DHAKA, Nov 19, 2023 (BSS) - State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak today said that country's development philosophy was first visualized and foresighted by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

"At the 29th session of the United Nations General Assembly, Bangabandhu appealed to all leaders of the world to establish a humane world through the correct and equal use and application of all resources, technical knowledge, science and technology for all make us think now how visionary he was," Palak told discussion as the chief guest. 

 The event on implementation of Smart Bangladesh, under the initiative of A2I at the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Academy (IDEA), held at ICT Tower in Agargaon, said a release.

"Following that visionary philosophy, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and under the supervision of Prime Minister's ICT Adviser Sajib Wazed Joy, we are able to implement Digital Bangladesh with four main goals in mind: skilled human resources, affordable internet for all, technology-based government services at people's doorsteps, and development of the ICT industry," He said.
 
The State Minister said, "Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina officially announced the construction of Smart Bangladesh based on four pillars of Smart Citizen, Smart Economy, Smart Government and Smart Society on Digital Bangladesh Day on December 12, 2022. These four pillars have been determined by ICT Advisor Sajib Wazed Joy. Just like Bangabandhu, his worthy successors are also farsighted."
 
Talking about the future of 'Sonar Bangla', Palak said, "Smart government will be citizen-centric, more transparent and accountable. In a smart government system, all types of service delivery and operations will be paperless, data-driven, interconnected, interoperable, integrated and automated. And smart society will be non-discriminatory, inclusive, and equitable," the release added.
 
M. Samsul Arefin, Secretary of Information and Communication Technology Department, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mahfuzul Islam, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Digital University and M. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Project Director of Aspire to Innovate Project, also spoke at the event, among others.