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Growth of ICT A Landmark in History

Rashed Khan Menon
Telecommunication or information and communication technology (ICT) are 'power-houses' of global economy - principal tools for gearing up the forward march of national progress. There is no alternative to flourishing ICT for expediting the ongoing efforts for establishing a Digital Bangladesh through implementation of Vision-2021. The journey for flourishing modern telecommunication technology in this country was started by the greatest hero in the thousand-year old history of the Bengali nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. It was through his initiative in 1973 that Bangladesh obtained membership of International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and the functioning of Betbunia Satellite Earth Station commenced on 14 June 1975. As a continuation of this, Bangladesh under the dynamic leadership of Bangabandhu's illustrious daughter, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was elected a council member of ITU in 2011 by a huge margin defeating some powerful countries of Asia. This has not only bolstered the image of the country in the international telecommunication arena, but also created opportunities for a stronger role by Bangladesh in the global sphere.
The 3-G services will be identified as a milestone in the history of flourishing the telecommunication technology in this country. As a result, it is now possible to get high-speed internet services through mobile telephone. Faster exchanges of information and data and their easy availability have thereby been made possible. The mobile telephone subscribers are using high-tech digital services including video calls. The use of digital technology on a wider scale in all areas including education, research, industries, agriculture and the service sectors has been ensured. Opportunities have been created for employment of educated youths in the country. The implementation of Vision-2021 for building a prosperous nation through establishment of a Digital Bangladesh will be expedited and will provide inspiration to all.
Various programmes are being undertaken and implemented for reaching ICT facilities to the grassroots people. Notable programmes include assembly of quality laptops and notbooks at a reduced price, introduction of Wi-max service, programme for launching Bangabandhu Satellite in space, reform of existing laws on telecommunication services, and sanction of terrestrial, IGW, ICX and IIGW licences. Almost all mobile operators have been granted 3-G and VSP licences. E-services and video-conferencing facilities are being provided by linking the Prime Minister's Office with the offices of all Divisional and Deputy Commissioners through high-speed network.
Work is in progress on installation of optical fibre up to the union level for reaching the benefits of technology to the people. Tele-density has risen to 67 percent from the previous 30 percent during the past five years. Around 95 percent area of the countiy and 100 percent people have now come under the purview of Tele-network. The utilisation of submarine cable bandwidth has surpassed 40 gigabytes per second (GBPS) from the previous 7 GBPS. The average national GBPS has risen to 200 from the previous 44 due to the expansion at Cox's Bazar landing station of Bangladesh submarine cable. The number of mobile and PSTN subscribers has risen from 40 million to almost 110 million. The bandwidth charge has been fixed at Taka 4,800 from the previous Taka 27,000. A uniform rate of 30 paisa per minute has been set for telephone bills throughout the country. International call rate has been reduced and mobile telephone services have been extended to the three hill districts.
If this trend continues, Bangladesh will occupy a glorious position as a self-respecting nation of the world even before 2021. She will most definitely reach her cherished goal.
The present government has formulated the ICT Act and Policy in order to make the information and communication technology easily accessible and investment-friendly. Scope has been created for sending mobile SMS in Bangla. The new generation is getting habituated with the applications of information technology. E-books have been prepared for texts at primary and secondary education levels. Computer education has been made compulsory at primary and secondary stages and introduced even at lower secondary level. All schools are being provided with computers. Multimedia classrooms are being set up. Trainings are being imparted for enhancing ICT skills. Various e-services have been launched by the present government including e-governance, e-commerce, e-health, e-education and e-banking. A total of 120 such services are now available. The people can pay electricity, water and gas bills over mobile phones. They can purchase train tickets in the same way. Results of public examinations are now published online, which can also be obtained via SMS. Applications for admission to colleges and universities can now be lodged online. Skilled manpower in ICT are being groomed. Work has started on setting up a hi-tech park at Kaliakoir of Gazipur. An e-information portal has been set up and four thousand and 582 union information and service centres have been put into operation. Over 4 million people are receiving services from these centres each month. Opportunities have been created for employment generation. People's right to information has been ensured.
