[🇧🇩] ICT Industry in Bangladesh

[Saif]

Interconnected safeguards: ESG-cyber security synergy

In 2024, the ever-evolving digital landscape is accompanied by a dynamic shift in the threat landscape. The cyber security domain is poised for a substantial transformation, anticipating a surge in the complexity of cyber threats. In the contemporary digital economy, businesses are confronted with

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Interconnected safeguards: ESG-cyber security synergy​

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MOHAMMAD ASHRAFUL ISLAM KHAN
Published :​

Feb 17, 2024 10:14

Updated :​

Feb 17, 2024 10:14

In 2024, the ever-evolving digital landscape is accompanied by a dynamic shift in the threat landscape. The cyber security domain is poised for a substantial transformation, anticipating a surge in the complexity of cyber threats. In the contemporary digital economy, businesses are confronted with the challenge of harmonizing their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives while ensuring robust cyber security and privacy measures. These concerns have prominently featured on global risk maps for several years. Although the environmental aspects of the ESG agenda have garnered considerable attention, other facets such as cyber security and privacy have not received that much emphasis. This is alarming, given the escalating frequency of cyber threats, impacting business operations, continuity, and reputations.


ESG policies are often perceived primarily as addressing climate change and the social responsibilities of a company. These policies establish ethical practices to protect not only the business itself but also its network of partners and customers, as well as the broader global environment. In this regard, ESG shares common ground with other risk management practices within a company, aiming to mitigate risks for stakeholders and communicate the strategies employed to achieve this. It is imperative for companies to recognize cyber security as an integral component of ESG. Cyber risk stands out as the most immediate and financially impactful sustainability risk that organizations confront today. Those neglecting to implement effective governance in cyber security, incorporating appropriate tools and metrics, will find themselves less resilient and sustainable. Such lapses not only affect the organizations directly but also have repercussions on the interconnected network of entities they rely on, ultimately influencing the stability of companies, communities, and governments.

In 2024, the global business landscape is witnessing a significant shift as enterprises increasingly embrace ESG criteria not merely for regulatory compliance or risk management, but as a pivotal opportunity to reshape their business models. This transformation is underpinned by a profound recognition of the imperative to account for an array of complex external risks that may arise simultaneously. As businesses globally align themselves with ESG principles, the importance of robust cyber security measures cannot be overstated. With the digital realm becoming integral to ESG implementations, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data is paramount. Cyber security acts as the linchpin safeguarding the integrity of ESG data, protecting against potential breaches that could compromise not only financial information but also critical ESG-related data.

Bangladesh, while relatively new to the ESG arena, stands at a crucial juncture to accelerate its growth by intertwining its ESG efforts with a robust focus on cyber security. As businesses in Bangladesh embark on this transformative journey, it is imperative to recognise that cyber threats are evolving in sophistication and magnitude. A proactive cyber security strategy will not only fortify the integrity of ESG disclosures but also enhance the overall resilience of businesses in the face of cyber challenges. By prioritizing cyber security in tandem with ESG implementations, Bangladesh can not only meet international standards but also foster a secure and sustainable business environment that will undoubtedly contribute to its long-term economic growth. Embracing these dual pillars of ESG and cyber security will position Bangladesh as a forward-looking player in the global business landscape, fostering trust and resilience in an era marked by unprecedented challenges and opportunities.

Traditionally, the integration of cyber security into ESG practices has not been a focal point. However, the landscape is evolving swiftly, catalyzed by high-profile data breaches, the rapid evolution of the digital economy, and the widespread adoption of remote work. Cyber security has become a crucial element of ESG practices, demanding attention from stakeholders such as investors, employees, customers, regulators, and supply chain partners. The paradigm shift requires a comprehensive integration of cyber security into ESG governance frameworks to effectively manage and mitigate the risks inherent in cyber threats.

