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Intelligent Transportation System in Bangladesh

Online Birth Registration Certificate in Bangladesh

How to stop Promotional SMS | Do Not Disturb Service

Wireless Technology | 5G in Bangladesh

Thursday, October 7, 2021

Block Chain Technology in Bangladesh | IBCOL 2021

State Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Mr. Junaid Ahmed Palak has said that Block Chain can be one of the investment sectors in Bangladesh. On 6th October he made the remarks at a press conference on "International Block chain Olympiad (IBCOL-2021)" to be held in Dhaka from October 8 at the BCC Auditorium of ICT Tower in Agargaon, Dhaka. Junaid Ahmed Palak said, "Startups in our country are having a lot of success and have brought in over 500 million foreign investments in the last five years."

Palak said universities and educational institutions need to come forward to encourage block chain and include block chain in their curriculum. We are going to set up more than 5,000 new Sheikh Russell Digital Labs so that the teenagers of this country can know about a futuristic technology like block chain.

He further said that a state-of-the-art Sheikh Russell Digital Lab is being set up in the country to empower the present and future generations of children and adolescents in future technology. The country has already set up 8,000 "Sheikh Russell Digital Labs". More 5,000 Labs and 300 "Schools of the Future" are being set up. There are also plans to set up 10,000 more "Sheikh Russell Digital Labs" in the future and another 5,000 Sheikh Russell Digital Labs at an early stage. Through which millions of students are being educated in information technology.

"We want to build a middle-income country in 2031, a high-middle-income country in 2031 and a developed Bangladesh in 2041," Palak said. The specific target set by the people's leader Sheikh Hasina is that now the GDP size of 350 billion dollars will be 700 billion dollars in 2031 and 1 trillion dollars in 2041. Now beside the income from our garment industry, the income of our expatriate workers, agriculture and all the other labor-dependent industries, Sheikh Hasina wants to build a knowledge-based society and a technology-based economy. And we have far-reaching plans for all of this. And as part of that plan, we chose "block chain technology."

Mentioning that digital Bangladesh is no longer a dream, the state minister said, 160 million people are now able to enjoy the benefits of Digital Bangladesh. In the last 12 years, the four pillars of the "ICT sector" have stood on a solid foundation under the leadership of Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the Prime Minister's Adviser on ICT. Around 1.5 million young people across the country are contributing to the ICT industry by working in the software, hardware and BPO sectors. In the last 12 years, it has been possible to create employment for 1.5 million young people, while the ICT industry, which was only 26 million Dollars before 12 years, has now grown to 1.3 billion Dollars.

Connected online, the president of the Hong Kong Block chain Society, Doctor Lawrence Ma thanked Bangladesh for successfully hosting the International Block chain Olympiad (IBCOL). He hopes that through this arrangement, it is possible to find advanced technological solutions through the use of block chain technology. Founded on 2012, block chain wallet is the world's most popular wallet with over 53M created in 180 countries.

Other guests were present at the press conference including the Executive Director and Additional Secretary of the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Md. Abdul Mannan, PAA, Additional Secretary of the Department of Information and Communication Technology Khandaker Azizul Islam, BRAC University CSE Department’s Professor Mohammad Kaikobad, Chairman of International Block chain Olympiad 2021” and Founder and CEO of Technohaven Company Limited Habibullah N Karim.

Twelve winning teams of "Blockchain Olympiad Bangladesh 2021" are participating in this year's Bangladesh episode organized under the theme "Inspirational Empowerment and Innovation". The International Blockchain Olympiad (IBCOL) is specially organized every year for the younger generation. The much-anticipated Olympiad, which started in Hong Kong, is going to be held in Bangladesh for the first time outside Hong Kong. Students from all over the world are participating in this global competition to become winners. Prizes worth a total of more than 40,000 Dollars have been awarded to the winners. Many national and international block chain experts will join the event as judges and speakers. More than 50 teams from 12 countries are participating in this global competition from China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Philippines, UAE, Iran, Indonesia, Netherlands, Nepal, Mongolia, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

The "International Blockchain Olympiad 2021" will kick off with an inaugural ceremony on Friday (8th October 2021). The 3-day Olympiad will run until Sunday (October 10). This year, besides other events, a total of 4 seminars are being organized. Seminars will be on “CBDC and Cryptocurrency”, “e-Governance”, “Identity and Privacy” and “FinTech”. Seminars with programs will be open to all participants and visitors from around the world at IBCOL's website. For more details please visit the official website https://ibcol2021.com.

