Smart Bangladesh will be developed by 2041: Prime Minister

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said that her government is working to transform the country from digital to 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041.

He said, "We will make Bangladesh a developed country in the next 41 years." And that Bangladesh will be Smart Bangladesh. We will move from Digital Bangladesh to Smart Bangladesh.”

He said that the government is working to successfully implement the four pillars of building 'Smart Bangladesh'. These are Smart Citizen, Smart Economy, Smart Government and Smart Society. We have not stopped here, we have also planned how the delta of 2100 will be.

In Smart Bangladesh everything will be through technology. Mentioning that the citizens will be skilled in the use of technology and the entire economy will be managed through it, the Prime Minister said that huge efforts have already been made to make the government and society smart.

Mentioning the young generation as soldiers to transform Bangladesh into a developed and prosperous country, he said, you (youth) should be prepared as smart citizens as soldiers of 2041.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said this while addressing the chief guest at a program organized to celebrate Digital Bangladesh Day-2022 this morning. Prizes were distributed among the winners of 'Online Quiz Competition 2022' and 'Digital Bangladesh Award' at the event.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister inaugurated Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park, Joy Silicon Tower, Bangabandhu Digital Museum and a Cineplex in Rajshahi and Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center in Barisal district.

The Department of Information and Communication Technology organized the event at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital.

The Prime Minister also unveiled the digital and print editions of two books on Sheikh Kamal and Digital Bangladesh.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology AKM Rahmatullah MP spoke on the occasion.

Information and Communication Technology Department Senior Secretary NM Ziaul Alam delivered the welcome address.

On the occasion of the 14th anniversary of the creation of Digital Bangladesh, the theme song of Digital Bangladesh Day-2022, an audio visual documentary on Digital Bangladesh was presented at the event.

On December 12, 2008, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the creation of Digital Bangladesh as the main foundation of 'Vision 2021'.

Referring to the steps taken by the government to formulate one after another plans for the development of the country and implement them, the head of government said that the Delta Plan of 2100 and the projected plan of 2021 to 2041 have also been formulated. In other words, we have formulated a framework and plan for the development of Bangladesh from 21 to 41 and I am leaving it for the people of Bangladesh. Generation after generation of this delta is saved from climate shock, the country is developed and they can live smartly independently and beautifully in developed countries. I made that arrangement too.

  He said, now everything depends on our young generation and youth society. "Power of Youth, Development of Bangladesh". This was our 2018 election manifesto. We are doing that. Bangladesh got the status of a developing country only during the celebration of the birth centenary of the father of the nation in 2020 and the golden jubilee of independence in 2021.

The Prime Minister said that his government has already implemented digital Bangladesh as per the election promise in 2008 by implementing various initiatives in the field of efficient human resource development, ICT infrastructure and connectivity, e-government and industry promotion. Provided broadband connectivity across the country and launched satellite Bangabandhu-1.

The prime minister credited the achievements of his son and information and communication technology adviser Sajib Wazed Joy as the mastermind behind Bangladesh's transformation, saying, "I might not have been able to do it if my son Joy had not advised me."

In 1992, during the BNP regime, the government of Khaleda Zia rejected it on the pretext of 'information smuggling' when it wanted to provide free submarine cable line to connect South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe. On the other hand, after coming to power after 21 years, the Awami League government made an agreement to import computers from the Netherlands at half price for 10,000 schools in the country, only because the company was named 'Tulip' after the daughter of Sheikh Rehana, the current British Labor Party MP Tulip Siddiqui. The prime minister pointed out the example of their ignorance as they did not get a computer and got rid of a lot of firewood by paying a fine of 32 crore rupees.

He said, in 1996 we came to the government and adopted new policies for the development of this sector. We take initiatives to develop IT-Village and Hi-Tech-Park for the development of software, data-entry, data-processing. Allow duty free import of computers, computer parts and software.

Sheikh Hasina also said that no work has stopped even in the midst of the corona virus epidemic as there is connectivity in remote areas to build digital Bangladesh.

The Prime Minister said, we have ensured the expansion and development of information and communication technology in cities as well as in rural areas and even in Dwip-Pahar-Haur-Char areas. During Corona, many people got the opportunity to earn money by working at home. At present, there are about 8 thousand 800 digital centers in the country. Where a woman and a