Arrangement has been made for distributing 'Doel Laptops' among the students. Availability of information services among the grassroots people will also be facilitated as a result. Mobile money order service has been introduced at 2,750 post offices of the country. Work is in progress for converting around 8,500 post offices into e-post-offices. Steps are underway to install the second submarine cable of the country at Kuakata. As a result, it will be possible to earn foreign exchange through export of bandwidth after meeting the domestic demands. By utilising the gifts of technology, our struggle now is to apply the hands of 163.2 million people of the country as a tool for building a self-respecting nation. Everybody has to work together for the purpose by getting imbued with patriotism.
(The writer is the Honourable Minister for Post and Telecommunication Government of the People's Republic ofBangladesh.)
TranslatiomDr. Helal Uddin Ahmed
According to the expectation of the people of the country government achieved remarkable success in the last five years in building a happy, prosperous Digital Bangladesh rekindled with the spirit of our Liberation War. During this phase different effective steps and initiatives have been taken putting importance in the sectors of economics, education, science and technology, health, social safety, environmental issues, telecommunication and infrastructural development and so on. This has created an opportunity for Bangladesh to be a middle income country. Besides these, the country is being called Digital Bangladesh due to its all out use of information technology and its benefit.
At present the per capita income of the people of Bangladesh has crossed 1 thousand US dollars. If the present growth rate 6.2 percent remains on by 2016, our per capita income will reach 1 thousand 235 US dollars. According to the World Bank, any country is considered to be a middle income country if its per capita income crosses 1 thousand 36 US dollars. In order to achieve the specific goal in economic and social development in the long term, for the first time, Bangladesh Perspective Plan 2010-21 and in the light of this plan a medium term sixth five-year plan have been formulated and approved, which is a remarkable success of the government. Now, Bangladesh is at the doorstep of achieving the success in fulfilling the objectives of Millennium Development Goals in the areas of poverty alleviation, gender equity, health and education. Through strengthening social safety network programmes the status of the old, poor, suppressed and disadvantaged population including children has been improved. Putting highest importance on food security, food production and storage have been prioritized.
In order to build Digital Bangladesh some epoch making initiatives like Union Information and Service Centres, District E-service Centres, National Information Cell, digitizing the delivery and payment (Purji) system, e-asia-2011 etc have been taken. During the tenure of the present government tele-density reaches around 73 percent. At present the number of cell phone subscriber hits 11 crore. Along with development, the idea of a sustainable future has not been spared. So, policy for environmental protection and climate change adaptation has got much importance.
In the global arena Bangladesh achieved different international awards and honour because of its remarkable successes in developmental and climate issues. Along with mitigating disputable issues with different countries of the world, a huge number of workers have been sent abroad and remittance earned.
As a result of these steps, because of ensuring security in economic development, food security and use of technology, Bangladesh has proved her to be a role model to other developing countries of the world.
Using information technology to reach fast, cheap, transparent and trouble free service at the door steps of the people of all walks of life, under special attendance of the Prime Minister's Office, ‘Access to Information’ (a2i) programe has been implemented starting from the Union to Upazilla, Zilla, District and Ministry levels. Activities of building a co-ordinated e-service structure are going on so that wherever service is originated people can avail that from anywhere.
Under Bangladesh Export Development Authority in all the EPZs 130 organizations were established in the last five years which resulted 18,595.14 million US dollar export and direct employment of 1,74,557 people against 1,359.78 million US dollar real investment.
Through Board of Investment, in the last five years 8,413 local and foreign industrial registrations have been done. Against 912 industrial projects as joint and 100 percent foreign investment, a fatal of
proposed investment is of 11,66,130.896 million taka which generates employment opportunity for 17,97,372 people. NGOs also implemented 5,459 projects and employed 5,80,000 people.
Under 'Asrayon-2' project in against tk. 2,20.400.19 lakh estimated cost 50 thousand land less, home less and floating families have been targeted to rehabilitate. In the last five years through implementing 400 projects 30,600 families were rehabilitated and in order to make them self sufficient loan of taka 20 crore has also been disbursed.
