Palak: Govt working to create common platform for digital transactions

State Minister of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Sunday said the government is working to create a common platform for digital financial transactions.

Amid the pandemic mobile financial services, e-filings at government offices, and e-commerce, have skyrocketed in the country, he added. 

“We are trying to transform the governance system of Bangladesh into a paperless one. There will be no red tape in Bangladesh in the future,” the state minister further said while speaking as the chief guest at a webinar organized by the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS). 

Titled “Prayer and Discussion Meeting for the 46th Martyrdom Anniversary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and National Mourning Day 2021,” the webinar was moderated by BASIS President Syed Almas Kabir.

Palak also noted that there are now 120 million internet users in the country at present. 

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He also acknowledged the contribution of BASIS and its member organizations in building a Digital Bangladesh. 

Seeking support from BASIS to create an alternative to Facebook called "Jogajog", the state minister hoped that the country would earn $5 billion in exports from the IT sector by 2025. To this end, the government has approved tax exemptions for the sector.

Syed Almas Kabir urged the government to extend the tax exemption period till 2030 to keep up the momentum of IT exports.

He also said: “Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman brought us freedom through long movement struggle from 1947-1971. Bangladesh is one of the success stories of post-independence transformation from a ‘bottomless basket’ to a self-reliant country. 

“The country is now moving forward with determination under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the worthy daughter of Bangabandhu, with the aim of building a 'Digital Bangladesh', a modern transformation of Bangabandhu's dream 'Sonar Bangla',” he added. 

Member of Parliament Aparajita Haque, Deputy Education Minister Mohibul Hassan Chowdhury, and Md Nazrul Islam Khan, curator at Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Memorial Museum, also attended the webinar.