The 8th Bangladesh School of Internet Governance (bdSIG) ended with the distribution of certificates at the conference center of BTRC head office after the schooling at CSE Faculty of Bangladesh Engineering University last two days. Speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony on Saturday afternoon, Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Prof Md. Mohiuddin Ahmed said that the country should be moving forward through the proper use of technology without fearing technology in building the smart Bangladesh of the future. And the divide we are seeing will disappear in time.
He commented that the young generation will lead the field of technology and smart Bangladesh will be developed before the scheduled time. At the same time, BTRC Chairman gave a green signal that BTRC will be involved in such awareness schooling at the departmental level.
While speaking as the chief guest, the BTRC Chairman also said that technology is for people, so people should be involved with technology. The pattern of digital divide varies between developed, developing and underdeveloped countries. Noting that many people in Bangladesh are without internet access, not every village yet has fixed broadband, but mobile internet.
“We have digitized but it will take time for people to adapt a driverless car or cashless society; people will adjust with technology over time. More than artificial intelligence or driverless cars, we urgently need to reach uninterrupted high-speed internet services, – added Engineer Mohiuddin Ahmed.
Calling attention to the technologies that are needed for our country, BTRC chairman said that the type of digital divide is different between developed, developing and underdeveloped countries. With time people will adopt technology for their own needs. More than artificial intelligence or driverless cars, we urgently need high-speed uninterrupted internet services. The technologies that are needed for the country should be given importance. Therefore, to make the country prosperous, the young manpower should be developed efficiently.
While speaking as the President, Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) Chairperson Hasanul Haque Inu said that even though bridging the digital divide is a challenge, since technology is constantly changing, backward communities should be encouraged to use technology. In order to increase the digital signature of Bangladesh, the digital infrastructure, digital services and services should be improved and accessible. If digital signature increases, economic disparity, gender disparity will decrease.
The use of technology must be people-friendly, climate-friendly and women-friendly, he said, to adapt to the modern world, the young generation must be skilled. He also commented that we should not be afraid of adapting new technology and adapt with time.
BIGF Secretary General Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu delivered the welcome speech at the closing ceremony.
As a special guest, Brigadier General Mohammad Khalil-ur-Rehman, Director General of Systems and Services Department of BTRC said, youth and women should be involved in digital technology related activities and their opinions should be accepted. AI, Big Data, IoT are constantly changing, so we have to adapt our teaching to the learning process in parallel. Mentioning that new technology will widen the digital divide, he said, technological disparities should be identified and resolved.
Among others, BNRC CEO A HM Bazlur Rahman, North South University Associate Professor Zulkarin Jahangir, Technology and Telecom expert Sumon Ahmed Sabir discussed bringing down the digital divide to zero.
Earlier, A2I National Consultant Md. Shahriar Hasan Jishan presented the main article in front of 82 fellows present at the Smart Bangladesh session chaired by the BTRC Commissioner Engineer Sheikh Riaz Ahmed. BTRC Vice Chairman Md Aminul Haque presided over the session on Technology Act and User Freedom in it. He said that technology is not a control, but the proper use of technology requires various laws and policies.
BRAC University Senior Lecturer Md. Saimum Reza Talukdar presented the key note. Brigadier General Mohammad Khalil-ur-Rehman, Director General of Systems and Services Department of BTRC, presented the keynote address in the session on Safe Internet. Member of Parliament Aparajita Haque presided over the session.
University teachers, students, technicians, telecom experts and more than hundred representatives of public and private parties participated in the event.
