President asks to remain alert against misuse of IT 

President asks to remain alert against misuse of IT 

DHAKA, Nov 11, 2021 (BSS) –

President M Abdul Hamid today asked concerned
experts to be vigilant in tackling the misuse of information technology (IT).

“Information technology has, on the one hand, opened the door of huge
opportunities for us. But, it has also increased challenges due to its misuse
and fraudulences,” he said.

He addressed the inaugural function of four-day World Conference on
Information and Communication Technology on “World Congress on IT (WCIT)-
2021” and “Associo Digital Summit-2021” joining virtually from Bangabhaban
Gallery Hall here.

The president categorically urged the IT professionals to remain alert in
confronting the challenges related to IT.

Noting that the exchange and transfer of IT has added a new dimension to
global development, he said, “But it is also important to ensure its
sustainable use”.

President Hamid also called upon the government as well as private
entrepreneurs, professionals and all concerned to come forward to meet the
challenges and explore the potentials at the advent of the Fourth Industrial
Revolution.

“In order to implement Digital Bangladesh, we need to create skilled human
resources enriched with modern technological knowledge at this Fourth
Industrial Revolution era,” he added.

Hamid called the year of 2021 as a unique and memorable in the history of
the Bengali nation, saying the country is simultaneously celebrating twin
mega historic events – – the birth centenary of Father of the Nation
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the golden jubilee of Bangladesh
Independence.

“Digital Bangladesh is no longer a dream but a reality,” he said, adding
that the country’s education and judicial activities, healthcare, banking
services, etc. have become dependent on IT.

The head of the state said in 2009, only eight lakh people of the country
got internet service, but at present the number of internet users is over 12
crore.

He also said simultaneously, the number of mobile phone users has
increased more than four times.

Bangabandhu laid the foundation of science research and information and
communication technology with far-sighted thinking and subsequently
Bangladesh became a member of ITU on September 5 in 1973, he added.

But, after brutal assassination of Bangabandhu by the anti-liberation
forces on August 15, 1975, the progress of ICT in Bangladesh came to a halt,
said Hamid.

After 21 years, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the worthy successor of the
Father of the Nation, took pragmatic steps, including development of
infrastructure for the advancement of information technology in the country,
he said.

The president said the government in last one decade executed many plans,
including the four pillars of Digital Bangladesh – connectivity, efficient
human resource development, e-government and ICT industry promotion resulting
in an unprecedented development of ICT here.

“The digital distance between cities and villages is shrinking . . .
Government successfully reduced the cost of internet bandwidth, developed
infrastructure, brought digital devices within the reach and delivered
services at the people’s doorsteps,” he mentioned.

He added that people are now availing more than two hundred civic services
staying at home through mobile phones.

The president said the digital economy is developing in the country with the
implementation of Digital Bangladesh.

Software and IT services developed in Bangladesh are being provided to
more than 80 countries of the world including USA, Europe, Canada and
Australia, he said.

Hamid said exports in the IT sector have exceeded 1.3 billion US dollars,
hoping that by 2025, the revenue earned from IT will exceed 5 billion and the
contribution of software and ICT services to GDP will increase to 5 percent.

Keeping this goal in mind, the present government has set up 39 high-tech
and software technology parks, IT training and incubation centers across the
country, the president mentioned.

Regarding freelancing, he said that the young generation is becoming self-
reliant through freelancing. “Our position is second in terms of the number
of freelancers in the world,” he said.

There are 6 lakh active freelancers in the country and identity cards are
being provided to them for their professional excellence, he mentioned.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, ICT Division’s Senior Secretary
NM Ziaul Alam, Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council Dr Md Abdul
Mannan, Witsar Chairman Yannis Siros and Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS)
President Md Shahid-ul-Munir, among others, spoke on the occasion.