Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has suggested modernization of the postal department, air-conditioned transport system and setting up of warehouses at post offices.
The Prime Minister made the suggestion while inaugurating an iconic post-box-style post office building at Agargaon in the capital on May 26 by joining a video conference.
The Prime Minister said, “After the coronavirus, most of the buying and selling is going on online nowadays. This trading is not mare paper-like products rather perishable things, from food to fruits, vegetables which can also be sent by post. Now if I think I can cook and send food to another place or to a relative, I need to send it too; That’s why a transport system equipped with a cooling system is very important. That kind of controlled temperature and the freezing system will be developed so that this kind of product will not be wasted before they reach their recipients. There should be such centers up to Upazila and the union level.”
In her speech, the Prime Minister lauded the new postal building. He said that now message or mail has become one of the means of communication. This new building will be reminiscent of a mailbox.
The Prime Minister further said that we have not only digitized the postal system but also added 118 mail cars to provide more services to the people through it, besides training men and women to drive these cars. Now women also run trains.
The Prime Minister said, “We have set up about 5,227 digital centers all over Bangladesh.” Gradually digital centers will be built in each place. But I started first, and also took the initiative to modernize the post offices. The construction of digital centers is creating employment opportunities for women and men entrepreneurs. New job opportunities are being created up to the village level. You can take many types of services from there. Apart from taking services from digital centers, post offices too now can provide digital services.
Md. Afzal Hossain, Secretary of the Department of Posts and Telecommunications and Md. Siraj Uddin, Director General of the Department of Posts and Officials of both the departments and agencies including attended the function from the new postal building following the hygiene rules.
In his inaugural address, Mustafa Jabbar, Minister for Posts and Telecommunications highlighted the need for repair and reconstruction of post offices in 64 districts of the country. At the same time, he spoke about the various steps taken by the postal department in digitizing the postal system.
The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications said, “The newly constructed post building will not only create a better working environment but also will speed up the office activities by creating enthusiasm among the officers and employees.” Addressing the Prime Minister, he said, “Today, you are inaugurating a building that will not only be considered as a workplace but also as a place of interest. Since its construction, we have seen it turn into a popular tourist attraction.
The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications said, ‘We are going through a pandemic. Like the rest of the world, the people of Bangladesh are living in tremendous challenges. In this, the government has played an important role in every aspect of life, from management to the much-needed communication system. He said that today, 97% of the territory of Bangladesh has come under the telecom network. By the end of this year, there will not be a single union in the country where digital connectivity will not reach.
d. Afzal Hossain, Secretary of the Department of Posts and Telecommunications said, ‘Digital connectivity has been found as our biggest need during Covid-19pandemic. With digital connectivity, it has been possible to keep emergency services running.
A special commemorative stamp was issued on the occasion to commemorate the inauguration of the post office building in the history of the Postal Department. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina released the commemorative stamp to mark it.
