Govt undertakes BDT 2,026 Crore project for internet connectivity in remote areas

The Bangladesh government is implementing a project worth BDT 2,026 Crore to establish digital connectivity in the country's Haor areas, islands and remote hilly areas that are deprived of telecommunication facilities.

The project is being funded by the Social Responsibility Fund (SOF) of the BTRC under the Government's Department of Posts and Telecommunications. Bangladesh Computer Council, under the supervision of the ICT department, is setting up broadband connectivity in the areas deprived of telecommunication facilities with BDT 504.43 Crores. The network is being set up in the islands through Bangladesh Satellite Company Limited's Bangabandhu Satellite-1 at BDT 44.44 Crores. Telco operator Teletalk is establishing the broadband networks in the Haor areas and islands at the expense of BDT 380 Crores.

The expansion of the second-tier projects in the Haor-Baor areas will be implemented by Teletalk and the expansion of broadband WiFi networks in the Haor-Baor and remote areas will be carried out by BTCL with BDT 450 Crores.

Apart from this, Bangladesh Satellite Company is implementing a project worth BDT 44.24 Crores to connect various remote villages and inaccessible and coastal areas of Bangladesh through Bangabandhu Satellite-1. It is also undertaking a project worth BDT 83.25 Crore to digitalise education in primary schools in remote rural areas. Additionally, another development project is being implemented with BDT 520 Crore to expand Teletalk's mobile broadband network services in the coastal hills and other remote areas.

The overall progress of the projects was discussed at length in the 16th Meeting of the Social Responsibility Fund (SOF) Council. Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar presided over the meeting. The meeting was held at the Department of Posts and Telecommunications at the Bangladesh Secretariat recently. 

Senior Secretary of ICT Department NM Zeaul Alam, Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications Department Md. Khalilur Rahman, Chairman of BTRC Shyam Sunder Sikder, the Project Directors of the respective projects and other dignitaries were present at the meeting. The meeting was chaired by the Director General of BTRC, Brigadier General Nasim Parvez. The project directors of various projects briefed the dignitaries on the progress of their respective projects.

The Posts and Telecommunications Minister expressed his gratitude to the concerned authorities for their relentless efforts in implementing the directives of the Department of Posts and Telecommunications to keep internet and telecommunication services operational in the flood-affected areas. He emphasised the need to have prior preparation to keep internet and telecommunication services operational in case of any natural disaster in the future.

He directed the project directors to work more diligently and sincerely to ensure the proper utilisation of digital technology services for the underprivileged people of the country, including those residing in remote areas.