DHAKA, Aug 2, 2022 (BSS) - As part of materializing the 'Vision-2041' to transform the country into a developed one, the government has set a target of building 'Smart City' and 'Smart Village' within the period.

Since the present government has successfully implemented the 'Vision 2021' building the 'Digital Bangladesh', it is now working on developing ultramodern power grids, green economy and skills, recognizing freelancing as a profession and urban development to build an innovative 'Smart Bangladesh' with a merit-based economy by 2041.

The information was revealed at a high level workshop titled 'Vision-2041: Building Smart City and Smart Village in Bangladesh' Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) auditorium at ICT Tower in the city's Agargaon area on Monday, said a press release here today.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister Md Tazul Islam addressed the workshop as the chief guest while Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Science and Technology Minister Architect Yeafesh Osman and Posts, Telecommunications Minister  Mustafa Jabbar and Dhaka North City Mayor Atiqul Islam spoke at the function as special guests.

State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the event while Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam moderated it. a2i Project Director (joint secretary) Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir delivered the welcome address at the workshop.

Speaking at the function, Tazul said, "We have to deal with many issues to ensure a normal life for people living in cities. The ICT Division has already started working on many issues to provide people friendly services".

For the implementation of the 'Smart City', the master plan should be prepared taking the population living in the specific area into consideration, he added.

Dipu Moni, in his speech, emphasized on changing the mindset for building a 'Smart Bangladesh' and said, "We have to create a clear canvas of who will work and where will work, and keep coordination among everyone's work".

The government wants to build skilled manpower, who will be science-minded, technology friendly, used to using technology and efficient in innovating technologies, she added.

Science and Technology Minister Yeafesh Osman said it is possible to win only if hardware, software and human-ware simultaneously integrate each other.

Among those, human-ware or people have to play the prime role otherwise it will not be possible to use the digital tools properly despite having all the technologies, he added.

Mustafa Jabbar said that the digital connectivity will be the next development highway.

"Without this highway, neither the smart city nor the smart technology will be possible to implement. Bangladesh is (however) far ahead in the use of modern technology," he added.

Palak, in his closing remark, said 'Smart Bangladesh' of 2041 will be cost-effective, sustainable, intellectual, knowledge-based and innovative Bangladesh.

The well-thought-out opinions, advice and recommendations of the stakeholders revealed in this workshop organized by the ICT Division will guide the government to prepare the action plan for 'Smart Bangladesh 2041', he added.

Noting that smart healthcare, smart transportation, smart utilities, urban administration, public safety, agriculture, internet connectivity and disaster management should be ensured for implementing the "Smart City and Smart Village' vision, ICT state minister said, "That's why we have to focus on these four technologies: Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Microchip Designing and Manufacturing and Cyber Security".

In the workshop, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Vice Chancellor (VC) Satya Prasad Majumder, Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) VC Professor Dr. Lutful Hassan and other experts in the field took part as the panel discussants.

Speaking as a panelist, BUET VC said a Research and Innovation Center for Science and Engineering has already been set up at BUET to conduct researches on various technologies of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR).

For the development of remote villages of the country, work is being carried out to develop technologies suitable for agriculture, power and other sectors, Dr Lutful added.

Noting that BUET and BAU are working together to create smart agriculture, the BUET VC said smart agriculture is one of the major components for building 'Smart Village' while initiatives have been taken to use IoT devices for the smart agriculture.

At the onset of the workshop, Country Head of Nokia in Bangladesh Mohammad Ariful Islam projected a presentation on various cutting-edge technologies developed by Nokia Bell Labs for building smart cities and smart villages while and a2i Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury projected another presentation on the opportunities and possibilities of implementing the smart cities and smart villages in Bangladesh.

Officials from Science and Technology Ministry, Local Government Division, ICT Division and development agencies, representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, leaders of various organizations in the ICT sector, IT professionals, representatives of the telecom industry, IT experts and urban planners took part in the workshop.