DHAKA: The government increased budgetary allocation for developing country’s information-technology sector with a view to building ‘Digital Bangladesh’ that will board the whole of the country on the global information superhighway.

In his budget speech in parliament Thursday, Finance Minister AMA Muhith proposed an allocation of TK 112 crore in 2010-11 fiscal from non-development budget, Tk 12 crore up from previous year’s mark, for developing the IT sector.

Besides, another lump allocation of Tk 200 crore has also been proposed in the existing Equity and Entrepreneurship Fund to promote IT entrepreneurship.

The Awami League-led Grand Alliance claims that they are on way to building up a ‘Digital Bangladesh’ by 2021.

The minister also said a total of 4,409 Union Parishad Bhabans would be brought under optical fibre network as a part of its effort to ensure internet connectivity in all Upazilas within next 5 years.

Muhith informed the parliament that steps have also been taken to establish 1 crore land-phone connections across the country and turn 8 thousand rural post offices in phases into Community Information Centers (CIC) within a short span of time.

“Due to the sincere efforts of the government, teledensity has gone up to 38 percent and the number of internet users to 6 in every 100 persons,” the Finance Minister added.

Regarding new submarine cable connection, he said a licensing policy has already been prepared and public opinion has been sought in this regard.

About implementation of ICT Roadmap he said it is well underway and a Digital-based Filing System has been introduced in the Ministry of Establishment and its subordinate offices.

BDST: 1752Hrs. June 10, 2010
TSA/SMS/MUA