ICT improving people's lifestyle

(From left) Mahfuzur Rahman, executive director of Bangladesh Computer Council; State Minister for Science and ICT Yeafesh Osman; D.Net Executive Director Ananya Raihan; and Asif Saleh, policy specialist of A2I Programme; unveil the 'National Digital Innovation Award 2011' logo at Brac Centre Inn in the city yesterday.Photo: STAR

Use of information and communication technology (ICT) is improving people's lifestyle, said speakers yesterday.
They underscored the need for developing suitable technologies and languages so that the masses can attain maximum benefit.
They were speaking at the launching ceremony of 'National Digital Innovation Award 2011' at Brac Centre Inn in the city jointly organised by Ministry of Science and ICT and Development Research Network (D.Net).
This year, Access to Information (A2I) Programme at prime minister's office is the principal partner of the award with The Daily Star and Prothom Alo as organising partners.
This is the second time the country is witnessing the competition on mobile, e-Content and ICT initiatives based on different categories for online and offline content products and on mobile and relevant technology.
Last year, the award's name was 'e-Content and ICT for Development Award 2010'.
Unveiling the award logo at the ceremony, State Minister for Science and ICT Yeafesh Osman said, "Our endeavour is to establish the confidence of people working on information technology."
Usage of technology is transforming country's ancient traditions, he said, adding that the young generation can and will take the country to a deserving height if inspired.
The minister emphasised on developing mobile content, as mobile phones will be the biggest weapon to change society.
On the award's background, D.Net Executive Director Ananya Raihan said the award was introduced to trace potential, as many good initiatives in the past were not projected properly.
Any contestant either from any company or organisation or individually can submit one nomination for each category from February 10 to March 10. An expert jury board chaired by noted educationist Prof Muhammad Zafar Iqbal would select the best nominations, he added.
Raihan said eight initiatives from this year's and last year's winners would be eligible to contest in the World Summit Award 2011 and all finalists would automatically be eligible to participate in Manthan South Asia Award contest in 2011.
Beside promotion in national and international media, the finalists will avail support of potential commercial, non-commercial and government agencies for scale up and financial support, he added.
Mahfuzur Rahman, executive director of Bangladesh Computer Council, and Asif Saleh, policy specialist of A2I Programme, also spoke.
The initiative includes ATN News and Lemon24.com as media partners, Digital Empowerment Foundation as knowledge partner, comjagat.com as online partner and bdjobs.com, intel and Microsoft as sponsors.