DHAKA, July 27, 2021 (BSS) - Congratulating Bangabandhu's grandson

Sajeeb Wazed Joy on his 51st birthday, Information and Broadcasting
Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said Bangladesh has been able to join
the fourth industrial revolution at right time because of Sajeeb Wazed
Joy and the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

   "Bangladesh has been able to join the fourth industrial revolution
when many developed countries could not do it. We are not legging
behind in using information technology and robotic system. Leadership
like Sajib Wazed Joy is needed in the digital era," he said.

   The minister said, "When we talked about the concept of 'Digital
Bangladesh' in 2008, many people joked with it . . . it (the concept)
was a dream at that time, but now it's a reality."

   The minister made the comments at a function organised by Krishak
League at Dhanmondi 32 marking the 51st birthday of Bangabandhu's
grandson and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's son Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

  Due to materialization of the "Digital Bangladesh" concept, the
brainchild of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ICT Affairs Adviser
Sajeeb Wazed, Hasan said Bangladesh has been linked to the fourth
industrial revolution for Joy.

   "Bangladesh has announced the concept of 'Digital Bangladesh' in
2008 while neighbouring India declared it in 2014. Even the United
Kingdom declared the concept after some years of Bangladesh," he
added.

  He said, "When the entire world gets paused due to COVID 19 pendemic
and when business and commerce and government services become stagnant
in lockdowns one after another, then everything was in operation in
Bangladesh and we can understand what the meaning of Digital
Bangladesh is."

   The minister said the GDP growth rate of the country was 6.1
percent in last fiscal and the per capita income has also been
increased. This is only possible for the digitalization, said Hasan,
also Awami League joint general secretary.

   He said every person including farmers, pregnant women and students
are getting benefit from the digitalization. "Pregnant women are
getting prescriptions from doctors through online. Students are
attending their classes through online during the prevailing COVID-19
situation," he added.

  The country, he said, is moving ahead under the leadership of Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sajeeb Wazed Joy stands beside her.

   Hasan also prayed for good health and long life of Joy.

   Awami League Relief and Social Welfare Secretary Sujit Roy Nandi,
Krishak League vice-president Sheikh Md Jahangir Alam, joint general
secretary Bishwanath Titu and Hosne Ara, among others, addressed the
function with its President Samir Chandra Chanda in the chair.

  Krishak League general secretary Umme Kulsum Smriti conducted it. A
doa mahfil was held after the function seeking good health of Joy.

   Later, the minister distributed health protection materials among
the activists of Krishak League.