The ministries of foreign affairs and post, telecommunications and information technology have started campaign to re-elect Bangladesh as a member of the Council of International Telecommunication Union (ITU). Post and Telecommunications Division (PTD) has formulated a primary campaign plan to get the support of the ITU member states for Bangladesh in the election of the council, the highest body of the United Nations specialized agency that works to formulate policy and regulation on global telecommunications, said officials.Bangladesh is now serving as the ITU council member (2010-2014 Period) from Asia and Australia region after being elected in October, 2010.The next election of ITU Council will be held in the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference on 20 October to 7 November in Busan, South Korea.Officials said the PTD on Sunday organised a preparatory meeting at its conference room with Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddique in the chair.Officials from the foreign ministry, PTD, ICT division and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) joined the meeting.Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister directed all concerned officials to work properly to re-elect Bangladesh as a member of ITU Council.PDT officials said they have formulated “Country Position Paper” as per the requirement of Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Country Position Paper will be sent to the member countries seeking their support for the election.Besides, Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Abdul Latif Siddique himself will send letter to his counterparts of the ITU member countries.As a member of Asia Pacific Telecommunity (APT) and Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO), Bangladesh will seek support to its other members, the officials added. They also informed BTRC will also send letters to the regulatory bodies of the ITU members seeking vote in favour of Bangladesh.In addition, a high powered team will be sent to the Council Meeting-2014, which is scheduled to be held in Geneva next June. During the meeting, reception programme for the higher officials of the member countries would be organised for drawing attention in favour of Bangladesh.Brochure and other souvenirs would also be distributed among the members as part of the campaign.The election of 48 ITU Council members used to take place after every four years where 193 ITU members cast their vote. Bangladesh will compete from Asia and Australia regions where election will be held for 13 posts.
