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). 1 dead, 3 injured in steel mill fire at Dhaka's Kadamtoli area 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. Ban e-cigarettes to protect new generation: e-CAB 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. Woman hit by van succumbs to injuries at DMCH 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.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak today (September 11, 2022) requested Russia to open offshore campuses of its technical universities in Bangladesh – to develop the IT sector here and upskills youths. He made the call at a meeting with Russian Ambassador to Bangladesh, Alexander Mantytskiy, at the former’s office at ICT Tower in Dhaka’s Agargaon area. During the meeting, they discussed various issues, including cooperation in cyber security capacity building and introduction of inter-operable digital transaction (IDTP) system between Russia and Bangladesh Also read: 80% of travel market remains unexplored: Palak Besides, business and investment by Russian technology companies in robotics, machine learning, AI, AR and VR, land allocations for Russian companies in hi-tech parks here, arrangement of Bangladesh-Russia investment summit, participation of Russian IT companies in Digital World Summit here in December, and start-up exchange programs came up for discussion in the meeting. The Russian ambassador assured full cooperation in these sectors, expressing hope that the bilateral relations between the two countries in various fields including ICT will be strengthened in the near future. ICT Senior Secretary NM Zeaul Alam, Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Bikarna Kumar Ghosh and Director General of Digital Security Agency Khairul Amin were present, said a PID handout. Read: Nagad becomes world's fastest-growing fintech company after conquering local market: Palak

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak has sought cooperation from the US-based tech giant Intel Corporation to develop cost effective healthcare services using the frontier technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning. The request was made to Intel Corporation Chairman Dr Omar Ishrak during a meeting with Palak at the mini conference room of the IDEA project of ICT Division on Monday. Read: Inter-operable Digital Transaction to begin from January: Palak Palak said the 18,000 community health clinics and 8,000 digital centres could play an effective role to implement any initiative in this regard. Responding positively to Bangladesh proposal Dr Ishrak said that three things --- collection of patients’ data, preparing a standard guideline and connecting people with the guideline--are very important to develop a cost effective healthcare services. About using technology during Covid pandemic, Palak said “We have been able to keep functioning of all including the activities of office, courts, and business using IT during Covid-19 pandemic.” Besides, some 7.5 crore people made registration using `Surokhha’, a platform developed by the ICT Division for conducting the vaccine management activities smoothly, the state minister added. He also pointed out the benefits of implementation of Digital Bangladesh. Read:Remotest region to connect with broadband internet by 2025: Palak He said the digital economy has flourished in the country increasing ICT exports to $1.3 billion against exports of $26 million in 2008. “The government has now fixed the target of ICT export $5billion by 2025,” he added. Palak said the people do not need to run for receiving services as the government has digitized 2000 services ensuring its easy access to the people. ICT Senior Secretary N M Zeaul Alam, Director of National Data Center and LICT Project Director Tarique M Barkatullah, IT-ITES Policy Adviser of LICT Project Sami Ahmed, Country Director of Medtronic Bangladesh Farruk Alam, IDEA Project Director Md. Abdur Rakib were present at the meeting.

Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) has celebrated 25 years of its operations in Bangladesh recalling how KOICA's projects helped the country grow and establish the pillars of Digital Bangladesh. State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Lee Jang-keun, Country Director, KOICA Bangladesh Office Young-Ah Doh, Additional Secretary, Economic Relations Division Md. Shahriar Kader Siddiky and Representative of the World Food Programme Richard Ragan spoke at the function held on Tuesday night in a city hotel. Read:KOICA for enhancing treatment of neurodevelopmental disabilities for children in Bangladesh The occasion showcased KOICA’s successful projects and milestones in its 25 years of journey in priority sectors of ICT governance, health and education aligned with KOICA’s three programs, namely, Enhance Efficiency of Public Service by establishing Digital Public System, Enhance Public health by providing Quality of Health and Medical Service and Develop Skillful Human Resource for Sustainable Development. Speaking on the occasion, State Minister Palak recalled KOICA's projects in the ICT sector since its operation which helped Bangladesh to establish the pillars of Digital Bangladesh. Ambassador Lee emphasized on how the Korean government recognizes Bangladesh as an important partner and endeavors to increase exchanges between the two countries.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Indian High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami Monday inaugurated the six-part webinar series, "Shoto Borsho Shoto Asha – Rise Up." The Indian High Commission in Dhaka, Startup Bangladesh, Startup India, and the ICT Division of Bangladesh are jointly organising it. The webinar series is also supported by Economic Reporters Forum, Bangladesh Startup Consortium and BD AIR. Speaking at today's event, hosted by Startup Bangladesh Managing Director and CEO Tina Jabeen, Palak said: "Increased cooperation between the startups in Bangladesh and India will be mutually beneficial." High Commissioner Vikram Doraiswami said in the next six months, the RiseUp platform will bring together mentors, innovators, entrepreneurs and investors from India and Bangladesh. He hoped that the platform will facilitate an effective cross-learning opportunity that will benefit talented entrepreneurs from both countries, especially young innovators. READ: Bangladesh to launch ‘Jogajog’ as alternative to Facebook, says Palak Doraiswami also recalled that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had invited 50 Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to visit India and connect with the country's startup and innovation ecosystem during his state visit to Bangladesh in March 2021. The high commissioner stressed that the RiseUp series could facilitate such linkages to jumpstart tangible cooperation. Following the opening ceremony, a panel discussion on "StartUp Landscape in Bangladesh and India – Tech StartUps Transforming the Future" was held. Yamini Bhushan Pandey, CEO of Startup Incubation and Acceleration Division at Indian School of Business and Sharad Sharma, co-founder of iSPIRT Foundation India and member of National Startup Advisory Council, were joined by Wasim Alim, co-founder and CEO of Chaldal, and Rahat Ahmed, CEO of Anchorless Bangladesh. READ: Telemedicine service to be launched at 16000 community hospitals: Palak Monday's webinar will be followed by more discussions on the regulatory environment for startups, ways to overcome hurdles to create a successful startup, fundraising strategies, strategies for startups to go international and startup opportunities in Bangladesh and India.

Some 1.7 lakh, or 170,000 primary and secondary schools will be connected with high speed fibre optic internet connectivity within 2030, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said Tuesday. The state minister inaugurating a “Girls in Tech Day Bangladesh 2021” program organized by International Telecommunication Union’s Asia and Pacific regional office. The campaign will be implemented under the Digital Connectivity project, he said. Also read: 35,000 modern digital labs to be installed to give more access to girls: Palak Palak said, “The ICT department is working closely with the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education to include Coding learning in the primary education syllabus from next year.”   Moreover 35,000 modern digital computer labs will be established across the country for making a skilled next generation, he said. The initiative is one of the many taken by the government like Girls in ICT Program, Job Opportunity and Empowerment, ensuring no one lags in technology, said the State Minister. Also read: F-commerce entrepreneurs rising significantly: Palak With the assistance of the United Nations, fifty thousand entrepreneurs have been created, 4,000 women freelancers who aspire to be entrepreneurs while 7,000 women were trained to work as IT service providers and call center agents, he said. Fifty percent of the entrepreneurs working in 7,000 Union Digital Centers are currently women, which is an achievement for the bottom up approach taken by the government, said Palak.

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. Read Women continue making amazing contributions in STEM fields: US 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.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Sunday inaugurated Emporia, a software developed for the job-seeking individuals with disabilities.  "Emporia will work as a bridge between specially-abled individuals and potential employer organizations," said the State Minister for ICT while inaugurating the software on a virtual platform. Also read: Administrative work remain uninterrupted amid pandemic due to progress in ICT sector: Palak The digital platform was developed under the Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities including NDD through ICT project. Minister Palak said this platform will play an important role in reducing hassles for people with disabilities who come to Dhaka from different corners of the country to attend interviews in ‘Job Fairs’ held by the ICT Ministry. Also read: Draft of data privacy and localization law is prepared: Palak Through this digital platform, disabled people will be able to receive ICT based training, submit CV for job and give job interviews over video conference, said Palak. ICT department has taken initiatives to provide various IT training to disabled people, to make them capable according to their necessities, he said in his chief guest’s speech.

Online marketplace Daraz organized a virtual panel discussion on e-commerce ecosystem on Wednesday.  

Fair Electronics on Wednesday launched Samsung air conditioner manufacturing plant at Narsigndi’s Shibpur.