The Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Mustafa Jabbar has said that the tradition must be preserved in digital technology. Technology should not be feared, neglected or abandoned, but the Bengali language, Bengali culture and heritage should be protected in its facilities. We can't go back to the sailing boat or the yoke, we can save the lost heritage with digital technology. He called upon all concerned to work for the advancement of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as an exporter from the country of importing digital products while upholding the heritage of Bengal.
The Minister was speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on "Role of Technology in Preservation of Heritage" jointly organized by SME Foundation and AFDB in Dhaka on Friday.
SME Foundation President. Masudur Rahman presided over the function while BGMEA President Faruk Hasan, AFDB chief Mantasha Ahmed, Walton Executive Director SM Zahid Hasan and Pathao CEO Fahim Ahmed spoke on the occasion.
The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications said that digital devices manufactured in Bangladesh have crossed the borders of Bangladesh and added that Bangladesh is exporting software to 70 countries of the world. Digital devices manufactured by Bangladesh are being exported to many countries of the world including Nepal, Nigeria and USA. Made in Bangladesh is playing a glorious role as the second largest manufacturer and exporter of garments in the world. Referring to the far-sighted technology-friendly policy of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the Minister said that Bangladesh is witnessing unimaginable success in exporting readymade garments as well as in the world of garment exporting countries following the Prime Minister's declaration on August 8, 2015 to establish Bangladesh as a producer and exporter of digital products. He mentioned that in the continuation of the Digital Bangladesh program announced in 2006, Bangladesh has been able to overcome the hundreds of years of backwardness in technology and be able to keep pace with the developed world. He said Bangladesh's teledensity was 30 percent when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's government took office in 2009. At present this rate has been raised to almost 100%. Whereas in 2008 there were 04 crore 46 lakh mobile subscribers, now it has crossed 18 crore 20 lakh. At that time there were only 4 million internet subscribers in the country, at present this number is about 12 crore 91 lakh. Where bandwidth usage was 7.5 Gbps, it has now surpassed 2600 Gbps.
xxThe Minister said that many people think that post office is no longer important in the digital age. But we are digitalizing the post office and the post office is emerging as the biggest tool for conducting digital commerce.
SME Foundation President Masudur Rahman said, "Our Bengali language is the most important part of the Bengali tradition. Mostafa Jabbar Saheb has done a historic job of writing Bangla very simply by applying Bangla language in computer.
BGMEA President Farooq Hasan assured to spread domestic technology and design around the world in the field of garment exports. Walton representative SM Zahid Hasan said that the reputation of our country and language is being spread all over the world through their electronic and digital products being ready in Bangladesh. Fahim Ahmed, Chief Executive Director of Pathao, announced his intention to introduce Bangladesh to the world through Pathao.
Speakers at the event emphasized on the need to preserve heritage as well as digital transformation.
Later, the Minister visited various stalls of the country's traditional cottage industry fair including tat industry organized by SME Foundation.