Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina
today expressed her firm determination to overcome the "present
problems" of the country, saying that none has any right to impede the
country's development.
"When the country achieved adequate progress in every sector, unfortunately at that time we are facing 'some problems' due to burning, vandalism and killing people. We hope 'these problems' will not exist and we could overcome this situation," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while delivering her introductory speech at a meeting of the high officials of the ICT Division at Agargaon in the capital this morning.
State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak delivered the welcome address. ICT Division Secretary Shyam Sundar Shikder also spoke on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said there is no effectiveness of hartals and blockades now. "Unnecessarily people are being killed in the name of hartals and blockades. I don't know why this heinous act is being committed," she said.
Calling upon the people to stay alert against the BNP-Jamaat destructive acts, the Prime Minister said her government has been doing whatever necessary to stop these destructive acts.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, said her party has a goal and responsibility for building Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country.
The Prime Minister said the country achieved independence under the leadership of Bangladesh Awami League. "The party has sacrificed a lot for the independence as it made united all the people during the War of Liberation," she said.
"With whatever sincerity we will work, no other party would work in that way---it is the reality, and the people of the country have already witnessed it," she said.
Putting emphasis on expediting the work of launching Bangladesh's first-ever satellite "Bangabandhu Satellite", the Prime Minister said: "We will have to start the work on launching the satellite quickly."
She said the "Bangabandhu Satellite" mega project could be implemented through either international tender or government to government (G2G) basis.
She, however, said time would be saved if the project could be executed on G2G basis and a few number of countries have an expertise to this end.
The Prime Minister also laid stress on completion of the work of the high-tech park at Kaliakoir speedily. "The work of the project is being delayed much and it will have to finish as soon as possible," she opined.
Sheikh Hasina, however, expressed satisfaction of the construction work of multistoried software park in Jessore and mentioned that her government has taken initiatives to set up high-tech parks in every division and district.
The Prime Minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman used to consider science and technology as a weapon for building an exploitation-free society.
"To this end, he gave special priority to science and technology side by side with rebuilding Bangladesh after independence," she said.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh got the membership of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1973 under the leadership of the Father of the Nation.
"He established the BCSIR in 1973 and the country's first earth satellite at Betbunia in 1975 for flourishing telecommunication technology in the country," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said when Bangladesh was moving ahead on the world stage by keeping its head high, at that time Bangabandhu was brutally killed with most of his family members on August 15 in 1975.
"The development of Bangladesh was halted and a democracy-less black chapter engulfed the country. The fundamental rights of the people were trampled under the boot of the military junta," she said.
The Prime Minister said after long 21 years, Bangladesh Awami League formed the government again in 1996 and it reorganized the Post and Telecommunication Sector side by side with other sectors.
"We broke the monopoly of the mobile phones, and the Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology sectors witnessed a revolutionary change," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League again formed the government in 2009 by taking a huge mandate of the people. "At that time there was a stalemate left by the BNP-Jamaat alliance. To overcome the impasse, we started implementation of a specific plan for building Digital Bangladesh," she said.
The Prime Minister said the government has established separate Information and Communication Technology Ministry. "Then we formed a single ministry by merging the Post and Telecommunication Ministry and Information and Communication Technology in order to accomplish the telecom and ICT activities in a coordinated manner," she added.
She said Bangladesh was elected an ITU council member in 2010 which created a scope for playing a strong role by Bangladesh in the telecom and ICT sectors on the world stage.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh got the "South South Award" in recognition to its contribution to successful use of technology in the health sector. "The ITU gave the 'World Summit on Information Society Award-2014' to Bangladesh in recognition to its success in reaching the government services to the doorsteps of the people through information technology," she said.
Besides, she said, Bangladesh achieved the 'WITSA 2014 Global ICT Excellence Award' in 2014 from the World Information Technology and Services Alliance, Mexico.
The Prime Minister said the government in the last six years brought a radical change in the post, telecom and ICT sectors. "A total of six mobile phone companies are now operating their activities and 12.03 crore SIM cards are being used in the country."
She said per minute mobile phone call charge has been reduced to 50 paisa from Taka 10 in 2001. The license for 3G service has been given to five mobile phone operators and 4G license would be given soon.
Sheikh Hasina said the number of internet subscribers has surpassed 4.40 lakh. The tele-density in the country is now 78.12 percent, while internet density has been raised to 27.42 percent.
"We are now building technology divide-free Bangladesh and Digital Bangladesh is now a reality, not a dream. We launched the world's biggest web portal 'The National Web Portal' with 25,000 websites," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Ministry has been playing tirelessly in implementing the "Digital Bangladesh" programme. "I extend my sincere thanks to all officials and employees of the ministry and the organizations under it for the stunning success in this sector," she said.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister inaugurated computer labs of six educational institutions of Gopalganj through Skype.
She also opened some mobile applications for different government organizations including the Election Commission, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, the BKSP, the NBR, ERD and Rupali Bank under the Finance Ministry, the Rice Knowledge Bank of the BRRI, the Sericulture Information under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, the Agriculture Information Service, Jubo Unnayan Odhidoptar under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the PID under the Information Ministry, Tula Unnayon Board under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Mobile Health Service under the Ministry of Health, Dhaka City Corporation (South) and Bangladesh Bank and Infokosh Tube of A2I.
"When the country achieved adequate progress in every sector, unfortunately at that time we are facing 'some problems' due to burning, vandalism and killing people. We hope 'these problems' will not exist and we could overcome this situation," she said.