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Tuesday, September 28, 2021

5G in Bangladesh will be Launched Soon

Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar has said that 5G in Bangladesh will be launched through Teletalk on National Information and Communication Technology Day on 12th December or Great Victory Day on 16th December this year. He made the remarks while addressing a webinar titled '5G Ecosystem in Bangladesh and Upcoming Technologies' organized by Telecom Reporters Network Bangladesh-TRNB on 25 September, 2021.

5G services, which are able to deliver data speeds up to 50 times faster than 4G networks and serve as critical infrastructure for a range of industries. According to the posts and telecommunications minister, there would be no need to set up new towers or base transceiver stations (BTS) for the 5G network.

The Minister of Telecommunications said, "We have become confident by conducting successful tests of 5G." Where other countries are not thinking of rolling out, we are rolling out 5G. Time is needed to create the kind of environment that is needed to use 5G wireless technology.

"I will start the five-day rollout on December 12, National Information and Communication Technology Day or December 16, the Great Victory Day," he said. We will launch Five G with a conducive environment in hand. He also said the government has decided to auction FiveG spectrum within this years.

Mr. Mustafa Jabbar said, "We are not launching 5G in a hurry." Let those who have partners take advantage and let our people also take advantage of it. 90% of the demand is produced in Bangladesh. I don't think I was in awe of the sets. Mentioning that if 5G is introduced, the lifestyle will change, the minister said, new technologies will come. People need to be motivated when it comes to technology. In this case, people need to be made aware. The industrial factories should be prepared for the future technologies.

Speaking as the special guest on the occasion, BTRC Chairman Shyam Sundar Sikder said that 5G is being launched in the country through Teletalk this year. Preparations have been made for this. AKM Shahiduzzaman, BTRC commissioner and chairman of the 5G policy formulation and implementation committee, said 5G in Bangladesh would be launched in Dhaka within 2021 through Teletalk. The spectrum auction has been completed a few days ago which has created a balance. We will be able to provide services with the spectrum of any band. The BTRC commissioner also said that mobile phone manufacturers have been instructed to have a set that supports 5G.

A new project approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) yesterday. Around Tk 2,200 crore project aims to take Teletalk's 4G network to rural areas and upgrade the existing core and transmission networks line to make it ready for the launch of 5G technology. The main activities of the project are to set up 500 private BTS and 2,500 shared towers, enhance the capacity of the existing 2,000 BTS, install 200 mobile BTS, and upgrade existing 1,000 2G and 3G BTS to 4G. "We will install 5G equipment on these BTS," said Mr. Jabbar, adding that once the just approved project was implemented, user capacity of Teletalk would be double.

Saheb Uddin, managing director (MD) of Teletalk, said that 5G in Bangladesh is going to be launched by December. There is that preparation. 5G will require handset capacity, fiber optic. Society will be transformed through this wireless technology. 5G will work in the field of medical, RMG, agriculture. We will initially launch 200 sites in Dhaka city, 5G equipment will be set up in these points. We will also go where the fiber optic connection will be smooth.

Eric Os Chairman of Banglalink and AMTOB, Yasir Ajman CEO of Grameenphone, Riaz Rashid Acting CEO of Robi, Taoguanzio Chief Operating Officer of Huawei, Abdus Salam Country Manager of Ericsson spooked on the occasion.

Thanks,

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Tuesday, September 7, 2021

Bangladesh will Launch an Earth Observation Satellite

Work is underway to start work on Bangladesh's second artificial satellite very soon after it is finalized. The country's second satellite after Bangabandhu-1 will be an 'Earth Observation Satellite', which will help in surveying the vast oceans, including surveying the country's crop production and flood situation by taking live pictures of the land surface. Bangladesh Communication Satellite Company Limited - BCSCL, hopes that the government will be able to launch the country's second satellite in the current term. The government is considering buying and launching this satellite in the G2G (Government-to-Government) process.

Earth Observation Satellites are used to take pictures of different parts of the Earth's surface and to observe the Earth's surface. The country's first commercial satellite Bangabandhu-1 is a 'geostationary communication' satellite, which is only used for communication.

The BCSCL chairman said, “An agreement was reached with the French consulting firm Price-Water House Coopers for the launch of the country's second satellite. Based on the report of the consulting firm, we have decided that the second satellite will be Earth Observation Satellite." He said the satellite would provide various benefits, adding that it would help monitor the country's crop production, flood monitoring and monitoring the country's vast oceans.

