Terming Bangladesh as a role model of digital economy around the world, State Minister for Information Dr. Murad Hassan said “digital Bangladesh is no longer a dream, it is now a reality” as the government is implementing all necessary programmes to transform the country into a digitized nation.
‘The government has embarked on projects to ensure digital transformation keeping in view the Vision 2021 and Vision 2041. The rapid digitization of Bangladesh has been possible because of enormous efforts of advisor to the Prime Minister ICT specialist Sajeeb Wazed Joy. Initiatives of ICT Division, BCC, A2i and private organizations have also contributed to the recent growth in ICT sector especially farming, ’ he said
The state minister was speaking at a day-long program tilled ‘Bangladesh Digital Summit-2019’ at Hotel Intercontinental in the capital on Saturday.
Asian Network of Youth Volunteers (ANYV), China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University (BDU), Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University and Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB), One Bangladesh jointly organized the summit.
The state minister said that ‘Bangladesh declared digital Bangladesh concept in 2009 while 4th industrial revolution in 2011. We are ahead of many countries in terms of digital transformation.’
“Population of Bangladesh in urban areas is the most pressing concern now-a-days. Thus there is a need to make smart cities.’
Murad Hassan further said the cyber and physical integration can be achieved through implementation of Smart Campus.
“Agricultural sector in Bangladesh has experienced delayed adoption of Internet of Things, Big data cloud computing etc. In 2016, a pilot project was started at Pajulia Village of Gazipur, named as E-village: smart agriculture initiative and implemented by Professor Md Roshidul Hasan of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University, and Center for Research and Information. It was the first project in agriculture using Internet of Things, Big data analytics and cloud computing,” he said.
“Bangladesh has become the second largest supplier of online labor after India as per the Oxford Internet Institute. And Bangladesh is the top supplier of online sales and marketing support services,” he added.
In concluding episode, state minister for ICT division, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, “We have already set up 8 thousand Sheikh Russel Digital Labs to develop of information and communication technology across the country. Besides the Government has 28 high-tech parks to facilitate ICT infrastructure and creating more opportunities for youth entrepreneur and business people.”
The state minster further said, “We have taken digital village project in future, which will be benefited more than 20 thousand farmers directly. It will help to reduce production cost of the farmers, as well as crop production will increase.”
Speaking on the special guest with special emphasis on Bangla language, Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury, Deputy Minister for Ministry of Education, said, "We will learn English language for our own needs. But we must have more importance for Bangla. All other technologies including IoT should be in Bangla. It will be benefited more people. China, Japan and other countries have gone ahead using their own language. If we do not increase the use of Bangla language then it is not possible to reach the desired goal. '
Vice-Chancellor of Bangabadhu Digital University, Professor Dr Munaz Ahmed Noor added as special guest that the smart campus is not enough it should include smart education as a whole. Honorable adviser to the Prime Minister ICT expert Mr Sajeeb Wazed Joy is most visionary leader in the world and establishing Digital University is most time demanding initiatives.
Professor Dr. Mahbubar Rahman, Ex VC of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Agricultural University and Huang Gui, Country manager of HK vision were presented different keynote papers in the last session presided by Professor Roshidul Hasan, President of ANYV.
Dr Roshidul Hasan said the summit was aimed at emphasising four things-- smart city, smart agriculture, smart campus and information.
Among others CETC vice president Li Li Gong, Marketing manager Xu Chenglong, IEB president Mohammad Abdus Sabur, UGC member Professor Dr. Sazzad Hossain, Professor Dr. Giashuddin Mia, VC of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman agriculture university, Professor Dr. Mahfuzul Islam were also spoke in the occasion.
