BANGLADESH

In its move to digitalise Bangladesh, the government on Tuesday decided to reach internet facilities to people of 1,006 union councils through optical fibre cable.

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) cleared a project in this regard in a meeting chaired by prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

The project's objective is to extend reliable, cheap and easily accessible facilities of information and communication technology, planning minister A K Khandker told reporters after the meeting.

The project styled, Developing Optical Fibre Cable Network in 1000 Union Parishad, will cost Tk 7.19 billion, he said.

A total of 11,060 kilometre optical fibre cable will need to be laid to connect the 1,006 council, the minister said.

The top economic policymaking body also approved five other projects, including one to give internet facilities to rural people through post offices.

Rural people will be able to communicate with their relatives abroad through web cameras and receive money from them quickly once the Tk 5.41 billion-project, titled Post-E-Centre for Rural Community, is implemented.

The four other projects cleared are to develop Jahangirnagar University at an estimated cost of Tk 790 million, create employment opportunities in upazilas or sub-districts with Tk 1 billion, secure food and livelihood with Tk 2.23 billion and set up farms to produce seeds in coastal districts of Barisal and Patuakhali with Tk 1.45 billion.

Finance minister A M A Muhith, agriculture minister Matia Chowdhury, shipping minister Shahjahan Khan, among others, attended the meeting.