Under PPP 35 projects have been marked after scrutinizing and verifying them, which are under process at different stages. By Privatization Commission 77 state owned industrial units have been privatized. Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) has decided to establish five economic zones in Chittagong, Anwara, Moulavi Bazar, Sirajgang and Mongla.
In order to nourish and practice honesty and end corruption in all state owned and private organizations to build a Golden Bangla of Bangabandhu, National Integrity Strategy has been approved in the Cabinet in 2012. According to this policy under the leadership of the Prime Minister a National Integrity Advisory Council has been formed. An Executive Committee headed by the Finance Minister has also been constituted in order to assist this Council, increase communication with the administration centrally and strengthen overall co-ordination system. Video conferencing system has been introduced between Cabinet Division, Prime Minister’s Office and offices of the Divisional Commissioner and District Administration.
Retirement age for the government officials has been raised to 59 years and for the freedom fighters it has been raised to 60 years. It has been consented to create 4,27,471 new posts in different ministries. 3,86,072 people have been recruited in different government services. Financial Assistance Policy 2013 has come into force for the government officials working in civil administration. In case of death during service, a financial assistance for Tk 5 lakh and in case of permanent disability, Tk 2 lakh has been decided to give to the families.
Some initiatives have been taken to face the adverse impact of the global recession such as increasing internal demand, prioritizing agricultural and rural development, providing incentives to expand export, planning for various targeted employment, increasing the foreign remittance, exporting labor to abroad and expanding social security etc. As a result of these policies, Bangladesh has earned an average economic growth of 6.2 percent. During the last 5 years, the per capita income has been increased to USD 1044, export earning to USD 27.1 Billion, import to USD 34.1 billion, remittance to USD 18 billion, foreign currency reserve increased to USD 18 billion. Rate of poverty reduced to 26.2 percent. With the amendment of different Acts, income from tax has been increased, government expenditures has been rearranged and made transparent. Restructuring in banking sector, reformation of the capital market have been done in order to make it stable. Government income has been increased and the size of its national budget has become more than double. Implementation and approval of 'Bangladesh Perspective Plan 2010-11' and for the first time a mid-term sixth five-year plan are the significant successes of the government. National Sustainable Development Policy has been introduced. In the last five years in 134 ECNEC meetings a total of989 projects with financial outlay of taka 5,36,409 crore have been approved. Bangladesh Statistics Bureau successfully completed 5th census 2011 and 3rd financial enumeration. Statistics Law 2013 has been passed and Planning and Development Academy has been upgraded into National Planning and Development Academy.
Two International Crime Tribunals are working independently for the war criminals and 8 cases have been settled up. One death sentence has been activated. The Law and Justice Division has been separated from the Legislative Division through the amendment of The Code of Criminal Procedure Act, 2012. 28th April has been declared as the National Legal Aid Day in order to increase awareness of the people. 18 Zilla Registrar and 33 sub-Registrar office buildings have been built. During 2009-2013 around 271 laws, 29 Acts, 810 agreements and 1845 constitutional notification have been introduced. Election Commission Secretariat Law, Right to Information Act, Mobile Court Law, National Human Rights Commission Act, Hindu Marriage Registration Act 2012 and Hindu Marriage Registration Policy 2013, Climate Change Trust Act, Acts to prevent money laundering and finance terrorism, wild life preservation, lessening the procrastination system of civil and criminal cases, mitigation in an alternative way, Exchange Demutualization Act, Child Act, Acts for Protecting Rights of Disabled Persons, safe food and many other epoch making and time befitting laws have been enacted.
National Agricultural Policy 2013 has been formulated. Production of Food grain reaches 3 crore metric tons in the year 2012-13. The genetic mystery of deshi and tosha Jute along with harmful fungus for jute and hundreds of crops has been unfolded. High yielding varieties and adverse weather sustainable 145 new varieties of crops have been invented. Very recently, Zink enriched rice B-62 has been invented. Price of fertilizer has been reduced in three stages. Taka 32 thousand 150 crore 86 lakh has been provided as subsidy for fertilizer, energy and power for cultivation. Around 11 million farmers were given agricultural input assistance cards. On the basis of soil and environment 17 crop zoning maps have been made.
