First Parliamentary Caucus on Internet Governance held
Internet Governance, Digital Economy and Media Development (BPCIDM), Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) and NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) jointly organized the Global Digital Compact and Summit of the Future 2024 in the Cabinet Room of the Jatiya Sangsad on Monday.
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was present as the chief guest at the discussion. Mr. Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP- Bangladesh and Mr. KM Abdus Salam, Senior Secretary, Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat were present as guests of honour.
Hasanul Haque Inu, Chairman, Bangladesh Parliamentarys Caucus on Internet Governance, Digital Economy and Media Development (BPCIDM), Chairman and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum presided over the meeting.
A total of 32 MPs attended the discussion and participated in the discussion on preparatory activities to participate in this process of the Global Digital Compact and Summit of the Future 2024.
The MPs present were Asim Kumar Ukil, Mamta Hena Lovely, Zakia Parvin Khanam, Aparajita Haque, Shirin Akhtar, Lutfun Nessa Khan, Ubaidul Moktadir Chowdhury, Basanti Chakma, MA Matin, Ayesha Ferdaus, Fakhrul Imam, AKM Rezaul Karim Tansen, Adv. Khodeja Nasrin Akhtar Hossain, Ahsanul Islam Titu, Aroma Dutta, Md. Monwar Hossain Chowdhury, Md. Sadeque Khan, Golam Kibria Tipu, Begum Afroza Haque, Adiba Anjum Mita, Nahim Razzak, Muhammad Shafiqur Rahman, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ali Arafat, Pankaj Nath, Rowshan Ara Mannan, Monira Sultana, Shirin Ahmed, Saimum Sarwar Kamal, Umme Fatema Najma Begum, Md. Nurul Amin.
Hasanul Haque Inu welcomed all the participants and highlighted the importance of MPs' participation in the global digital compact and summit of the future 2024 process in line with the internet governance ecosystem of Bangladesh.
BIGF Secretary General Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu presented presentations on Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) and World Summit on the Information Society Action Line.
AHM Bazlur Rahman, Executive Coordinator, briefed the meeting about the global and country's preparatory process of Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, and Empowering Unified Voices for the Global Digital Compact and Summit of the Future 2024.
On behalf of the multi-stakeholders, Shyam Sunder Sikder, Chairman, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC); Ilyas Kanchan, president and actor of Nirapod Sarak Chai; Actor Ferdous Ahmed; No No Khain, a member of the Rakhine community; Secretary of E-Commerce Association of Bangladesh (e-CAB), Abdul Wahed Tamal; Md. Emdadul Haque, President, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB); Md. Faruk Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Md. Shahinur Miah, Chief Information Officer, PID; Mariam-ul-Mutahara, Coordinator, Knowledge Management, Foundation for People; Mohammad Salahuddin, Deputy Secretary, Aspire to Innovate (a2i), Lt Col SM Rezaur Rahman, Director, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Kawsar Alam Kanak, Program Director, ADAB, SM Morshed, CC and HM Specialist, IOM, Prof. Shah Alam Chowdhury, Dhaka International University; Dr. Md Rakibul Haque, Professor, University of Dhaka; Sheikh Md. Moniruzzaman, Director General, NGO Affairs Bureau, Prime Minister's Office; Mohammad Golam Sarwar Kainat, Additional Secretary, Post and Telecommunication Division.
BTRC Director General (Spectrum) Brigadier General Md Moniruzzaman, Bangladesh Computer Council Director Sumon Kumar Patwary and Additional Secretary of information and communication technology division Dr Tarun Kanti Sikder were present on the occasion.
"The Global Digital Compact and summit of the Future 2024 will accelerate our journey towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals," said Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP, Bangladesh. We must ensure a free and secure digital future for all. He appreciated and thanked the organizers for their sincere efforts by Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering Unified Voice of Global Digital Compact and Summit of the Future 2024 with multi-stakeholders.
Senior Secretary of Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat KM Abdus Salam said, "Digital Parliament has been established to implement the objective of Digital and Smart Bangladesh under the leadership of Hon'ble Speaker. We are working towards establishing an e-parliament. We have to meet the challenges of digital platforms to meet our goals. He assured that Bangladesh Parliament will provide all necessary support to the Global Digital Compact and all preparations for the future summit 2024.
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said, "We can join the process of Global Digital Compact and Summit of the Future-2024 as the chief guest. In that case, he urged the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum and the Parliamentary Caucus of Bangladesh to prepare a complete outline and a position paper that reflects the socio-economic problems of our country in the context of Bangladesh."
The president of the event thanked everyone and announced the conclusion of the meeting.
