Digital security act has been made not to gag freedom of expression rather to stop  spreading of falsehood and militant activities through social media to protect minority community, Prime Minister's ICT affairs adviser Swajib Wazed Joy said.

"Expression of freedom is a right of a citizen. Digital security act has been made not to suppress freedom of expression rather to protect minorities and stop spreading of lie or hate speeches in social media," said Joy, son of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, while speaking at the inaugural ceremony of two-day "Business Processing Outsourcing (BPO) Conference" at a city hotel here today.

"Any individual, especially minority community can be affected by misleading news or rumors. We cannot allow to do so . . . it is not expression of freedom, it is carried out to spread hatred and those who are doing it should be brought under the law," he said.

He said the ICT sector has created an enormous scope for jobs and youths can earn a handsome amount of dollars through outsourcing.

Joy said the digital security act should be passed in the Jatiya Sangsad immediately.

While highlighting the huge potentials of ICT development, Joy urged the youths to keep themselves attached with ICT sector without waiting for government jobs.

"Youths do not need to wait for government jobs . . . ICT has created a huge opportunity for them and now they can earn huge dollars through outsourcing even from staying at their rural homes," he added.

It has become possible because of the government's policy supports, Joy said, adding that the government has ensured electricity and high-speed internet service for all.

Describing Bangladesh as a leading ICT hub in the world, the Prime Minister's son urged all not to misuse 'facebook'.

"Misleading information is often spread in facebook but we cannot shutdown facebook for it," he said and urged the regulatory bodies concerned to develop necessary tools so that harmful contents are not seen in internet from Bangladesh.

Joy urged the job seeking youths to associate them with ICT without waiting for government jobs.

Around 3000 or 4000 youths get job through Bangladesh Public Service Commission (BPSC) every year but there are huge job seekers who can take training in ICT and manage jobs easily.

"The present government has introduced ICT education at primary level and I want, the youths and children will know the operation of computer . . . they understand the language of computer," he added.

About the benefits of outsourcing, Joy said BPO started its journey with 300 jobs in 2009 and now this sector created jobs for 40,000 youths because of the government's strategy and planning.

"I hope that this sector would create jobs for 100,000 people by 2021," he added.

He said Bangladesh is now earning around 20 crore dollars from BPO business and the government has been working to increase the earning to 100 crore dollars by 2021.

He described the youth population as Bangladesh's assets and the giving training to these youths is the government's priority task. "I hope we will be able to take a strong position in the 500 billion dollars global BPO market through developing skilled manpower," he added.

Posts, Telecommunication and ICT minister Mostafa Zabbar presided over the opening session of the two-day conference organized jointly for the third times by ICT ministry and Bangladesh Association of Call Center and Outsourcing (BACCO).

State minister for ICT division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on the Posts, Telecommunication and ICT ministry Imran Ahmed, ICT division secretary Shyam Sunder Sikder, BACCO president Wahid Sharif, among others, spoke at the ceremony.

Mostafa Zabbar said the number of internet users was only 24 lakh in 2008 and this number has reached eight crore. Bandwidth price was Tk 75,000 in 2005, which is now only Tk 1000, he added.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak said there are over 600,000 freelancers in outsourcing job.

Ten seminars and workshop will he held during the two-day conference.