PM calls for enhancing cyber security capability
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today underscored the need for increasing capability of cyber security, saying that steps will have to be taken so that none could commit crimes by using digital facilities.
"Some problems linked to security have been created with digitisation and for this, our capability of cyber security will have to be enhanced ... we will have to stay alert so that security of the financial sector and secret issues is not hampered in any way," she said.
In this connection, Sheikh Hasina said necessary manpower will be created alongside procuring equipment to check cyber crime.
The premier said this while inaugurating the "Digital World-2016", the flagship annual event of the country's ICT sector, at the International Convention City Bashundhara in the capital this morning.
The ICT Division has organised the three-day event with the theme "Non-stop Bangladesh" with the assistance of the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) and a2i Programme of the Prime Minister's office.
State Minister for ICT Division Junaid Ahmed Palak, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Post, Telecommunication and ICT Ministry Imran Ahmed, ICT Division Secretary Shyam Sundar Shikdar, BCC President Mostafa Jabbar, executive director of BCC SM Ashraful Islam, project director of a2i Programme Kabir Bin Anwar also spoke at the function.
At the function, an audiovisual presentation on notable progress and development of women in ICT sector was made.
The prime minister later inaugurated six "smart buses" having all ICT facilities for imparting training to the women on ICT.
Referring to her government's steps for enacting the Digital Security Act 2016, the premier said under the law, the government would set up world standard forensic lab, constitute Cyber Security Agency, establish cyber incidents responsive team and a high-level digital security council.
As part of further ensuring capacity of digital security, she said, steps have also been taken to connect Bangladesh with the second submarine cable as there is no alternate submarine cable in the country.
Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh had already joined the SEA-ME-WE-5 consortium and the country would get 1300 GBPS bandwith in the second submarine cable.
The prime minister said after assuming office in 2009 through taking a massive mandate of the people in the 2008 general election, her government undertook a master plan of development erasing all signs of BNP-Jamaat looting in all sectors.
"We formed a single ministry by merging the post and telecommunication ministry and ICT ministry for coordination of information technology and telecommunication," she said.
Citing that the work on installing country's first own satellite "the Bangabandhu Satellite-1," is progressing fast, she said Bangladesh could even export satellite bandwidth after launching its journey in 2017 and meeting the demand.
Sheikh Hasina said the people don't now face unnecessary harassment in getting government services. "Using information technology, we have stopped the "bribe trade", that was given an institutional shape by creating Hawa Bhaban by the BNP," she said, adding tender manipulation was also stopped.
The premier also blasted BNP government for its failure of connecting Bangladesh with submarine cable free of cost, saying that they had missed the best opportunity just an excuse of security.
But coming to power, she said, her government linked Bangladesh with submarine cable by paying money in the greater interest of the country.