Appreciating the unprecedented progress in the implementation of Digital Bangladesh, World Bank Managing Director (Operations) Axel Van Trotsenberg said that the World Bank’s cooperation and support will continue in the development of the information and communication technology sector in the future.
He gave this assurance while speaking on the information presented on the progress of Digital Bangladesh and Smart Bangladesh implementation plan by Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology, in a function organized on the occasion of ‘Celebrating Fifty Years of Bangladesh and World Bank Partnership’ at the conference room of Robi ICT Department today.
Palak said, after the successful implementation of Digital Bangladesh under the visionary and prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, this time we have formulated ‘Smart Bangladesh: ICT 2041 Masterplan’ with the aim of building Smart Bangladesh. According to this master plan, we are going to undertake more than 40 essential projects in the light of its four pillars- Smart Citizen, Smart Government, Smart Economy and Smart Society. He will need $300 million to build a new data center, $50 million to establish Smart Leadership Academy, $100 million to establish Sheikh Russell Digital Lab and School of Future, and $300 million to establish 35 Sheikh Kamal IT Training and IT Incubation Centers. He sought the cooperation of the World Bank in the implementation of various projects of Smart Bangladesh.
Referring to the World Bank as an important development partner of Bangladesh, Trotsenberg said, as in the past, the World Bank is interested in developing a partnership with Bangladesh and working together. He applauded the various initiatives of the government in the development of startups and emphasized on harnessing the talent of the youth.
Sami Ahmed, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh, while presenting a separate power point, said that 50 unicorn startup companies will be built by 2041 under the Smart Bangladesh Development Plan.
Ranjit Kumar of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Dr. Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, Additional Secretary of ICT Divisn Dr. Khandaker Azizul Islam, Enhancing Digital Government and Economy (EDGE) roject Director Dr. Muhammad Mehdi Hasan, World Bank Regional (SAR) Vice President Martin Reiser, Resident Representative (SACBB) Abdellahi Sec, Program Leader Rajesh Rohatgi and Digital Development Specialist Suparna Roy were present on the occasion.
On behalf of the beneficiaries of the World Bank funded LICT project, three people presented their success stories at the event. He also highlighted various aspects as a result of digitization including ibus++ from the Ministry of Finance. Later, the World Bank delegation visited the data center, iDEA project set up in the BCC building.