Speaking on the occasion, Secretary to science and ICT ministry S M Wahid-uz-Zaman said the government has taken up a number of initiatives to integrate information communication technology (ICT) into the national economic development strategy.
He said his ministry has already developed an ICT roadmap and e-government strategy and revamped its ICT policy.
Zaman said the export earning from knowledge economy in Bangladesh is growing and it is only a matter of time, when the quick penetration of ICT like penetration of mobile phone will astonish the world.
Major General (retd) Manzurul Alam, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), said the commission is keen to bring ICT in rural areas.
“From last year BTRC took many bold initiatives to ensure proper utilisation of technology. We envisage that new WiMAX players will play very significant role to roll out broadband services in the rural zones. But we need innovative approach and pragmatic steps to integrate ICT to the lifestyle of the marginal people,” he added.
Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, chairperson of Bangladesh Telecentre Network (BTN), said, “We need collective efforts to ensure sustainable development of the society. We believe in the upcoming days BTN will play a proactive to bring the rural community under a nationwide information network.”
BTN sincerely believes that telecentre has a profound impact to minimise the digital divide, he said, adding that the telecentre will bridge the gap between the privileged and the underprivileged communities.
Muyeed said people in rural areas are now able to enjoy unprecedented access to modern information technology through telecentres which in effect is changing their lifestyle dramatically and empowering their social and economic activities as well.
In fact, true community sensitisation is one of the key focus of this telecentre colloquium, he added.
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Quelle/Source: The Daily Star, 08.11.2008