The Prime Minister said this while delivering her introductory speech at a meeting of the high officials of the ICT Division at Agargaon in the capital this morning.
State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak delivered the welcome address. ICT Division Secretary Shyam Sundar Shikder also spoke on the occasion.
The Prime Minister said there is no effectiveness of hartals and blockades now. "Unnecessarily people are being killed in the name of hartals and blockades. I don't know why this heinous act is being committed," she said.
Calling upon the people to stay alert against the BNP-Jamaat destructive acts, the Prime Minister said her government has been doing whatever necessary to stop these destructive acts.
Sheikh Hasina, also the president of Bangladesh Awami League, said her party has a goal and responsibility for building Bangladesh as a developed and prosperous country.
The Prime Minister said the country achieved independence under the leadership of Bangladesh Awami League. "The party has sacrificed a lot for the independence as it made united all the people during the War of Liberation," she said.
"With whatever sincerity we will work, no other party would work in that way---it is the reality, and the people of the country have already witnessed it," she said.
Putting emphasis on expediting the work of launching Bangladesh's first-ever satellite "Bangabandhu Satellite", the Prime Minister said: "We will have to start the work on launching the satellite quickly."
She said the "Bangabandhu Satellite" mega project could be implemented through either international tender or government to government (G2G) basis.
She, however, said time would be saved if the project could be executed on G2G basis and a few number of countries have an expertise to this end.
The Prime Minister also laid stress on completion of the work of the high-tech park at Kaliakoir speedily. "The work of the project is being delayed much and it will have to finish as soon as possible," she opined.
Sheikh Hasina, however, expressed satisfaction of the construction work of multistoried software park in Jessore and mentioned that her government has taken initiatives to set up high-tech parks in every division and district.
The Prime Minister said Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman used to consider science and technology as a weapon for building an exploitation-free society.
"To this end, he gave special priority to science and technology side by side with rebuilding Bangladesh after independence," she said.
The Prime Minister said Bangladesh got the membership of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1973 under the leadership of the Father of the Nation.
"He established the BCSIR in 1973 and the country's first earth satellite at Betbunia in 1975 for flourishing telecommunication technology in the country," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said when Bangladesh was moving ahead on the world stage by keeping its head high, at that time Bangabandhu was brutally killed with most of his family members on August 15 in 1975.
"The development of Bangladesh was halted and a democracy-less black chapter engulfed the country. The fundamental rights of the people were trampled under the boot of the military junta," she said.
The Prime Minister said after long 21 years, Bangladesh Awami League formed the government again in 1996 and it reorganized the Post and Telecommunication Sector side by side with other sectors.
"We broke the monopoly of the mobile phones, and the Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology sectors witnessed a revolutionary change," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the Awami League again formed the government in 2009 by taking a huge mandate of the people. "At that time there was a stalemate left by the BNP-Jamaat alliance. To overcome the impasse, we started implementation of a specific plan for building Digital Bangladesh," she said.
The Prime Minister said the government has established separate Information and Communication Technology Ministry. "Then we formed a single ministry by merging the Post and Telecommunication Ministry and Information and Communication Technology in order to accomplish the telecom and ICT activities in a coordinated manner," she added.
She said Bangladesh was elected an ITU council member in 2010 which created a scope for playing a strong role by Bangladesh in the telecom and ICT sectors on the world stage.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh got the "South South Award" in recognition to its contribution to successful use of technology in the health sector. "The ITU gave the 'World Summit on Information Society Award-2014' to Bangladesh in recognition to its success in reaching the government services to the doorsteps of the people through information technology," she said.
Besides, she said, Bangladesh achieved the 'WITSA 2014 Global ICT Excellence Award' in 2014 from the World Information Technology and Services Alliance, Mexico.
The Prime Minister said the government in the last six years brought a radical change in the post, telecom and ICT sectors. "A total of six mobile phone companies are now operating their activities and 12.03 crore SIM cards are being used in the country."
She said per minute mobile phone call charge has been reduced to 50 paisa from Taka 10 in 2001. The license for 3G service has been given to five mobile phone operators and 4G license would be given soon.
Sheikh Hasina said the number of internet subscribers has surpassed 4.40 lakh. The tele-density in the country is now 78.12 percent, while internet density has been raised to 27.42 percent.
"We are now building technology divide-free Bangladesh and Digital Bangladesh is now a reality, not a dream. We launched the world's biggest web portal 'The National Web Portal' with 25,000 websites," she said.
Sheikh Hasina said the Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Ministry has been playing tirelessly in implementing the "Digital Bangladesh" programme. "I extend my sincere thanks to all officials and employees of the ministry and the organizations under it for the stunning success in this sector," she said.
At the meeting, the Prime Minister inaugurated computer labs of six educational institutions of Gopalganj through Skype.
She also opened some mobile applications for different government organizations including the Election Commission, the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism, the BKSP, the NBR, ERD and Rupali Bank under the Finance Ministry, the Rice Knowledge Bank of the BRRI, the Sericulture Information under the Ministry of Textiles and Jute, the Agriculture Information Service, Jubo Unnayan Odhidoptar under the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Environment and Forest, the PID under the Information Ministry, Tula Unnayon Board under the Ministry of Agriculture, the Mobile Health Service under the Ministry of Health, Dhaka City Corporation (South) and Bangladesh Bank and Infokosh Tube of A2I.
---(BSS) DHAKA, March 15, 2015 -
