RAJSHAHI, Oct 14, 2023 (BSS)- A six-day policy formulation training workshop for transforming Rajshahi into a smart city as part of building Smart Bangladesh by 2041 envisioned by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has begun here today.

Rajshahi City Corporation (RCC) is hosting the workshop titled "Smart Rajshahi City Master Plan Formulation" at Joy Silicon Tower of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-tech Park supported by The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division.

Design and planning groups, including smart public service, smart governance, smart leadership, D-file and paperless solution, urban development and mobility, smart city living, smart city plan, smart citizen and smart economy, were formed for the training.

Earlier, the RCC signed a bilateral memorandum of understanding (MoU) with A2I of the ICT division in this regard.

City Mayor AHM Khairuzzaman addressed the opening ceremony as chief guest while Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University Prof Golam Sabbir Sattar spoke as special guest with RCC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr ABM Sharif Uddin in the chair.
 
Farhad Zahid Sheikh, Planning Coordinator of Smart Rajshahi City- Smart Bangladesh Design Lab and A2I Chief (E-Governance), gave an overview of the issue during his keynote presentation while Project Director Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan welcomed the participants.
 
In addition to the RCC's officials concerned, academics, corporate and other officials are taking part in the workshop for formulating a strategy plan for smart Rajshahi on the basis of suggestions and recommendations of the experts concerned.
 
They will also put forward the recommendations related to establishing Smart Bangladesh Design Laboratory for formulating design and planning with the ultimate goal for building smart Rajshahi city.

In his remarks, Mayor Liton hoped that the training workshop will expose and portray a sustainable roadmap through which the citizens will get a clear idea about smart Rajshahi city.

After formulating the smart Rajshahi city planning, those will be implemented in phases in the years to come.

He urged the participants to formulate a sustainable planning and roadmap on smart Rajshahi city with sincere and intensive participation in the six-day training so that the city dwellers can derive total benefits of it.