PM pins hope on technology use to remove corruption

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today said it will be easier to free this society from corruption by making the best use of technology.

The prime minister said this while simultaneously inaugurating the Upazila ICT Training and Resource Centres (UITRCEs) in 125 selected upazilas through a videoconference at her office.

It will also be easier to implement development projects quickly, strengthen monitoring and expedite the pace of development in the country by using technology, the PM also said.

The government, with support from Korean Exim Bank, implemented the project involving Tk 403 crore. Another 160 UITRCEs will be set up under the project in its next phases.

She said the country’s education process would be fully based on information and communication technology to flourish through digital system.

The government will set up UITRCE in every upazila to provide training to all teachers on ICT as they can teach their students in the classroom, she added.

Hasina said the inauguration of these UITRCEs is a milestone in the history of the country's education system, and mentioned that her government also set up 5,275 union digital centres while 8,000 post offices will be turned into digital centres in phases.

The premier said that the main aim of her government is to ensure balanced development of the country and eradicate poverty through education and it is working round the clock to this end.

"The aim of our government is to reduce the income inequality between the rich and the poor….we want to develop the country where people will get a better life. Without education, we can’t eradicate poverty from the country," she added.

Hasina said the UITRCEs will be turned into full-fledged ICT training labs with all facilities, which will speed up the ICT training for the teachers and students at primary and post- primary level institutions at the grassroots.

The UITRCEs will be utilised for ICT education of teachers, access to information by students, teachers, citizens, and local Education Management Information System (EMIS) data centres.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid and South Korean Ambassador to Bangladesh Ahn Seong-doo were present as special guests at the function, held with Education Secretary Sohrab Hossain in the chair.

Director of Bangladesh Bureau of Educational Information & Statistics (BANBEIS) and Project Director of the UITRCE M Fasiullah also spoke on the occasion.