In the context of Bangladesh, a nation emerging in the ESG arena, businesses should prioritize the incorporation of robust cyber security measures into their ESG strategies. This entails not only addressing current vulnerabilities but also future-proofing against evolving cyber threats. By doing so, businesses in Bangladesh can instill confidence among stakeholders, align with international ESG standards, and fortify their resilience in an increasingly digitized and interconnected world.

ESG ratings have become indispensable in attracting global investors, particularly European institutional investors who mandate ESG compliance for investment decisions. In the past year, seven Bangladeshi companies earned coveted spots in Bloomberg's sustainability list, joining over 16,000 global corporations. Their inclusion in this prestigious list reflects their commendable performance in environmental, social, and governance domains. As these companies navigate the evolving landscape of ESG expectations, ensuring their overall progress involves not only sustaining their current achievements but also fortifying resilience against emerging challenges. Cyber threats, in particular, loom large in the digital era, necessitating a strategic focus on cyber security. To maintain and enhance their ESG standing, these Bangladeshi firms must proactively address cyber risks, safeguarding not only their data integrity but also reinforcing the holistic sustainability commitments that have garnered them international recognition.

The increasing prevalence of cyber risks poses a genuine threat to the essential systems underpinning global environmental initiatives. An attack on these systems could reverberate throughout the broader global infrastructure, prompting businesses to prioritize cyber security as a paramount concern when addressing environmental factors. Companies must carefully assess how a breach in these systems not only impacts their own operations but also holds the potential to disrupt worldwide infrastructure. Despite this imperative, the integration of cyber security into the ESG framework often remains an overlooked facet for many businesses. As cyber security transforms from an industry-specific challenge into a pervasive global social issue, it becomes integral to all pillars of ESG, mandating its inclusion as a fundamental component of comprehensive business strategy.

Taking a broader societal viewpoint, insufficiencies in cyberspace safeguards can result in significant macro-economic harm with far-reaching national strategic consequences. Beyond financial repercussions, these inadequacies encompass issues such as industrial espionage, the dampening of incentives for innovation and investment, and the infringement of data privacy. Moreover, the threats extend to critical functions that serve as the backbone of economic and national security, public health, and the safety and freedom of citizens. What is increasingly evident to investors is that the perils emanating from cyber security vulnerabilities transcend the immediate companies affected and permeate the entire societal framework supporting the economy and market valuations. Recognizing the interconnected nature of these risks is essential for investors to make informed decisions, as the ramifications extend beyond individual businesses to impact the broader fabric of our economic and social landscape.

ESG integration involves factoring in significant non-financial elements in investment analysis to enhance risk-adjusted returns while simultaneously addressing key socioeconomic and environmental issues. Illustratively, the dynamics surrounding carbon emissions and climate change exemplify how heightened awareness and market valuation of ESG risks can bring about tangible real-world effects. A prominent shift is evident in the mainstream adoption of incorporating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disclosures into investment processes by investors. Extending this principle to encompass cyber security, businesses now recognize the imperative to integrate robust cyber security measures into their ESG strategies. Just as with environmental factors, acknowledging and mitigating cyber risks not only safeguards the business but also aligns with broader societal interests, making it an integral facet of a comprehensive and forward-thinking investment approach.

ESG and cyber security are interconnected facets, representing two sides of the same coin. The seamless integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles is complemented by robust cyber security measures, forming a holistic approach to sustainable and secure business practices. By acknowledging the symbiotic relationship between ESG and cyber security, organisations can not only fortify their risk management strategies but also contribute to a more sustainable and secure global business landscape.

Mohammad Ashraful Islam Khan, previously Head of Supply Chain Advisory Services at KPMG Bangladesh, is a management consultant with expertise in operational optimization and supply chain management.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh’s first ever data centre ‘Meghna Cloud’ begins operation

Gennext Technologies Limited, a leading ICT company, has recently inaugurated the full-fledged operation of Bangladesh’s first cloud data centre - Meghna Cloud - at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City in Kaliakoir of Gazipur....

www.newagebd.net

Bangladesh’s first ever data centre ‘Meghna Cloud’ begins operation​

Staff Correspondent | Published: 00:38, Feb 13,2024

-- Press release photo.