Disaster Management Act 2012, National Plan for Disaster Management 2010-2015, cyclone shelter building, Maintainace and Management Policy 2011 have been introduced. Under social safety network in the financial year 2011-2012, 6.31 lakh ultra poor beneficiaries have been provided with employment in two phases. In the 2012-13 financial year to keep up this programme tk. 1,200 crore for 7.47 lakh ultra poor and in 2013-14 financial year tk. 1,400 crore for 7.65 lakh ultra poor have been spent through eighty days of employment project. Through Food for Work and TR Programme 100 million work days have been possible to create countrywide.
In order to ensure food security in Bagerhat 50 thousand metric ton storage capacity concrete gain silo has been built for the first time. Government warehouse storage capacity has been increased from 14 lakh metric tons to 19 lakh metric tons. Through ensuring food security for achieving success in removing poverty and malnutrition Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of UN specially awarded Bangladesh. In order to ensure food security to the low income people, in the last five years 15,17,497 metric tons of food grains have been distributed in OMS sector. Besides, 3,48,135 metric tons of food grains to 77 lakh card holder families under easy card programs, 71,236 metric tons of food grains to the 4th class government employees and village police have been distributed at a reduced price. Under social safety network programmes TR, KABIKHA, VGF and VGD 54,36,244 metric tons of food grains have been distributed. In order to secure the production cost of the farmers, under internal food collection sector 52, 23,771 metric tons of rice and 3,11,34 metric tons of wheat have been collected.
To ensure justice to the marginalised population a project namely Activating Village Court in Bangladesh has been initiated. 16,250 km new road, 1,30,761 meters bridges/culverts, 1052 growth centers, 16 Upazilla Parishad Complexes, 765 Union Parishad Complexes have been built. The Mayor Mohammad Hanif flyover connecting Jatrabari with Palashi has been implemented. 70 Pourashovas have been upgraded from ‘ga’ to ‘kha’, 38 have been upgraded from ‘kha’ to ‘ka’ and 21 new Pourashavas have been created. Dhaka City Corporation has been divided into two parts. The One Home One Farm project has been implemented in 483 Upazillas.
91 crore 41 lakh 95 thousand 234 free text books have been handed over to around 13 crore students during 2010-2013. Initiatives have also been taken to distribute around 4 crore free text books to the students in 2014. Stipend and financial aid of taka 2245.65 crore has been awarded to the students of class six to degree level and equivalent students in the last five years. Using online technology registration of the students in the education board, filling out of forms for examination, sending results of the public examination to the educational institutes through e-mail, publishing in website, taking admission in colleges and Universities, completing all the work of teacher registration, taking application forms for PRL and welfare trust etc are being done through on line.
Admission of around cent percent (96.7%) students in schools has been ensured. A programme is going on to supply nutrition enriched biscuits to the children of poverty stricken areas so that they need not remain unfed for a longtime. 26.193 private primary schools have been nationalized. In the school-less areas at a target of founding 1500 primary schools so far 562 primary schools have been founded including furniture supplied. In these schools each 5 posts for teacher have been created. In the last five years countrywide 87.293 government primary school teachers have been recruited. Besides, 68 people in the first class post, 1600 in the second class and 2270 people in the third class posts have been recruited.
Power generation capacity has been increased to 10,204 megawatt from 4.42 megawatt of the year 2009. 58 new power plants with the capacity of4.983 megawatt have been run into function. Percentage of electricity facilitated population reached to 62 percent. Per head power generation has been increased to 321 kilowatt hour (including captive generation). Daily gas production has been increased to 2300 million cubic feet.
