DHAKA, Feb 9, 2023 (BSS) - Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar today called for ensuring digital security to build the "Smart Bangladesh", saying that the digital security would be a big challenge to achieve the goal. 

"If the challenge of digital security is not addressed, it could have negative consequences," he told a seminar on "Smart Connectivity for Smart Bangladesh" in the city. 

The Telecom and Technology Reporters Network, Bangladesh (TRNB) organized the seminar, said a press release. 

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder was present at the event while telecom expert TIM Nurul Kabir presented a keynote in the seminar.
 
Highlighting the growing number of fraud cases related to financial gambling over the internet as a concern, Jabbar emphasized on the need to educate people about the merits and demerits of technology before they start using it.

He said broadband connectivity up to villages would be a key to build the infrastructure for the 'Smart Bangladesh'.

In his keynote paper, Kabir suggested the BTRC to take projects to find out areas, which are lagging behind and need to be improved further. 

"We have shown a lot of success in building Digital Bangladesh. But if we indulge in self-satisfaction, we won't be able reach the Smart Bangladesh goal by 2041," he said. 

Kabir also suggested the BTRC to look after the quality of all service providers instead of monitoring mobile operators only. 

Some internet service providers shared the obstacles they face in operating the business and sought the ministry's and regulator's intervention to prevent these barriers, he said. 

Emphasising on active sharing among ISP operators, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) President Md Emdadul Hoque said permission is required to make connectivity more accessible.
 
He also requested the telecom regulator to facilitate the operator in growing further, instead of capping expansion. 

Sumon Ahmed Sabir, chief technology officer at Fiber@ Home, said, "The first thing we need is to set our target and build infrastructure. If we want to make our education and health sectors smart, we need to see where we are now and where our connectivity level needs to be developed". 

To achieve the target, he said, all stakeholders and users need to work together.

Secretary General of Association of Mobile Operators of Bangladesh Brigadier General (retd) SM Farhad, Director General (System and Services) of BTRC Brigadier General Md Nasim Parvez, and Secretary General of ISPAB Nazmul Karim Bhuiyan spoke at the seminar, among others.
 
TRNB President Rashed Mehedi chaired the event while General Secretary SM Masuduzzaman Robin delivered the welcome address.