Govt works not suspended even for a day in pandemic: Minister
The government had been able to do so, thanks to the country’s advancement in technology
State Minister for information and communication technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said the government's administrative works were not off even for a day during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have approved more than 10 lakh e-files in last eight months. All the administrative works ranging from the prime minister's office to the union parishad were not stopped for a single day though government offices, courts and all other institutions were shuttered owing to virus-led public holidays," he told a press conference in Dhaka Friday on the occasion of "Digital Bangladesh Day 2020".
The day will be celebrated on 12 December across the country and Bangladesh embassies abroad this year with the theme "Despite Maintaining Social Distancing, I Am Still Connected".
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Palak said the government had been able to do that as a result of advancement in technology.
"Our 10 lakh young people are in online freelancing," said Palak, adding that 6.5 lakh Bangladeshi freelancers are working on international platforms.
"More than 50,000 young people are working in the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector. And, e-commerce sales during the pandemic saw 30-50% rise."
He said, "When Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina rolled out 'Digital Bangladesh Vision' on 12 December 2008, the vision was only for one leader, and it was only for the Awami League."
"But after winning the election on 29 December, it turned out to be the image of the government. And now Digital Bangladesh is not limited to just dreams or visions, it is a reality now. Now people are getting the benefits of it."
The occasion was told that "Digital Bangladesh Day" will be celebrated this year for the fourth time both online and offline due to the pandemic.
An international seminar will be organised on the day celebrating the 12-year journey under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The prime minister's ICT Adviser SajeebWazed Joy will present the keynote at the programme.
World Information Technology and Services Alliance Secretary Dr James H Posisant and Former Microsoft Bangladesh Managing Director Sonia Bashir Kabir will be present as panel discussants at the seminar.
President Abdul Hamid will inaugurate the main event of the day as well as the award distribution ceremony through videoconferencing.
There will also be an online quiz contest. The winners will get laptops and mobile phones. Registration for the online quiz competition began on 26 November, and continue to 7 December.
The participants will have to register at quiz.degitalbangladesh.gov.bd. The quiz competition will be held on 8 December.
Among others, NM Zeaul Alam, senior secretary of ICT Division and ABM Arshad Hossain, director general of ICT Division, addressed the press conference.