A number of important bridges including Shahid Budhijibi Bridge, Sultana Kamal Bridge on the River Shitalakhya, Shah Amanat (Rh.) Bridge, Shahid Abdur Rab Serniabat Bridge, Teesta Bridge, Thanchi Bridge, Banani Railway Over Pass, Punchagarh-Tetulia-Banglabandha National Highway, President Zillur Rahman Flyover, Ahsanullah Master Flyover have been constructed. 41.06 percent upgradation work of Nabinagar-Chandra Highway, Dhaka-Chittagong Highway into 4 lanes have been completed and that of 32 percent Joydevpur-Mymensing Highway into 4 lanes has been completed. Contruction work of 4 lane 2nd Kanchpur Bridge, 2nd Meghna, 2nd Gomti Bridge, 7th Bangladesh-China Friendship Bridge, and upgradation work of Dhaka-Chittagong Expressway, Joydevpur- Elenga Highway into 4 lanes, implementation work of the project including Bus Rapid Transit on Hazrat Shahjalal (R.) International Airport to Gazipur are on process. All the taxes and fees of vehicles have been taken through on line and Retro Reflective Number Plate, Radio Frequency Identification Tag and Digital Registration Certificate, Digital Smart Card and SPASS card have been introduced. Environment friendly 530 CNG buses, 290 double decar buses, 50 articulated buses and 88 single dec AC buses have also been added.
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A separate ministry named Ministry of Railway has been formed. 35 kilometres new railway lines from Tarakandi to Bangabandhu Bridge have been constructed. 20 meter gauge locomotives have been procured. 16 broad gauge locomotives have been added. 86 new trains in different routes including intercity and mails have been
introduced and service of 24 trains have been extended. The railway corridor between Dhaka and Chittagong has been upgraded in double lanes. Construction of 61 kilometre double lane of Laksam-Chinky-Antona section is progressing fast.
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Bangladesh was awarded United Nations Award 2010, South-South Award 2011, GAVI Award for two times in the international arena. National Health Policy, National Population Policy and Anti-Tobacco Law have been introduced. In the last five years more than 12 thousand community clinics have been made functioning and along with 15 thousand doctors around 60 thousand employees have been recruited. Average longevity of the people has been increased to 68.94 years. Population growth rate has been decreased to 1.37 and the number of the users of family planning methods has increased to 61 percent. Vaccination programme has raised to 80.2 percent. Child under one year mortality rate has reduced half and reaches 33 per thousand. Maternal mortality rate is now 194 per lakh live birth. To treat cancer and thalassaemia, a Bone marrow Transplantation Unit in Dhaka Medical Collage Hospital and National Institute of Neuroscience, two 500 bed general hospitals in Dhaka have been founded. Mobile phone service in 482 hospitals and telemedicine service in 8 hospitals have been introduced.
Infantry 17 Division has been established in Sylhet and 99 Composite Brigade has been established in order to implement Padma Bridge project. Large petrol craft for Navy, hydro-graphic survey ship, air missile and fire control system have been bought. Bangabandhu Air Base has been established in Dhaka. Department of Survey has completed the maps of different scales and installed 6 permanent global navigation satellite stations. The Meteorological Department installed 7 agri-weather observation centres. With the aid of Japan government ‘Environmental Disaster and Resource Monitoring System’ project has been implemented.
Along with Military and Terrorism Prevention Law 19 new laws have been introduced and amended. In the report of Trafficking in Person of the State Department of the United States, Bangladesh has been promoted to TR-2 from TR-3 in the watch list of the country in 2012. Machine Readable Passport (MRP) and Machine Readable Visa (MRV) have been introduced and issued from 38 divisional or local passport offices and 31 Bangladeshi Missions abroad. 32,031 posts in Police Cadre and 3238 posts in BGB have been created. International Organization on Regional Cooperation on Combating Sea Piracy has declared Chittagong as pirate free zone due to continuous watch and patrol by the coast guard. After long 64 years with the sincere effort of the government the strip map between Bangladesh-India border has been activated.