Gennext Technologies Limited, a leading ICT company, has recently inaugurated the full-fledged operation of Bangladesh’s first cloud data centre - Meghna Cloud - at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City in Kaliakoir of Gazipur.

The platform will provide cloud service infrastructure, including servers, storage and networking equipment, and associated software technology, said a press release on Monday.

Through this, it will be possible to provide services to both government and private entities, by keeping the country’s data within the domestic territory.

This move is expected to save a large amount of foreign currency the country spends annually for purchasing and using the cloud technology, the release said.

Within just one year, the cloud platform has been operationalised. On 29th December 2022, Gennext made a joint venture agreement with Bangladesh Data Centre Company Limited for Meghna Cloud.

Under the agreement Gennext will build, operate and maintain the Meghna Cloud as well as ensure sales and marketing of the cloud services to government and private sector together with BDCCL.

After visiting the Meghna Cloud data centre on February 8, state minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said that this ‘Made in Bangladesh Cloud’ was an excellent example of strategic partnership between government and private sector.

Through this initiative, the country can save a huge amount of foreign currency and ensure more data security, he said.

During the visit, Gennext Technologies chairman Touhidul Islam Chaudhury and Gennext Technologies managing director Alavee Azfar Chaudhury briefed about the cloud centre’s operation to the state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and ICT secretary Md. Shamsul Arefin.

Gennext has used state-of-the art technologies to set up the cloud platform and developed a skilled workforce to operate it.
‘Meghna Cloud will support the Smart Bangladesh move forward. We are also setting up a research and development center for teachers and students of both government and private universities’, said Touhidul Islam Chaudhury, chairman of Gennext Technologies.

This initiative will provide training on cloud related technology to about 5,000 students every year, he added.

The company is planning to invest around USD 500 million within the next five years for this project, said Javed Opgenhaffen, vice chairman of Gennext Technologies.

‘We want to work with the government jointly to contribute to the overall development of the country. This cloud platform is expected to play a significant role to establish Smart Bangladesh,’ he said,

The data centre would help the government save foreign currency in purchasing and using cloud technology from other countries as Bangladesh would not require depending only on foreign data storage facilities, he added.

‘Meghna Cloud is hoping to create a security platform which would provide top-most data security to government and non-government organisations,’ said Alavee Azfar Chaudhury, managing director of Gennext Technologies.

In 2019, the government established the tier 4 National Data Centre, the largest in Bangladesh, at the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City. It is run by BDCCL.​

 

[Saif]

Three AI-based Bangla software launched on International Mother Language Day

Commemorating the International Mother Language Day, artificial intelligence-based Bangla language software ‘Bangla Text to Speech – Uchcharon’, ‘Bangla Speech to Text – Kotha’ and Bengali OCR ‘Borna’ were launched on Wednesday. A new Bangla font &ls

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Three AI-based Bangla software launched on International Mother Language Day​

UNB

Published :​

Feb 21, 2024 19:16

Updated :​

Feb 21, 2024 19:30

Commemorating the International Mother Language Day, artificial intelligence-based Bangla language software ‘Bangla Text to Speech – Uchcharon’, ‘Bangla Speech to Text – Kotha’ and Bengali OCR ‘Borna’ were launched on Wednesday.

A new Bangla font ‘Purno’ began its journey during the occasion.

State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak launched them on Wednesday.

He also launched e-SIM for Teltalk in the event held at the BCC Auditorium in Dhaka.

The ICT state minister said that the launch of the software is a historic event for Bangla and for the 35 crore Bangla-speaking people across the world.

He said that a new dimension has been added to the development of the Bangla language under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina using smart technology.

