The New Nation - Internet Edition

BSS, Dhaka

The BCS ICT World, an annual gala exposition of computers and its accessories, kicked off here yesterday with a call for building a digital Bangladesh through spreading information and communication technology (ICT) facilities across the country.

Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) in cooperation with ICT Business Promotion Council under the Commerce Ministry has organised the five-day fair at Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Science and ICT Manik Lal Samaddar inaugurated the fair as the chief guest, while Vice-Chancellor of Dhaka University Professor S.M.A. Faiz and Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Maj Gen (retd) Manzurul Alam were present as special guests.

The function was also addressed by BCS President Mustafa Jabbar and convenor of the fair AT Shafique Uddin Ahmed.

The slogan of the BCS ICT World is 'Towards Digital Bangladesh'.

Terming ICT as an essential tool in this era of globalisation, Manik Lal Samaddar said it is playing an important role in creating employment, raising work skill and production.

He said a large number of population in the country are living in rural areas and their life and livelihood could be developed by opening up ICT scope for them.

The Special Assistant said the government has formed an ICT taskforce comprising experts to review the progress of the ICT sector and hammer out the strategy.

To make the existing ICT policy time-befitting, the government has also formed a committee to review the policy, he said, adding the revised ICT policy will be finalised soon.

Samaddar said the government is setting up a high-tech park on 232 acres of land at Kaliakoir in Gazipur with a view to flourishing the ICT sector.

Lauding the role of the private sector, especially Bangladesh Computer Samity, in the development of ICT in the country, he said the private sector is the main driving force of the sector.

The Special Assistant called upon the private organizations engaged in the sector to provide better service for their customers.

Prof Faiz said a holistic approach would have to be needed by all stakeholders to reach the ICT facilities to the doorstep of the common people.

Manzurul Alam said there will be no development in the ICT sector if 70 percent of people, who live in villages, remain out of the facilities.

Listing various steps taken by the BTRC, he underscored the need for coordination among all ministries and organisations concerned for smooth flourishing of the sector.

Mustafa Jabbar called for taking initiatives to hand over a computer to every child of the country and demanded reduction in broadband internet charge.

A total of 173 stalls have been set up at the fair displaying different brands of computers and its accessories within the range of buyers capacity.

The fair will continue from 10 AM to 8 PM every day till November 21. The entry fee is Taka 20 but school students have free access to the fair, organisers said.