Dhaka: The Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar has said that the major challenge of digitalisation is a lack of awareness.
The Minister while speaking as the chief guest at the virtual inauguration ceremony of a four-day program organized by the BCS Computer City Management Committee on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of the establishment of BCS Computer City in Dhaka today.
The minister said: 35 % of the total mobile phone users in the country use smartphones.
With the expansion of 4G network and broadband internet connection across the country, the number of smartphone users will suddenly increase from 85 % to 90 %, he said.
“We are entering the 5G era this year. This modern version of technology will be an industrial product,” he said.
Mustafa Jabbar, former president of Agradut BCS, described the various initiatives of BCS since 1987, including computer fairs in and outside Dhaka, to make people aware and involved in computer technology and the need to use it.
He said the VAT-tax on computers was withdrawn in 1998 under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
This was followed by a revolutionary change in the development of computer technology in the country – a step was taken to build a digital Bangladesh. He noted that the Digital Bangladesh program has set an example in the world in the last 12 years.
He said that in 2008 only 8 Gbps internet bandwidth was used in the country but now it has been increased to 26.5 Gbps.
He recalled with respect the contribution of the then leaders of the party.
BSS president Shahid-ul Munir and former president Abdullah H Kafi were present on the occasion. Ahmed Hasan Jewel, Sabur Khan, former general secretary from USA Munem Rana, BCCS general secretary Monirul Islam Moni, BCS leader Bhuiyan Enam Lelin, Rafiqul Anwar, Habibur Rahman Shaheen, Moinul Islam Moin spoke on the occasion.
Later, the Minister inaugurated the four-day event virtually on the occasion of the 22nd anniversary of BCS Computer City.
