DHAKA, Nov 24, 2022 (BSS) - State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak today said over 13 crore people are now using the internet and 5.75 crores are using the social media Facebook in the country. 
 
"Besides, 6 lakh people are working as freelancers across the country," he said while addressing a freshers' reception and cultural function at Atish Dipankar University of Science and Technology (ADUST) in the city's Uttara area.

At the onset of the event, Palak inaugurated the Robotics, Mechatronics and Auto Machine Engineering Department by cutting a cake and a ribbon.
 
ADUST Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Zahangir Alam presided over the function while Dhaka University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), Gazipur, Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Md Habibur Rahman, Chairman of the ADUST Board of Trustees Md Liakat Ali Sikdar and University Grants Commission (UGC) Director (private university division) Mohammad Omar Faruque spoke as special guests. 
 
Palak urged the ADUST students to acquire knowledge of ICT and become skilled in information and technology for continuing the development spree in the ICT sector.
 
Noting that under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the present government is working to create smart entrepreneurs through digital centres as part of building 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041, he said the government is giving utmost importance to the information and technology sector to continue the trend of development.