The state minister said that February 21 is a proud segment of the national history and also for the development of art, literature and culture.

Bengali text-to-speech “Uchcharon” is a TTS software. The technology used to convert text into spoken words by a machine is called TTS or text-to-speech applications. TTS can read text in documents, websites, and screen windows.

At the same time, it can read aloud to the visually impaired people. The software has both male and female voices. Currently, the software can be used from the address read.bangla.gov.bd.

“Katha” is Bengali voice typing software. Voice typing or “speech to text” is the technique of writing words into a computer. It can convert spoken Bengali words to text in standard clear and quiet environments.

The final version of the software can record Bengali major punctuation marks. The software can be used as a web application from the browser by entering the address voice.bangla.gov.bd.

Also, there is an opportunity to use this voice typing service through the Keyboard Android app developed by the project.

The name of Bengali OCR is “Barno”. OCR is used to convert un-editable text in computer documents into editable text. OCR is converting text in PDF or JPEG files to editable text. This character OCRT converts Bangla text into text similar to composed text.​

 

[Bilal9]

"Cypher", a new Tier 4 colocation data center (with 99.9995 uptime guarantee) has started services in Jessore. The organization (AXENTEC) is a spin-off of "Robi", which is a major cellphone services provider. This would be one of two dozen larger datacenters in operation in Bangladesh, and one of four or five Tier 4 datacenters in the country.

 

[Saif]

Are we ready to tackle digital inequality?

The article seeks to explore the readiness of Bangladesh to rein the persisting digital inequalities.

www.thedailystar.net

Are we ready to tackle digital inequality?​

Photo: Star

The article seeks to explore the readiness of Bangladesh to rein the persisting digital inequalities. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand the meaning of digital inequalities, the spectrum of digital inequalities, and the extent or depth of such inequalities. All these would help us understand where to focus and how to address the challenges embedded within the digitization process to make Bangladesh Smart by 2041. More importantly, understanding digital inequality would help detect the underlying factors contributing to digital inequality and realize whether we are ready to rein digital inequality in Bangladesh. Today social and economic advancement of any country relies to a great extent on the country's access to modern information and communications technologies (ICTs) like computers, smartphones, and the internet, which play a pivotal role in improving the well-being of the citizens. However, this does not hold such promises for all segments of the population due to the persisting digital divide or digital inequality within a country and Bangladesh is not an exception to this case. While the digital divide focuses mainly on the differences in access to ICTs (i.e., the first-level digital divide), digital inequality refers to the differences in skills of the users (i.e., the second-level digital divide), implying that the high level of digital inequality is a challenging barrier to the digitization process, deployment of digitization process in organizations and businesses and adoption by citizens. Bangladesh dreams of realizing its Smart Bangladesh Vision by 2041 resolving the existing barriers in deployment and adoption through an inclusive manner. Realizing the dream by 2041 would require including the citizens who are lagging behind others in terms of the digitization process. More importantly, digital inclusion would help play a pivotal role in harnessing social and economic development. For the very first, the government of Bangladesh should consider the underlying reasons behind digital inequality for undertaking necessary plans and actions to address the root causes of digital inequality in Bangladesh.

Dr. Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Siddiquee is a Professor of the Department of Economics, University of Dhaka. He could be reached at shahadat.siddiquee@du.ac.bd

