UGC signs contract to connect varsities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) yesterday signed a contract with Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) in a bid to build an information network among the country's universities and research institutes.
UGC Secretary Md Khaled and PGCB Company Secretary Md Ashraf Hossin signed the contract on behalf of their respective organisations at UGC auditorium in the city.
The contract allows UGC's access to PGCB's countrywide optical fibers network, which UGC will use to build Bangladesh Research and Education Network (BdREN) connecting all universities and research institutes across the country.
The UGC, which has to pay Tk 221.884 million for enjoying the PGCB connectivity for 20 years, will establish BdREN under "Higher education quality enhancement project" jointly financed by the government and the World Bank.
The network shall be used for advanced applications such as distance learning, online lecture and resource sharing, video conferencing, digital library, weather forecasting, disaster management through real time data exchange, telemedicine and the like.
Once BdREN is set up, Bangladesh will be connected with Trans Eurasia Information Network (TEIN3), which will enhance collaboration between academic community of the country and international community and academia.
UGC Chairman Prof Dr Azad Chowdhury and PGCB Chairman Md Harun-ur-Rashid were present at the ceremony.