PM opens four development schemes

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today inaugurated four development projects including installation of solar panels in the remote areas of Parbatya Chattogram, five new ships, one mobile research vessel and four-tier national data centre.

The prime minister opened the development schemes through a video conference from her official residence Ganabhaban here.

While inaugurating the development schemes, the premier said, “I feel happy with the opening of four development projects.”

The projects will help for the overall socioeconomic development of the people particularly the locals.

The projects are: installation of solar panels in the remote areas of the Parbatya Chattogram to distribute power (1st amendment), five new ships of Bangladesh Shipping Corporation, one mobile research vessel built in Kaptai Lake in Rangamati at the initiative of Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University and the world’s 7th largest four-tier national data centre at Bangabandhu High-Tech City in Gazipur district.

After inaugurating the solar panel installation in the remote areas of the Parbatya Chattogram, the premier, said, “No house and market of the Parbatya Chattogram will remain in the dark as we have been working to bring the entire area under cent percent electricity coverage.”

As part of the initiative, large numbers of solar panels are being set up at the Parbatya Chattogram as it is not possible to reach the national grid in the remote areas.

The solar power will create a congenial atmosphere for children to study at night, as well as increase the trade and commerce in the localities, which will directly contribute in the socioeconomic development of the people in the Parbatya Chattogram area.

Recalling the volatile and violent situation in the Parbatya Chattogram after assassination of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the premier said her government inked an accord in 1997 to put an end to the crisis.

As many as 10,890 families of 1,927 villages under 128 unions of 26 upazilas in three districts of the Parbatya Chattogram have been brought under the electricity coverage by the project involving Taka 76.06 crore.

One more project involving Taka 218 crore has been submitted to the Planning Commission to bring the remaining 40,000 families under the electricity coverage.

If the project is completed, the Parbatya Chattogram will be brought under cent percent electricity coverage.

While opening the world’s seventh largest four-tier national data centre at Bangabandhu High-Tech City in Gazipur digitally, the premier said, “Construction of the national data centre is a one more step forward towards building Digital Bangladesh as we had declared to form Digital Bangladesh in our election manifesto in the national election of 2008.”

In this context, the premier recalled the contribution of her only son Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, who is also her (Prime Minister’s) Information and Communication Technology Affairs Adviser.

“The centre will help us preserve data. It will also save the money which is spent for data preservation alongside generating income,” she said.

The premier came down heavily on the then BNP-Jamaat government for cancelling the deal with a Netherlands company for purchasing 10,000 Tulip brand computers as the company’s name was similar to her sister Sheikh Rehana’s daughter.

Later, the company filed a case and won in the trial, for which Bangladesh had to give Taka 32 crore (as penalty) to the company.

After assuming office in 2009 through the national election of 2008, the Awami League government has initiated to transform Bangladesh into a digital one.

“As many as 28 high-tech parks are now being set up in the country,” she informed.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Senior Secretary of the ICT division NM Ziaul Alam handed over a certificate of the Uptime Institute of the USA to the Prime Minister.

The US institute has certified the national four-tier data centre of Bangladesh as a world class one.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, CHT Affairs Minister Bir Bahadur Ushwe Sing and State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak were present on the dais while former home minister Advocate Sahara Khatun and Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hasan Chowdhury, among others, witnessed the event.

PM’s Principal Secretary Md Nojibur Rahman moderated the function while Principal Coordinator on the SDG Affairs at the PMO Md Abul Kalam Azad, PMO Secretary Sajjadul Hassan and PM’s Press Secretary Ihsanul Karim, were also present at the  function._BSS.
 

Dhaka/Nasim