National ICT Policy 2018 on the cards

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DHAKA, June 10, 2018 (BSS)-The government has taken a move to prepare a new national ICT policy by amending the National ICT Policy 2015 to make it time befitting due to the emergence of 5G technology and fourth industrial revolution.

A draft of the proposed ‘The National ICT Policy 2018’ has already been prepared by the ICT Division keeping a provision to implement eight strategic issues including digital government, digital security, social equity and universal access to education, research and innovation, skill development and employment generation, strengthening domestic capacity to cope with the change of emerging technologies, said a media release.

The proposed ICT policy is aimed to bring a structural change in the existing National ICT Policy 2015 incorporating a 48-action plan in a separate annexure.

To discuss the proposed policy and accommodate more effective and constructive suggestions from the stakeholders in it, a workshop was organized by the ICT Division on Saturday at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC).

Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Mustafa Jabbar over a voice call spoke at the workshop that was split into inaugural and working sessions. LICT component team Sami Ahmed conducted the working session.

Urging the stakeholders to provide recommendations on the proposed draft policy to make a full-fledged national ICT policy at the advent of fourth industrial revolution, the minister said the government wants to prepare a policy which will remain untouched up to 10 years.

Jabbar said 5G is knocking at the door and the national ICT policy must focus on introduction of 5G before vision 2021.

Addressing as chief guest, ICT Secretary Subir Kishore Choudhury said the proposed policy is putting emphasis on policy ownership and monitoring of the initiatives to be taken in line with the implementation of digital Bangladesh.

Chaired by additional secretary of ICT Division Rashadul Islam the function was also addressed, among others, by executive director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Parthapratim Deb, LICT project director Md Rezaul Karim, Controller of Certifying Authority Abul Monsur Mohammad Sharif Uddin and joint secretary Md. Khairul Amin.