DHAKA, Nov 4, 2019 (BSS) – A 12-member high-powered delegation of World
Bank led by Geir Haarde met State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak
at its conference room here today.
During the meeting Palak briefed the delegation about the activities of
Digital Bangladesh being implemented in line with its four pillars —
development of human resources, connectivity, e-governance and industry
promotion, said a press release.
The state minister said Bangladesh started journey towards digitization
following the bottom up approach to reduce digital divide. At the instruction
of the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina the government established over 4500
union digital centres to provide services to the people, he said.
“The villages are being brought under broadband internet connectivity to
reach government services to the doorstep of the people,” he said, adding
that 28 hi-tech parks are being established across the country to create
employment and expand IT industry.
Palak laid emphasis on three things — digitization, interoperable
digital payment platform and interoperable digital framework to improve UN’s
e-Government Development Index (EGDI).
The delegation also saw for themselves the operation of Tier-3 Data Centre
and activities of Cyber Security Incident Response Team (CIRT) and inquired
about the promotional activities of IT industries.
The WB financed Leveraging ICT for Growth, Employment and Governance
(LICT) Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under ICT Division
provided support to expand the Tier-3 Data Centre and form CIRT at BCC. It
also financed establishing e-government foundation and carrying out industry
promotion activities to enhance growth in ICT sector.
The delegation expressed satisfaction over the successful implementation
of different components of ICTD including LICT project which have become
national digital assets for Bangladesh.
The delegation members include – executive directors Geir Haarde, DJ
Nordquist, Patrizio Pagano, Jorge Chavez Presa, Jean-Claude Tchatchouang,
Herve de Villeroche, host directors, Kulaya Tantitemit, Aparna Subramani,
Merza Hasan, Alternative executive directors, Gerard Antioch, Nathalie
Francken.
Senior officials of ICT Division including senior secretary N M Zeaul
Alam, Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Hosne Ara Begum,
Executive Director of BCC Parthapratim Deb, Project Director of LICT Project
Md. Rezaul Karim and LICT Component Team Leader Sami Ahmed were present,
among others.