The government is establishing 35,000 modern digital laboratories across the country,aiming to encourage and give more access to girls and young women in Information, Communication and Technology (ICT).

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said this while addressing a virtual roundtable discussion on ‘Accelerating Digital Inclusion for Girls and Women’ as the chief guest.

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He also stressed the need for collaborative effort in mentoring and monitoring from the Government, non-government and private sector to ensure digital inclusion of girls and young women.

The Government of Bangladesh is working to grow women leadership in ICT alongside providing training and financial support, he said.

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On the occasion of the International Girls in ICT Day 2021, Aspire to Innovate (a2i), Grameenphone and Plan International Bangladesh jointly organized the roundtable discussion to explore the reality, gaps and scope for girls and young women to be active in the ICT sector for achieving an inclusive Digital Bangladesh.

Every year on 4th Thursday of April, the International Girls in ICT Day is observed globally with an aim to inspire girls in technology to promote opportunities for girls and women in this field.

To increase skill and capacity of girls and young women in the sector of information, communication and technology (ICT) it is crucial to incorporate subjects like science, technology, engineering, mathematics etc in the national curriculum of primary education as well as ensure a job-oriented education system keeping the opportunities and demand of future job sector, said the State Minister.

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“In today’s ICT sector, the need for learning programming and coding is increasing. ICT needs to be given focus in primary education to make girls and young women successful in this sector. The Government has taken initiative to incorporate programming and coding as subjects in primary education from the next education year.” Palak said.

Tusabber Muntaha, youth representative, Assaduzzaman Asad, Youth representative, Tina F Jabeen, CEO and Managing Director, Startup Bangladesh, Syed Almas Kabir, President, BASIS, Wahid Sharif, President, BACCO and KAM Morshed, Senior Director, BRAC took part as panelists in the discussion moderated by Dr. Lafifa Jamal, Professor of Department of Robotics & Mechatronics Engineering. Syed Tanvir Husain, Chief Human Resources Officer of Grameenphone and Orla Murphy, Country Director of Plan International Bangladesh spoke as special guests.

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