Apart from working in the country, there is also an opportunity to earn money with this satellite. As the Middle East and Africa will be covered by the satellite, it will be possible to earn income by selling various data from those areas. Because not all countries have this type of satellite. In addition to geostationary communication satellites, there are different satellites for various purposes including communication, remote sensing, navigation, geocentric orbit type, polar satellites.

The main consultant for the design of the system of the country's first artificial satellite Bangabandhu-1 was the US-based 'Space Partnership International'. After that, the satellite system was bought from the French company Talis Elenia Space under a contract worth Tk 1,951.85 crore. On 12 May 2018, the Bangabandhu-1 satellite launched from the launch pad of the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, USA. Bangladesh is the 57th country to launch a satellite. Six months after its launch, in November 2018, Bangladesh fully acquired the ownership and control of Bangabandhu Satellite-1.

The cost of launching this time will be less than what was spent to launch Bangabandhu-1. There will be no cost after the launch of the second one. It will not be necessary to rent orbital slots. It will not be too high above the surface. The cost of renting the slot will be saved. It is also called LEO or Low Earth Orbit Satellite (LEO satellite).

Bangabandhu-1 was located 36,000 km away from the launch site. Bangabandhu-1 satellite is addressed in an orbital slot at 119.1 East longitude. Bangladesh has leased the slot from the Moscow-based Inter-sputnik International Organization of Space Communications for 45 years.

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Friday, July 2, 2021

100 Million Dollar in a Year | Free Lancers in Bangladesh

More than 5 lac free-lancer entrepreneurs in Bangladesh are working in the online markets and earning around 100 million US dollars a year. In a letter sent to the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology is seeking incentive at the rate of 10 percent on the foreign exchange earnings of this potential sector.

Junaid Ahmed Palak, Minister of State in the concerned ministry, sent a semi-official letter to Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi on June 3 stating that cash incentives at the rate of 10 percent have been provided for exports of software, ITES and hardware in 2018 to boost exports in the ICT sector. Later which has been implemented through a circular number-3 issued by the Bangladesh Bank on February, 2018.

The circular mentions some services or products on the list of export assistance recipients, which, despite being performed by free-lancers but they don’t receive this incentive at the individual level. The letter said that if the income of the free-lancers was considered as a potential export sector and brought under cash assistance, more foreign exchange would come to the country through banking channels in a legal way.

Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi said that Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has recently given instructions on the recognition of freelancers. According to him, the government is working on their benefits. The rationale for incentives on export earnings of free-lancers as a potential sector will also be examined.

ICT officials said that incentive facility is being given at the rate of 2 percent of Bangladeshi expatriate income. As a result, a large number of expatriates are sending foreign currency to the country through banking channels legally, which is contributing positively to economic growth. The corona epidemic has also brought a record amount of expatriate income to the country, which has allowed reserve money to be invested in large projects as well as lending to a neighboring country.

Similarly, ensuring income incentives for freelance workers will further increase foreign exchange reserves, which will help the country's economic development. Concerned parties say that after sending a letter to the finance ministry earlier emphasizing the importance of free-lancing sector, the ministry advised that the approval of the commerce ministry would be required for cash assistance in the export sector.

Then on June 3, the State Minister for Information and Communication Technology wrote a letter to the Commerce Minister in this regard. According to ICT officials, there is a lot of demand for Web Design and Development, App Development, Smartphone Apps, Graphic Design, Drop Shipping, UI / UX (user interface design), Article writing, Virtual Assistance etc. Online marketplaces also have a lots chance to work from home.

Besides, the job demand of Bangladeshi freelancers is increasing day by day as compared to competing countries like India and Sri Lanka. In addition to earning valuable foreign exchange, free-lancing is also playing a role in creating employment in the country through private enterprises. Besides, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is giving special importance to this sector as free-lancing can be done at home with the help of a computer or laptop with internet connection without any major investment

On November 2021, the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the ID card issuance program to bring free-lancer entrepreneurs on a platform to recognize their profession. This ID card will be able to verify the legal validity and amount of foreign exchange earned by freelancers.

Thanks,

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Broadband Internet Price | One Country One Rate | 500 TK

Block Chain Technology in Bangladesh | IBCOL 2021

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

Broadband Internet Price | One Country One Rate | 500 TK

Number of internet users has increased in Bangladesh during the Corona virus (Covid-19) period. Demand for Broadband internet has also grown significantly as a result of recent NEWS, various issues, online business growing etc. Considering the increasing of internet users, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is going to launch internet service across the whole country under the slogan 'One Country, One Rate'.

