State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Sunday said no one will be left out under Smart Bangladesh.
“No one will be left behind, be it the students of madrassas or those living in remote mountains. Through the leadership of all, we will build a progressive and innovative smart Bangladesh,” he said.
The State Minister said this during a view-exchange meeting with the concerned stakeholders regarding the implementation of inclusive, knowledge-based, and innovative Smart Bangladesh.
The interaction was organized by Aspire to Innovate-a2i and the Information and Communication Technology Division at the ICT Tower in the capital on Sunday (November 19, 2023).
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Secretary of ICT Division, Shamsul Arefin, Project Director (Joint Secretary) of a2i, Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzul Islam, as well as entrepreneurs, representatives of technology-based business organizations, teachers, freelancers, influencers, women, disabled, and media workers from the country, attended the programme.
At that time, they shared their suggestions, recommendations, and proposals for the implementation of Smart Bangladesh by 2041 in their respective fields.
In his speech, Palak said that when the dream of Digital Bangladesh was seen 14 years ago, everyone used to make fun of it, but today this dream has become a reality. “We are now a developing country. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, we are dreaming of a new Bangladesh. By 2041, this country will be an inclusive, knowledge-based, and innovative Smart Bangladesh,” he added.
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Highlighting the four pillars of Smart Bangladesh - Smart Citizens, Smart Economy, Smart Government, and Smart Society, the state minister said the smart ID will be implemented with 20 percent digital skills, 60 percent smart devices, and 30 percent service adoption by 2025 to build smart citizens. Agrotech, Fintech, Healthtech, Smart Grid, and Edutech will be at the forefront of building a smart economy.
He also stressed the importance of building a smart humane world through the humane use of technology.
The stakeholders provided necessary suggestions, recommendations, and proposals for the implementation of Smart Bangladesh. They said that our country is technologically advancing. However, there are still many challenges, which we have to overcome to implement Smart Bangladesh. The payment gateway has now become a big challenge for freelancers in the field of international transactions. Due to this, payment is becoming a hindrance in many big jobs.
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Apart from creating a sector-based data-based digital system, it is also necessary to make it an interoperable system. This will create transparency and accountability in the inter-sector decision-making of the public and private sectors and create opportunities for timely decision-making in the creation of citizen-friendly services.
Youths need to get more involved in developing their technical skills, from artificial intelligence to all the new technology that exists out there. Only then the citizens of smart Bangladesh will not be a burden to the country and will be a demographic dividend for the country.
Among others, ISPAB president Emdadul Hoque, e-CAB general secretary Muhammad Abdul Wahed Tomal, BASIS director AKM Ahmedul Haque Babu, BIJF president Naznin Nahar, TMGB president Md. Kawsar Uddin along with the ICT Division, a2i, different educational institutions, business institutions, and media persons were present at the event.