Cautioning all against any misuse of ICT, President Abdul Hamid on Wednesday said united efforts are needed to check cyber attacks which are increasingly becoming a threat to state secrecy, finance and bank management and even the privacy of individuals.
Referring to the Bangladesh Bank’s reserve heist, the President said such cyber attacks have put the financial and banking system on a threat and it has become a matter of concern for all.
“We’ve to think how the society, nation and the state should be protected from such misuse of ICT. I think cyber attack is one type of war that destroys state secrecy, weakens the financial and banking management and above all hampers personal privacy,” the President said while addressing the opening ceremony of the programme organized marking the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day.
In his speech, the President highlighted the immense potential of ICT for the development of the society and said the present government is committed to building a Bangladesh based on technology, knowledge and non-communal ideology. The government has been working relentlessly for reaching telecommunication and ICT facilities at the grassroots level through massive infrastructure development since 2009, he said, adding that Information and Service Centre (ISC) has been set up at union level and computer lab and multimedia classroom have been established in educational institutions.
President Hamid said setting up of national data centre, the move to introduce digital signature and setting up hi-tech parks at different places, bringing all ministries, divisions and government offices under a single network bear the evidence of development in the ICT sector. The number of telephone and internet users is increasing day by day, he said, adding that the government has taken all necessary measures to launch the country’s first satellite ‘Bangabandhu-1’ in 2017 which will enrich the country’s ICT sector more.
The President urged the country’s private sector to work alone with the government to reach the outcome of the ICT at every level of the state, society and people, saying that it is difficult for the government alone to ensure the ICT facilities for the 16 crore people of the country.
State Minister for the Post and Telecommunication Division Tarana Halim, State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Imran Ahmed, Post and Telecommunication Division Secretary Faizur Rahman Chowdhury and BTRC Chairman Dr Shajahan Mahmud were present at the programme.