Two Import Policy for the period of 2009-2012 and 2012-2015, Export policy for 2012-2015 and Multi level Marketing Activities (Control) Law 2013 have been introduced. The knit wear and woven sector of Bangladesh have achieved 2nd and 3rd position of the world. India has provided duty and quota free facility upon all products other than 25 products including tobacco and wine. In case of providing GSP facility on the knit wear products of the country, Japan government has relaxed the Rules of Origin from its third level to second level. Bangladesh signed TICFA agreement with the United Nations.
National Industry Policy 2010, Trademark Law 2009, Geographical Indication Law 2013 and Enrichment of cooking oil with Vitamin-A Law 2013 have been introduced. Construction of yearly 5 lakh 80 thousand metric ton capacity Shahjalal Fertlizer Industry at a cost of taka 6 thousand crore is going on at a rapid pace. In order to store fertilizer in crisis time 50 thousand metric ton capacity two buffer storage houses have been built in Chittagong. Improved quality pajero sports jeep CR-45 has been made ready for marketing at a reasonable price in the government controlled Pragati Industries Ltd. With an aim to modernizing and strengthening BSTI as an international standard National Metrology Laboratory have been established there. Through Bangladesh Accreditation Board till date 10 national and multinational organizations have been given accreditation certificates.
Bangladesh is awarded Millennium Development Goals 2010 award, Gold Medal for special contribution to women empowerment, South-South award for poverty alleviation. The historic settlement between Bangladesh and Myanmar maritime boundary has been resolved. Autism Resolution by Bangladesh has
been approved in the 67°' session of the United Nations General Assembly. National initiatives have been taken to legalize 4 lakh Bangladeshi workers in Saudi Arabia. Maldives government legalized 50 thousand Bangladeshi workers and around 3 lakh Bangladeshi workers have got legal workers identity in Malaysia. New Embassies have been opened in Mexico, Brazil, Portugal, Lebanon and Mauritius. Consulate General Office in Milan in Italy, Kunming in China, Istanbul in Turkey including a Deputy High Commission in Mumbai in India have been set up.
In the last five years in against more than one thousand research projects around tk. 50 crore has been given as grants. Initiative has been taken to implement the Ruppur Atomic Electricity Project. Through Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission in the last five years more than 12 lakh patients have been provided with treatment for different complicated diseases including cancer at a reduced cost. International Standard Institute of Mining Mineralogy and Metallurgy under BCSIR has been established with an aim to carry on research activities on examining the qualitative standard and use of minerals. Under a project collection of new films and building of a 5D movie theatre have been done in order to add digital film exhibits in the Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Novo Theatre.
Through establishing software parks in different places of the country, data centre in BCC building, standardizing Bangla keyboard, installing around 5 thousand computer labs in different educational institutes, facilitating learning and earning training,
arranging e-commerce fair, centre net fair, introducing digital signature and training on mobile aps creation, and implementation of various development programmes, information technology sector has advanced tremendously. Many new projects have been undertaken to implement Vision 2021.
Third Generation Mobile phone technology has been introduced. Laptop and Note Book at reduced price has been made available. Mobile phone money order service, Y-max service, opportunity of same rate one country at 30 paisa per minute using land phone have been introduced. Initiative of launching Bangabandhu Satellite in the space has been taken. Tele-density in the country from 27 percent to 73 percent and internet density from 3 percent to 27 percent has been increased. 99 percent area of the country has been brought under network. Bandwidth use has been upgraded from 7 GBPS to about 40 GBPS and the average national bandwidth reached 200 GBPS. Bandwidth charge has been reduced to 4 thousand 800 taka.
Development of43,995 plots and construction of 31,898 flats in the capital city and in other division, district and upazilla towns targeting to distribute to the low and middle income people under 62 development projects are going on. Constriction of 3.10 km long Kuril flyover with 4 loops at the intersection of Dhaka airport road and progoti soroni, 15 storied car parking cum office building with 2 basement in Gulshan-1, 6.18 km long highway expanding from Progoti soroni to the river Balu, 8.8 km service road under Hatirjheel project, 8 km express way, 4 over passes, 4 bridges, 3 viaduct have been built. To resolve traffic congestion in the Chittagong city 1.37 km flyover, 600 meter overpass and 28.39 km road have been constructed and built. Construction work of 14.70 km long Chittagong city outer ring road, 6 km long loop road, 5.20 km long flyover is underway. To beautify Dhaka city, resolve water logging system, secure water and sewerage system, a co-coordinated development project for Hatirjheel area including Begunbari canal has been completed.
