Prime minister Sheikh Hasina’s IT adviser Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed Joy has said he is not happy with the state and prices of internet services in Bangladesh.
He stressed policy changes to facilitate easy access to quality internet for all.
Joy held met government officials, the telecom regulator, and state and private internet providers on Monday at prime minister’s residence, Ganabhaban.
“On my facebook page, fans request me to do something to bring down internet costs and increase speeds,” he said at the outset.
He said the quality of internet service had raised questions in his mind as well.
“Whenever I travel, I check the local internet. In my experience, we have problems with our internet service and speed,” he said.
“I wanted to sit with those who provide the services. I wanted to know what the problems are. If needed, we will put our heads together to reach an understanding and reform the policies as necessary,” he told the meeting.
“We have to overcome the problems of pricing and take broadband to the union level,” he said.
Joy said he had asked the regulatory commission to define broadband as 1 mbps connection.
“I don’t consider 256 kbps to be broadband. We have changed the policy to make broadband 1 mbps,” he said.
Speakers at the event said the government, as part of its Digital Bangladesh agenda, was bringing internet to the grassroots at affordable prices and digitising public services.
For this, information centres have been set up in 4,500 unions since the Awami League came to power in 2009.
Computer labs with internet connections have been installed in 25,000 schools. The government plans to introduce the facility to all schools.
A telemedicine project to make the services of specialists from urban centres available to rural patients is currently underway.
State Minister for IT Zunaid Ahmed Palak conducted the meeting.
Source: Bd news24