If this service is launched, the price of broadband internet will be the same in the whole country including the capital Dhaka. There will be three packages for internet users. BTRC will announce the price of these packages in a program soon. This information has been known from the relevant sources.

According to NEWS regarding the price of the three packages, a maximum of TK 500 per month may be fixed in the first package.

Speed 5 Mbps/sec for monthly TK 500 only

Speed 10 Mbps/sec for monthly TK 800 only

Speed 20 Mbps/sec for monthly TK 1200 only

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) fixed the rates after multiple meetings with International Internet Gateway, Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network, International Terrestrial Cable and Internet Service Providers.

According to the BTRC, this uniform price of Tk 500 for 5 megabits per second (Mbps) of broadband internet a month to be followed by all internet service providers (ISPs) across the country.

Brig Gen Md Nasim Parvez, director general of the BTRC, presented the tariff plan as part of the "One Country One Rate" initiative at a program in the capital on 6th June 2021 where Post and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar inaugurated it.

Among others, Post and Telecommunications Secretary Md Afzal Hossain, BTRC Chairman Shyam Sunder Sikder, Vice Chairman Subrata Kumar Maitra, ISPAB President Aminul Hakim, BTCL Managing Director Rafiqul Matin, and Fiber at Home Managing Director Moinul Haque Siddiqui were present.

Thanks,

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Saturday, May 29, 2021

E-Passport BD | Apply and Check Status Online

Instructions for filling e-passport application form for the Peoples of Bangladesh. Please visit the official web portal to fill an online application form for an e-passport in BD. Click the below link:

https://www.epassport.gov.bd/ OR

http://passport.gov.bd/

1. The e-passport application form can be filled online or can be downloaded in PDF format.

2. No documents need to be attested in case of e-passport application.

3. No photo attachment and attestation will be required in the e-passport form.

4. The application form has to be filled as per National Identity Card (NID) or Online Birth Registration (BRC) Certificate.

5. Minor applicants (under 18 years of age) who do not have National Identity Card (NID) must specify the National Identity Card (NID) number of their father or mother.

6. National Identity Card (NID) or Online Birth Registration (BRC) Certificate should be submitted at the following age-

6 (A). Online Birth Registration (BRC) Certificate if under 18 years of age.

6 (B). National Identity Card (NID) or Online Birth Registration (BRC) Certificate of 18-20 years

6 (C). National Identity Card (NID) is required if above 20 years of age. However, Online Birth Registration (BRC) certificate will be acceptable in case of application from Bangladesh Mission abroad.

7. Serial numbers marked with a star must be filled.

8. In case of adoption / guardianship, the order issued by the Department of Security Services, Ministry of Home Affairs has to be submitted along with the passport application.

9. The application should be submitted to the concerned departmental passport and visa office / regional passport office / Bangladesh Mission abroad at present address.

10. The validity of e-passport for all applications below 18 years and above 65 years will be 05 years and 48 pages.

11. Relevant technical certificates (such as: doctor, engineer, driver etc.) need to be uploaded / added.

12. If applicable, relevant GO / NOC / Certificate / Retirement Leave Order (PRL Order) / Pension Book should be uploaded / added which should be uploaded on the respective Website of the issuing authority.

13. If applicable, marriage certificate / marriage certificate and in case of divorce, divorce certificate has to be submitted.

14. Other charges (if any) including VAT at the rate fixed on the fee applicable to the application within the country will be payable in addition. The fee prescribed by the government will also be payable in case of application abroad.

15. Applications for diplomatic passports must be submitted to the Consular and Welfare Wing of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or to the Head Office of the Department of Immigration and Passports.

16. When applying for a new passport from a foreign mission, the contact address of Bangladesh should be mentioned in the permanent address column.

17. In case of urgent passport application (new issue) applicant must collect the police clearance certificate on own initiative and submit it along with the application.

18 (A). If a police clearance is submitted with the application for obtaining an urgent passport within the country, the passport will be issued within 2 working days subject to all other information being correct.

18 (B). If a police clearance is submitted with the application for obtaining an emergency passport within the country, the passport will be issued within 7 working days provided that all other information is correct.

18 (C). If the police clearance is submitted with the application for the purpose of obtaining a regular passport within the country, the passport will be issued within 15 working days provided that all other information is correct.

