Post and Telecommunication Minister Mustafa Jabbar said that Mobile Financial Service (MFS) is playing a wonderful role in the financial management of Bangladesh. Banks could not break the shackles of common people's involvement in financial management, but MFS did. MFS services have gained usability and acceptance among the people of the country. Emphasizing on the necessity of keeping the system so that people can save in MFS, the minister said that people's participation will be much richer in this.
The minister made these remarks while addressing the chief guest at a seminar on Role of MFS in Strengthening Financial Inclusion of Bangladesh organized by Idea Foundation in the capital on Wednesday.
Former Chief Secretary Abul Kalam Azad, chairperson of Idea Foundation Kazi M Aminul Islam presided over the ceremony, General Secretary of Idea Foundation, former Secretary Mohammad Shahidul Haque, Executive Director of Policy Research Institute Dr. Ahsan Mansoor, BKS CEO Kamal Qadir, Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Mezbahul Haque, former Executive Director Leela Rashid etc. spoke. Hossain A. Samad, Lead Researcher of Idea Foundation, presented the keynote at the event.
The Minister of Post and Telecommunication pointed out that the days of paper notes are coming to an end with the continuation of Digital Bangladesh and said that the days of financial management in the conventional way are coming to an end.
No one knows where the global financial system will go in the next five years. The currency management of the country is the responsibility of Bangladesh Bank. However, it must be taken into consideration that this currency will be traded in a way other than paper notes. This pioneer of digital technology development mentioned that we have to move forward by mastering the future movement of digital technology. The minister expressed optimism that smart Bangladesh will be established in 2041 by standing on smart technology and digital Bangladesh on the basis of digital technology. The minister said, as a result of the establishment of Digital Bangladesh, we have overcome hundreds of years of backwardness due to the failure to participate in the three industrial revolutions of the past and have come parallel to the world in digital technology in continuation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visionary Digital Bangladesh program. Referring to Bangladesh as a country setting an example in the world, he said that the revolution of computer and mobile phone development in the country started from 1997 to 2001 with the hands of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Inventor of Bengali language in computer describing his long experience of 35 years in digital technology development said, we have created the highway of telecom civilization in the country. Digital civilization will advance through this highway. He highlighted the difference between digital financial services and mobile financial services and said that we have entered the 5G technology era. Today's mobile financial services may eventually be replaced by IoT devices. The minister emphasized on digital security along with technology development. He pointed out that the research results will not be useful if the future technology movements are not mastered.
Speakers on the occasion emphasized on the application of digitizer technology and the need for ongoing research on future technologies.