5.0m people 'use Internet services in country'
Friday, 25 December 2009
FE Report
ICT Secretary Abdul Awal Majumder Thursday said about 5.0 million (50 lakh) people in Bangladesh use Internet services, offered by the mobile phone operators and Internet service providers.
"About 4.6 million mobile phone subscribers use Internet services, while 0.4 million people access the service through public and private companies," the secretary revealed during a press briefing on 'Digital Bangladesh' at the Information Directorate in the city.
He also forecast that by 2015, the country's 30 per cent landscape would come under Internet coverage as the government plans to bring the entire country under Internet coverage by 2021.
More than 77 access points have already been set up across the country to offer easy Internet access to the rural population in affordable cost, Majumdar added.
On complaints that government websites are not updated regularly, the secretary said: "Each ministry has assigned a joint secretary to monitor these activities and review them every 15 days."
He said his ministry will monitor whether the assigned officials are doing their jobs properly.
The present government in its election manifesto pledged to build a nation well-equipped with state-of-the-art information technology under the banner 'Digital Bangladesh'.
Explaining the theme Majumder said: "Digital Bangladesh does not mean availability of computer everywhere."
"It's a modern philosophy to apply modern technologies in education, health and employment generation, alleviation of poverty and dealing with the impact of crises created due to climate change."
"Computer is only a tool here," he said.
ICT Secretary Abdul Awal Majumder Thursday said about 5.0 million (50 lakh) people in Bangladesh use Internet services, offered by the mobile phone operators and Internet service providers.
"About 4.6 million mobile phone subscribers use Internet services, while 0.4 million people access the service through public and private companies," the secretary revealed during a press briefing on 'Digital Bangladesh' at the Information Directorate in the city.
He also forecast that by 2015, the country's 30 per cent landscape would come under Internet coverage as the government plans to bring the entire country under Internet coverage by 2021.
More than 77 access points have already been set up across the country to offer easy Internet access to the rural population in affordable cost, Majumdar added.
On complaints that government websites are not updated regularly, the secretary said: "Each ministry has assigned a joint secretary to monitor these activities and review them every 15 days."
He said his ministry will monitor whether the assigned officials are doing their jobs properly.
The present government in its election manifesto pledged to build a nation well-equipped with state-of-the-art information technology under the banner 'Digital Bangladesh'.
Explaining the theme Majumder said: "Digital Bangladesh does not mean availability of computer everywhere."
"It's a modern philosophy to apply modern technologies in education, health and employment generation, alleviation of poverty and dealing with the impact of crises created due to climate change."
"Computer is only a tool here," he said.