Let's start with a discussion on the digital divide between rural and urban areas of Bangladesh. The government data from Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics shows that the prevalence of internet usage among the rural population is around 37 percent and it is around 54 percent among urban population, implying a gap of 17 percent. Similarly, it finds that such a gap also persists between males and females by around 13 percent. Moreover, a more acute gender gap in the digital divide also persists within rural and urban areas. These simple statistics imply that approximately half of the population is out of internet usage, which would be a great challenge for the government to bring them under the digital umbrella by 2031. Considering the facts, the government of Bangladesh should set up the visionary milestones of achieving access to the internet by all citizens of the country within 17 years (i.e., 3 percent annual growth of internet coverage with a greater focus on rural areas where digital connectivity such as WiFi or broadband connection is still in scarcity). This would help establish the balance in internet usage between rural and urban areas. However, internet access provisioning in remote villages in rural areas would not be as easy as it is expected. As digital inequality by gender is also a major concern, the expansion of digital facilities should inclusively prioritize women. In order to make the digitization process, the government has introduced "One Country, One Rate", but in reality, it differs charging higher prices in rural areas. The two underlying factors behind the low penetration of internet usage in rural areas include infrastructure and technological resources. However, socioeconomic ability and digital literacy among rural people are thought of as constraints in the digitization process. We can guess that internet access among rural people would move positively with the increase in their incomes. However, a huge investment from the government's end is necessary for provisioning digital literacy, especially among the rural youth so that they can employ themselves starting e-commerce, f-commerce, and outsourcing. In addition to these factors, the cost of internet access is around 6.5 times higher compared to the rest of the world, implying that reducing the cost of the internet might help expand the coverage by bringing internet access to more rural people within their affordability. However, the higher level of current inflation, which is around 10 percent in Bangladesh, would pose a serious challenge as the real income of the underserved rural population falls due to higher inflation.

Living in an era of technological change, led by digital revolution, gives rise to societal discontent if disruptions caused by technological change drive the income and wealth inequality in the country. However, the inclusive socio-economic outcomes resulting from such digital revolution point towards a society with more societal well-being, which requires matching of a country's policies and actions with technological changes favoring the people living in the left tail of the income and wealth distributions. It is evident from empirical evidence that the failure to match policies and actions with technological change may result in slower productivity growth, i.e., slower overall economic growth. Therefore, if Bangladesh wants to reap the benefits of digitization from the viewpoint of societal well-being and reduce digital inequality, it should prioritize rectifying the causes of digital inequality, match the timely policies with actions, and establish the shared dynamics between income distribution and productivity. Last but not least, the elements of digital inequalities include varied forms such as educational, infrastructural, social, economic, and usable design which would require a large volume of activities with huge investments. With a low revenue generation of the government of Bangladesh would pose a serious challenge to undertake necessary actions and this might delay in achieving the vision of a country with digital equality.​

 

[Saif]

Palak unveils BTCL’s high-speed internet 'GBon'

‘GBon’, a high-speed broadband service by the Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) was recently launched by Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology.

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Palak unveils BTCL’s high-speed internet 'GBon'​

File photo.

'GBon', a high-speed broadband service by the Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) was recently launched by Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology.

The initiative aims to make high-speed internet more accessible, with significant reductions in costs. For example, the price of 5 Mbps internet has been lowered from BDT 500 to BDT 399 under the new package, making it more affordable for the masses, as outlined in the release.

"With this inauguration, Bangladesh has entered the newest era of high-speed broadband internet service," said Palak.

Palak had previously announced a special pricing package for 'GBon' internet bandwidth on February 21, in homage to the language martyrs.
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[Saif]

Bangladesh lags behind peer nations in ICT development

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) releases ICT Development Index 2023

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Bangladesh lags behind peer nations in ICT development​

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) releases ICT Development Index 2023

Bangladesh, which has spent tens of thousands of crore taka for ICT development in the last 15 years, lags behind its peer economies in a key ICT global index.

Bangladesh scored only 61.1 in the ICT Development Index (IDI) 2023 of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), a specialised United Nations agency for information and communication technologies (ICT).

The 2023 edition of the index includes 169 economies.

Bangladesh trails neighbouring economies, with Sri Lanka registering a score of 69.9, Bhutan 76.5, Vietnam 80.6, Maldives 79 and Cambodia 68.5.

And while the report lacks data on India, Pakistan and Afghanistan scored 48.7 and 28.9 respectively.

Only 38.9 percent of the individuals in Bangladesh were using the internet last year while 38.1 percent households had internet access, according to the report.