For the protection of environment and maintanance of forestry resources 23 old laws have been updated. As a result of strengthening enforcement activities, Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP) has been set up in 80 percent factories. As recognition of playing important role in the world environment diplomacy, Bangladesh has acquired membership in six important committees of UNFECC and achieved 4 international awards. Forest in the country is now increased into 13.2 percent. Bangabandhu Safari Park and Sheikh Russell Aviary have been established.
Agricultural Khash land has been allotted to 1 lakh 42 thousand and 73 landless families. Under ‘Char Development Project’ Khash land has been distributed to 6 thousand 185 landless families. 8220 destitute and landless families have been rehabilitated in 190 guchchhagrams. 2016 flats have been built for the slum-dwellers and lower income group. Land zoning maps have been implemented in 21 districts. Agricultural Land Security and Land Management Act 2012 has been enacted.
Bangladesh Water Law 2013 has been introduced. Dredging of 22 km in the river Jamuna and 30 km in Garai has been completed. The outstretched coastal belt area has been protected from flood and salinity due to building 140 polders and 10.608 km riverside embankment. A comprehensive development project for the people of Haor area has been introduced.
National Tourism Policy 2010 has been formulated. Along with renovating the runway of Hazrat Shah Jalal International Airport many other facilities including modernized cargo scanning machine have been developed. Two new generation B-777,300-ER aircrafts have been added to Bangladesh Biman.
All the state owned Jute mills were opened and opportunity for 18,919 new jobs is created. The only Textile College of the country has been upgraded as University and 4 Textile Diploma Institutes have been upgraded to Textile Engineering Colleges. Moreover, 2 Textile Engineering Colleges, 10 Textile Vocational Institutes and 4 Textile Institutes have been established. Silk Development Board Law 2013 has been formulated.
The Right to Information Act 2009 has been introduced and Information Commission has been formed. In order to ensure free
flow of information, installation of 31 private satellite television channels, 22 FM radio and community radio stations has been approved. Under Journalist Aid Allowance Policy 2012 families of the poor, injured and slain journalists are provided with grants. For the betterment of the cinema industry, cinema has been announced as ‘Industry’ and 3 April has been declared as the ‘National Cinema Day’. Bangladesh Cinema and Television Institute Act 2013 has been formulated.
For the disabled people 68 service centers in 64 districts have been established. Rights and Security for Disabled People Law 2013 and Neuro-Developmental Security Trust for Disabled People Law 2013 have been formulated. Programmes have been taken to enhance capacity and integrate Hijra, Bede and Dalit community in income generating activities and to ensure social security of their children by providing them stipend.
International Cultural Conference has been arranged in participation with 44 countries of Asia and Asia Pacific. Dhaka is declared as the capital of Islamic Culture for 2012. Exhibition of handicrafts and folk dance festivals of the SAARC countries in Dhaka, modernization of galleries of the National Museum, establishment of gallery for the freedom fighters have been accomplished. Grants to 2387 cultural organizations and 2262 private libraries along with 6327 insolvent cultural activists have been provided.
The retirement age limit of the workers has been raised to 60 years from 57 years. The minimum wage in the garment sector has been re-fixed at Tk 5,300. Bangladesh Labor Law 2013 has been passed. Training to 14,400 female garment workers has been initiated. 50,000 children have been given informal education and skill development training.
