercial basis. He pointed out that this highway of digital technology is an opportunity for entrepreneurs. The Minister expressed strong hope that the Entrepreneurship Conference will contribute fruitfully in creating skilled entrepreneurs to exploit the opportunities of digital technology.