BSS-35 Campaign for youths launched to fight COVID-19 enriching digital maps

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ZCZC

BSS-35

A2I-CHALLENGE-CAMPAIGN

Campaign for youths launched to fight COVID-19 enriching digital maps

DHAKA, April 8, 2020 (BSS) – A campaign titled “Bangladesh Challenge” has
been launched to empower the youths to enrich the Google Maps and Open Street
Maps inserting community locations staying at homes in a bid to help the
people track down the locations easily during the country’s locked down
situation triggered by COVID-19.

The a2i under the ICT Division and the Cabinet Division in association with
the UNDP and Grameenphone has initiated the campaign while State Ministry for
ICT Division Zunaid Ahmad Palak inaugurated it through a virtual press
conference this afternoon.

The youths staying at their respective homes could help the people easily
track down the community locations like pharmacies, supermarkets and
convenience stores and mobile phone recharge and cash-out points and their
hours of operation by inserting those locations in the Google Maps and Open
Street Maps.

Volunteers who are interested to participate in the challenge can register
at:

http://bangladeshchallenge.com and www.corona.gov.bd, and it will continue
till at April 30, 2020.

Addressing the press conference, Zunaid Ahmed Palak thanked the
Grameenphone for coming forward to help the a2i programme to enrich the
Google Maps and Open Street Maps.

He hoped that the youths taking part in the Bangladesh Challenge campaign
will bring a time befitting solution through the crowdsourcing by enriching
the Google Maps and Open Street Maps.

Former principal coordinator on the SDG Affairs at the Prime Minister’s
Office (PMO) and President of Bangladesh Scouts Md Abul Kalam Azar, a2i’s
Policy Advisor Anir Chowdhury, Grameenphone’s Chief Executive Office (CEO)
Yasir Azman and Founder and CEO of Preneur Lab Arif Nezami joined the virtual
press conference, among others.

Different partners, including Posts and Telecommunications Division,
Preneur Lab, Google Developer Group, Local Guides Bangla, Bangladesh Scouts
and Youth Hub, have been also affiliated with a2i in initiating this
campaign.

BSS/ASG/SAH/KU/2140 HRS