DHAKA, Nov 11, 2023 (BSS) - State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak today 
said that the digital centre will emerge as a role model for the 'Smart 
Bangladesh' that is envisaged to be materialized by 2041. 

"The initiative (digital centre) has gained international recognition and it 
will be the model for Smart Bangladesh," he said. 

Palak said this at a function organized by a2i at Singra in Natore, marking 
the 13th founding anniversary of the Digital Centre, said a press release 
here today. 

Noting that this model (digital centre) is being replicated in many 
countries, including the Philippines, South Africa, Ghana, and Cambodia, the 
state minister said the government planned to set up 1,000 village digital 
centers across the country by 2024 to make the digital services accessible to 
all village people. 

"We are setting up village digital centres so that no one remains left behind 
from availing smart services in the 'Smart Bangladesh'. Besides, 20 lakh 
youths will be given training on smart skills and employment by the next 
year," he added. 

Moreover, the government is also working on creating smart villages and 
citizens through various initiatives, Palak said. 

Previously people had to travel to upazila or district headquarters to avail 
different services like birth and death registrations, paying bills and 
completing registration to go abroad and face different difficulties, he 
said, adding, but the landmark initiative (digital centre) of Prime Minister 
Sheikh Hasina has reached all the services to doorsteps of the country's 
people, saving time and money.

Over 17,800 male and female entrepreneurs of 9,397 digital centers are 
delivering more than 385 types of public and private services to the citizens 
across the country, Palak said, adding, the entrepreneurs have so far saved 
78.14 percent of time, 16.55 percent of cost and 17.38 percent of the 
traveling times of the citizens.

At the function Palak inaugurated training programmes for the BDSET Centre, 
Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centre, and 'Her Power Project' under 
the initiative of the Bangladesh India Digital Service and Employment 
Training Centre.
 
The best female and male entrepreneurs selected by the district and upazila 
administrations were given awards at the event for their annual performance.

Project Director of a2i Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Natore Superintendent of 
Police Md Tariqul Islam, Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center 
Project Deputy Project Director (deputy secretary) Md Mokhtar Ahmed and 
Project Director of Bangladesh-India Digital Services and Employment Training 
Center Project Md Amirul Islam were present at the function, among others.

Natore Deputy Commissioner Abu Nasser Bhuiyan presided over the event while 
deputy project director of ICT Division's 'Her Power Project' Nilufa Yasmin 
moderated it.