The index is based on two main pillars -- Universal Connectivity and Meaningful Connectivity.

The universal connectivity pillar measures the proportion of individuals using the internet (from any location), proportion of households with internet access and active mobile-broadband subscriptions per 100 inhabitants. Bangladesh only scored only 39.2 in this segment.

The meaningful connectivity pillar measures mobile network coverage, percentage of the population covered by at least a 3G mobile network, percentage of the population covered by a 4G/LTE mobile network, and mobile broadband internet traffic per subscription.

This pillar also examines mobile data and the voice high consumption basket price (as a % of the GNI per capita), fixed-broadband internet basket price (as % of GNI per capita), percentage of individuals who own a mobile phone, and fixed broadband internet traffic per fixed broadband subscription.

In this segment, Bangladesh fared well with a score of 83.

The average IDI score is 72.8 out of 100. The 100-mark corresponds to a situation where a country or group has reached the goalpost value on every indicator of the IDI.

A score of zero corresponds to the hypothetical situation where there is no connectivity at all: nobody uses the internet; nobody is covered by a mobile-broadband network; there are no mobile-broadband subscriptions; no data traffic is generated, etc.

The lowest score obtained in the IDI 2023 is 20.0 while the highest is 98.2.

Some 33 countries have an IDI score of between 90 and 100. Another 47 countries have a score between 80 and 90. At the other end of the scale, 30 countries have scores below 50 and another nine have between 50 and 60.

These results suggest the world has made significant progress towards universal and meaningful connectivity, with half of the countries almost at or past the 80-point mark (median of 78.7), according to the report.

Still, half of the countries are spread across a 60-point range, with a few scoring in the low 20s. Additionally, as mentioned above, the IDI does not capture all aspects of the UMC framework, such as fixed broadband penetration, internet speed, ICT skills, or safety.

The report said two-thirds of the world's population use the internet, which is woven into the entire fabric of peoples' daily lives.

Yet, one-third of the world's population remain offline, and even among the nominally online population, many are not meaningfully connected.

Multiple digital divides persist, across and within countries, between men and women, between younger and older individuals, between cities and rural areas, and between those who enjoy an ultra-fast fixed-broadband connection and those who struggle on a shaky connection.

"Some 400 million people are entirely beyond the reach of a mobile broadband network," it added.

In the IDI index, 10 other factors are considered and Bangladesh significantly lags behind the global average in 8 of them.

Moreover, Bangladeshis allocate only 2 percent of their income for mobile data, voice and broadband internet services. Also, the rate of mobile phone ownership stands at 61.8 percent.​

 

[Saif]

https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/education/article/bd-students-win-award-in-intl-robotics-contest-in-nepal

BD students win award in int'l robotics contest in Nepal​

KHALID SAIFULLAH KHAN

Published :​

Feb 25, 2024 11:12

Updated :​

Feb 25, 2024 11:12

Bangladeshi AI-lover students win award in International Robotics Competition held in Nepal recently

Recently, Team Atlas has proudly represented Bangladesh at the "YANTRA 9.0 International Robotics Competition" in Nepal, achieving the Best Robot Design & Strategy Award at the prestigious President's Cup Yantra Teens. Building a total of five robots for the competition on the motion of "Garbage to Gold" and pulling off the task is as magical as it seems.

In a conversation with the writer, Team Atlas delves into their personal motivation toward robotics and ambition of saving the environment through technology. With a team of 12 members, winning the Best Design & Strategy Award at the Yantra 9.0 International Robotics Competition, has been an overwhelming experience.

Sunny Jubayer, the founder and leader of Team Atlas, shares that his fascination with robotics started with movies like "Transformers" from his childhood. His target was to build the community to work in technology to make daily lives easier. With that prospect, he started doing workshops from class five. A primary school student doing workshops on robotics is as rare as it gets in Bangladesh.

