The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

Adviser for Finance and Planning Dr AB Mirza Azizul Islam yesterday said the information and communications technology (ICT) will play a pivotal role in alleviating poverty from the country.

The adviser, also in-charge of the ministry of post and telecommunications, and commerce, was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on "Multi-stakeholder partnership for building information and knowledge system for the poor and marginalised" at the Bangladesh Tele-center Network Mission 2011 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Convention Centre in the city.

Economist Hussain Zillur presented a keynote paper at the event chaired by Advocate Sultana Kamal of the Ain-o-Salishi Kentra. Discussants at the seminar included ICT experts TIM Nurul Kabir and Azhar Uddin Chowdhury.

UNDP's deputy country director Larry Maramis, ADB's country director Hua Du and Prof Zafar Iqbal spoke on the occasion as special guests.

Dr Mirza told the seminar that the use of the ICT will strengthen the participation of the poor in the free market economy.

Pointing to the role of the ICT in overall development of the country, he said it may also help develop human resources, diagnosis of diseases, management of ports and customs, and expansion of business.

The adviser said in the expansion of the ICT, the government is giving increasing opportunities to the private sector operatives. He also said the government has taken the move to set up an alternative optical fibber way to sustain unforeseen shocks.

Referring to regional cooperation in the expansion of the use of information technology, the adviser said the government has taken up an ADB funded project to achieve the goal.

He further advised the stakeholders to use the government and non-government installations in setting up tele-centres all over the country to spread the use of the system.

He said the government would favourably consider any request by the concerned agencies to use its outlets for the purpose.