Union Digital Centre

KHULNA, Apr 20 (BSS): Entrepreneurs of 68 unions under nine upazilas in the district are providing digital services to around 5.0 million people through Union Digital Centre (UDC).

Over 200 entrepreneurs, including women, are now having better life through UDC after receiving training and government assistance.

"Though encouraged by my father, I learned computer after HSC exams. I passed my Degree courses while working at my brother's computer firm," said M Abdur Rahman of Sadar union under Terokhada upazila.

"I took charge of the computer firm of my elder brother as he left with a government job. I was appointed at UDC after getting training on computer and turned into a skilled worker," he said, adding, "I became recognised as an entrepreneur."

"I became owner of two computer firms in Terokhada bus terminal area and at least six youths are earning through UDC and besides on their education too," he said.

While visiting different UDC at Terokhada upazila this correspondent found that the entrepreneurs are providing prompt services to people including digitalise electricity bill payment, mobile banking, birth registrations and death certificate collection, result of public examinations, online university entry with necessary information, land parcha collection, filling up different online form along from agriculture and health issues.

People of neighbouring villages are also happy after receiving digital service with a very less service cost; Rahman said, adding, he earned Tk 50,000 from UDC last month.

Arun Saha, a businessman of Terokhada upazila said, "I take help to complete all my daily works through UDC."

He said, from digital service, I can fill up Indian Visa Form, check my necessary information related to my business.

Sammya Biswas, an entrepreneur of Sadar Union of the upazila said, hundreds of people are getting digital service everyday through UDC.

"I earned Tk 42, 000 on the last month from the UDC," Sammya said. His eyes were filled with tears as he recalled the hardship he suffered earlier.

While talking to Terokhada upazila UNO Liton Ali said, government has set up an extraordinary example in digitising the ICT service for common people at each union.

He said, jobless youth are getting job at the UDC facilitating people to get digital service and many of the youths are running their families as well as completing their education through the earning of UDC.

Khulna deputy commissioner Mohammad Helal Hossain said over 300 entrepreneurs of 68 unions under nine upazila have completed training on February last.

The objective of the training is to build up their capacity on management information system, internet technology and reporting about the overall activities of the UDC's through software development, he said.