In class seven, Sunny Jubayer worked on different government projects, and in class eight, he started working with BUET professors regarding robotics. In March 2016, he started making a team, known as Team Atlas in these days. Today, there are more than 150 active members; in addition, there are alumni who are still connected with the team, providing support from time to time.

Because of their work in technology development with Bangladeshi students, Team Atlas won the 2023 Joy Bangla Youth Award among 12 institutes and the Digital Bangladesh Award from the prime minister. Sunny Jubayer says about training new members, "We are training them in every part of robotics, as we know the fourth industrial revolution will rely on robotics and AI (artificial intelligence."

The Yantra 9.0 International Robotics Competition participating team had dreamers of all ages, ranging from intermediate students to master's students. They had different stories and backgrounds as in how they joined Team Atlas. This is how Team Atlas celebrates a diverse community that has a shared interest in technology and robotics.

Sunny Jubaer, the project coordinator, explains that the team made a total of five robots for the contest, targeting different garbage to collect, as the competition's project was to collect garbage and break the other team's garbage pile by throwing balls with robots.

Ezhar Hossain Ifty, who completed HSC in 2023 from Dhaka Imperial College, has been learning robotics from class seven, emphasises their ball-throwing soccer-like game. He was the main pilot in this contest to operate the robots. He says, "All teams had three robots, but we played with one robot, as the other two had some technical issues. Still, we won the game, and it was a magnificent moment to show the world our potential."

Md Tanjir Arafat Turjo and Mohammad Mehran Islam Mahi, both from BAF Shaheen College, respectively from the HSC 2023 and HSC 2024 batch, worked on this project together, with the earlier one being involved in hardware and the latter being the bot designer. Mahi talks about how he grew interested in robotics from 10th grade, whereas Turjo talks about how those toy cars inspired him to explore more in mechanism/robotics from childhood.

For this generation, probably childhood interest in toy cars or electronic devices is the most significant influencer in students growing interested in technology and robotics, except for some students who were first enthralled by Rajnikanth's ‘Enthiran’ (‘Robot’ in Hindi version) movie. Just like Turjo and Ifty's interest in toy cars, Moskur Rahman Mahir, an A-level candidate, was also fascinated by electronic equipment and later joined Team Atlas after one of his teachers recommended it. Mahir mainly worked in mechanical sectors in this project, e.g., RC controlling and electrical connection.

The ‘Robot’ movie fascination had an influence on Atik Shahriar Hasan and Hasibur Rahman Tareq. Atik, who completed HSC in 2023 from Dawood Public School and College, worked for Bot programming, the Ball Shooting accuracy maintenance, and Tareq, an IUBAT final year student in electrical engineering, worked in the Soccer Board section, including circuit, body designing, speed controlling, etc. Tareq also works at his university's Robotics Club, where he had an outstanding experience collaborating with IIT Bombay.

Another HSC pass student from batch 2023 Al Mahmud Alif shares that he came to Dhaka at the intermediate level for the opportunities, as he did not have them back in the village. This creative individual also has experience in robot-sketchings. He said that joining Team Atlas was a "Turning Point of Life" to him, as he got the opportunity to learn sensors, modules, and other aspects of robotics. Before this Nepal Tour, Alif also participated in the WRC Robotics Championship Worldwide with Team Atlas, where they won the Silver Medal, being first runner-up.

At Team Atlas, people with a passion for technology get an opportunity, even if they are not from a STEM background. For example, a business student Fahim Shahriyar shares that he was fascinated by technology back in eighth grade or even earlier than that. Studying business studies, he did not have the scope to get into science and research, but he did start learning programming languages. Later, he joined Team Atlas and started learning many aspects of robotics. The full-time job holder says, "I really find the Friday Lab Classes very helpful, as I have been learning from the basics." At Yantra's competition, he worked in the circuit, controlling, and piloting sections.