Around 24 lakh workers have been employed in 157 countries of the world. Among them around 2 lakh are women workers. Remittance contributed by the expatriate workers reached 58.39 billion US dollars. Now immigration to Korea requires only tk. 60 thousand, to Jordan tk.10 thousand and to Malaysia tk. 32 thousand. Expatriate Welfare Bank so far distributed around taka 25 crore expatriate loan to 2,510 abroad going workers. Expatriate Employment and Immigration Law 2013 has been formulated. A permanent Vigilance Taskforce has been formed to check illegal and irregular residentship.
Taka 20,160 crore is earned by exporting fish during the last five years. Production of fish, milk, meat and egg reached to 25.63 m.ton, 100.5 lakh m.ton, 57.64 lakh m.ton and 715.95 crore respectively in 2013. A layer named BLRI, heat resilient PPR vaccine and Minamix, two fodders named cornstra and paletfeed have been invented. Improved genetic varieties of carp and tilapia, Thai climbing fish and techniques of producing pearl in oysters have been originated.
South Asian Games 2010, ICC Cricket World Cup 2011, Bangladesh SAAF Football Tournament and Women SAAF Football Tournament have been arranged. Five stadiums and new establishments have been upgraded into international standard. A project of building and renovating stadiums in 34 districts and mini stadiums in 490 Upazilas has been undertaken. Bangladesh Cricket Team whitewashed New Zealand, West Indies and Zimbabwe and won the one day series. Bangladesh Women Cricket Team achieved one day status in 2011. Under National Service Programme 56,054 young people have been added to temporary employment.
Foreign friends and organizations have been awarded as an acknowledgement to their contribution in our great Liberation War. In seven phases 328 distinguished personalities and organizations have been awarded ‘Bangladesh Freedom Honour’, ‘Bangladesh Liberation War Honour’ and ‘Friends of Liberation War Honour’. Every freedom fighter is being given taka 3,000 as honorarium and the number of the recipients has been increased to 2 lakh. 84 residential flats for the wounded, martyred and alive freedom fighters have been constructed.
With an aim to implementing the Peace Agreement fully, seven divisions under different districts have been handed over to the Zilla Parishad of three Hill Tracts districts. The whole Chittagong Hill Tracts area has been brought under mobile phone network. 5,509 projects/schemes have been implemented with the allocation of taka 1,553.67 crore in ADP. School going facilities were created to around 67 thousand children and mother tongue based primary education facilities have been provided to the aboriginal children. 11,896 sanitary latrines, 7121 water sources, and 1,650 rice banks have been built in 3 Hill Tracts Districts in the last five years.
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Digital version of Al-Quran (www.quran.gov.bd) has been launched. Around tk. 56, 20, 9,500 has been distributed as contribution for repairing various religious institutions and helping distressed people. Under Masjid and Temple based Child and Mass Literacy Programme around 44,29,350 children have been given pre-primary education and religious education to around 25,20,000 people and literacy knowledge to 1,35,575 aged persons. Buddhist Welfare Trust has published the full volume of Pali-Bangla dictionary. The first ever Christian Welfare Trust has been formed with a fund of taka five crore.
National Action Plan has been formulated to implement Family Violence (Protection & Prevention) Act 2010, Family Violence (Protection & Prevention) Rules 2013, National Women Development Policy 2011, National Children Policy 2011, Aggregated Policy for Baby Care and Grooming 2013 and National Women Development Policy 2011. To protect women from violence,! 1,526 women have been provided with various services in the last 5 years. Under VGD program, 7 lakh 50 thousand ultra poor women of rural areas have been given 30 kg of rice or wheat monthly along with providing them income generating training.
Capital Dredging Programs are going on against tk. 11,470 crore in order to dredge 53 rivering communication routes. Two rescue ferries with the capacity of 250 tons have been collected including manufacturing 7 ferries. The same of 7 more ferries is underway. An Internal Container Terminal has been built in order to carry goods through riverine routes. Computerized Container Terminal Management System (CTMS) in the Chittagong port has been activated. In Patuakhali Payra Sea Port has been established and a dredger has been collected for Mongla sea port. Capital dredging in the Pashur river has been started. Along with Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Maritime University, establishment of 4 new Marine Academies is underway.
Translation: Rifat Zafreen