The Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Mustafa Jabbar said that Bangladesh is a proof that digitization can bring about an unimaginable transformation of a country. The journey from analog to digital was not easy. After 1996, under the patronage of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, computers and mobile phones became accessible to the common people in Bangladesh and the foundation of the digital industrial revolution was laid. In this regard, Bangladesh Computer Society has played an important role in advancing this revolution of transition from analog age to digital age, said the Minister.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the unveiling ceremony of a book titled 'Digital Bangladesh and We from a Rotational Analog' written by Abdullah H Kafi, a former president of the Association and Digital Revolution and Bangladesh, at a hotel in Dhaka on Monday night.
BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder, former President of Bangladesh Computer Association SM Kamal, Founder President of BASIS A Touhid, Editor-in-Chief of Ekattar Television Mozammel Babu, Journalist Munir Hasan and Pallab Mohaimen Promukha presided over the function.
The Minister of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology said that Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in the field of digital connectivity.
Mentioning that one country one rate has been introduced to make internet price easily available, he said, "In 2008, the price of internet per Mbps was Tk 27,000. We have reduced it to only Tk 60." Former BCS and BASIS President Mustafa Jabbar, a pioneer in computer technology development, said that withdrawal of VAT tax on computers, issuance of licenses to 4 mobile operators to stop monopoly of mobiles, internet connection through V-SAT, formation of JRC committee and implementation of committee report. Through the adoption, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation of Digital Bangladesh from 1996 to 2001. Following this, Bangladesh has been able to keep pace with the developed countries in the world of digital technology through its Digital Bangladesh program announced in 2006. The minister cites author Abdullah H Kafi's book Avart as an important reference in the history of the country's digital industrial revolution. He hopes that today's generation of boys and girls will have a clear idea of the country's computer revolution and will be inspired to create their own.
Writer Abdullah H Kafi, who started his career as a computer instructor in 1980, commented that a handful of people laid the foundation for the development of the country's information technology industry by overcoming numerous obstacles. He said that he has brought the heroes of digital technology development in the book.
Speakers said that computers came to Dhaka in 1964 but it is safe to say that computers were not used till 70s. The author elaborates on this situation, which will serve as a source of inspiration for the new generation.