19. At the time of application, original National Identity Card (NID), Online Birth Registration (BRC) and, if applicable, Technical Certificate, Government Order (GO) / NOC must be submitted / submitted.

20 In case of re-issuance of passport, original passport has to be displayed.

21. In case of lost passport, a copy of original GD has to be shown / submitted.

22. In case of application below 06 years of age, passport size photo (lab print gray background) has to be submitted.

23. If the passport is lost or stolen, the nearest police station should be informed immediately. In case of new passport, application along with photocopy of old passport and GD copy has to be submitted.

Bangladesh Passport Online Check:

Click on the following link to check passport online in BD.

https://www.epassport.gov.bd/authorization/application-status

Check the status of your application by entering either Application ID (e.g. 4000-100000000) you find on the Delivery Slip you received from the Passport Office
Or enter Online Registration ID (OID) from your online application (e.g. OID1000001234)
Select date of birth
Click on the Checkbox that you are not a robot
Finally click on CHECK button

Bangladesh e-Passport Fees and Payment Options:

Last updated: 11 October 2020

Bank Payment:

The e-passport fee can be paid at one of the following banks in Bangladesh: ONE Bank, Premier Bank, Sonali Bank, Trust Bank, Bank Asia, Dhaka Bank.

Fees for e-Passport with 48 pages and 5 years validity:

Regular delivery within 15 Working days / 21 days: TK 4,025
Express delivery within 7 Working days / 10 days: TK 6,325
Super Express delivery within 2 Working days: TK 8,625

Fees for e-Passport with 48 pages and 10 years validity:

Regular delivery within 15 Working days / 21 days: TK 5,750
Express delivery within 7 Working days / 10 days: TK 8,050
Super Express delivery within 2 Working days: TK 10,350

Fees for e-Passport with 64 pages and 5 years validity:

Regular delivery within 15 Working days / 21 days: TK 6,325
Express delivery within 7 Working days / 10 days: TK 8,625
Super Express delivery within 2 Working days: TK 12,075

Fees for e-Passport with 64 pages and 10 years validity:

Regular delivery within 15 Working days / 21 days: TK 8,050
Express delivery within 7 Working days / 10 days: TK 10,350
Super Express delivery within 2 Working days: TK 13,800

NB: All fees are Including 15% VAT and those who have NOC/Retired doc (Govt employees) will get Express facility with submitting regular fee.

Last updated: 14 February 2021

Source of information:

Immigration Branch 1, Department of Security Services, Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of Peoples Republic of Bangladesh

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Tuesday, April 27, 2021

How to stop Promotional SMS | Do Not Disturb Service

Using mobile phone has become one of the regular parts of our life. Some mobile users feel serious disturbances when they receive one after one promotional sms offer from their operators. Peoples are searching on the internet to find such type of solutions always ‘how to stop Robi promotional sms, GP promotional sms off, how to stop promotional messages, stop Banglalink promotional sms or stop Airtel promotional sms etc.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) which is the regulatory body to monitor all such type of activities in the country, said that the 'Do Not Disturb (DND)' service will stop the flow of promotional SMS on mobile phones. User now can stop thiese services if they don’t want.

All the mobile operators have introduced the options of blocking such type of promotional SMS offer for their customers following instructions of BTRC.

On April 24th, 2021, the BTRC announced in a statement that promotional SMS / campaigns help mobile phone operators learn about the latest services and offers. But it seems annoying to get promotional SMS / campaigns from the field especially to some customers. Therefore, 'Do Not Disturb' service can be launched to further improve the quality of customer service.

I have received an SMS from BTRC saying that ‘If you do not want to receive promotional SMS on your mobile, you can start the 'Do Not Disturb' service by dialing the USSD code, otherwise please don’t’.

The solution for GP Promotional SMS off:

Dial: * 121 * 1101 # from Grameenphone

How to stop Robi promotional SMS:

Dial: * 7 #

How to stop Airtel Promotional SMS:

Dial * 7 #

How to stop Banglalink Promotional SMS:

Dial: * 121 * 8 * 6 #

Though the service is not new but due to a lack of publicity and awareness, many people do not know about the ‘Do Not Disturb’ service. Recently following the instructions of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, all the operators have re-introduced the service.

Now stop getting annoying promotional SMS from your operators which they send from dawn to sometimes even after midnight. Enjoy!

But, I think only few important / busy people will activate the DND services. Lots of Smartphone users are looking for such type of offers (MB / Minute Bundle / FB / Youtube etc).

Thanks,