Every project has its risks and obstacles. About Team Atlas's obstacles in this outstanding recent achievement, Atik delves into the matter of obstacles. He shares, "Our robot was declined two days before the competition because of a height issue. We had to work heart and soul, staying awake all night, with one sleeping at a time." Still, they completed their project and won 2024's first international award for Bangladesh.

In a practical world, this type of technology is indispensable, considering the amount of waste in rivers and pollution in Bangladesh. According to Sunny Jubayer, they made those robots with the ambition of putting their main target forward, which is ‘Save the Environment’. In addition, he says that this sort of robot is very much feasible on the shores of Cox's Bazar or Saint Martin. With this prospect, Team Atlas built a water cleaning robot, which will be able to absorb waste from water bodies.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh to draft AI law by September: Law Minister

Law Minister Anisul Huq has announced plans to draft new legislation governing artificial intelligence (AI) by September this year. Speaking with journalists at the Secretariat yesterday, Minister Haque underscored the significance of AI's global impact and the need for Bangladesh to formulate...

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Bangladesh to draft AI law by September: Law Minister​

Law Minister Anisul Haque said that a new law on artificial intelligence will be drafted by September this year.

Law Minister Anisul Huq has announced plans to draft new legislation governing artificial intelligence (AI) by September this year. Speaking with journalists at the Secretariat yesterday, Minister Haque underscored the significance of AI's global impact and the need for Bangladesh to formulate its legal framework accordingly.

"We are witnessing the transformative power of artificial intelligence on the global stage. It's imperative for Bangladesh to contemplate its legislative stance on AI," Huq stated. Early discussions on drafting AI legislation began today, focusing on creating a preliminary framework, he said.

Acknowledging the complexity of AI, Huq remarked, "This domain's expansive nature precludes the possibility of resolving discussions in a single day. Our approach to legislation must be informed by a comprehensive understanding and experience in the field."

Haque detailed his discussion on the draft's framework, emphasising the necessity of addressing aspects critical to human welfare and the ethical use of AI. "The discourse on AI's legal framework has commenced, focusing on protecting human rights and ensuring AI's beneficial application across sectors," he added.

Responding to inquiries about the potential consequences of the new law, Huq emphasised the importance of regulatory oversight while ensuring AI's positive impact on society. "The extent of our regulatory control is a pertinent question. However, I am committed to leveraging AI to uphold human rights and safeguard public welfare in all areas," said the Minister.​

 

[Saif]

Non-compliance: Govt may temporarily block Facebook, YouTube

The government may temporarily suspend services of social media giants including Facebook and YouTube if they don’t comply with government instructions to prevent the spread of “disinformation

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Non-compliance: Govt may temporarily block Facebook, YouTube

The government may temporarily block social media giants including Facebook and YouTube in Bangladesh if they don't comply with government instructions to prevent the spread of "disinformation".

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Law and Order held at the Secretariat today.

Committee chairman and Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque disclosed the decision to reporters after the meeting.

The minister voiced concerns about the lack of response from social media platforms such as Facebook and YouTube to official complaints about rumours and cybercrime.

"Facebook and YouTube do not have offices in Bangladesh, and our recommendations and instructions are being ignored. The social media companies will first be informed about their negligence, and if they fail to comply, the government may shut them down temporarily.

"Before that, the government will publish advertisements in the newspaper and inform international organisations concerned regarding the non-compliance."

The minister added that public notices will be served to the companies so that the government is not responsible for any rights violations.

Regarding the upcoming upazila elections, Mozammel said that the upazila elections should be free and fair, adding that the decision not to use the party symbol in the local elections will ensure a level playing field.
"Law enforcement agencies have been strictly instructed to take legal action if any candidate violates the electoral code of conduct."

The public administration ministry has been asked to appoint a sufficient number of magistrates ahead of the upazila elections, he added.

On the recurrence of fire incidents, Mozammel said building codes need to be followed properly during their construction. "Also, flammable objects and hazardous chemicals have not been removed from buildings despite repeated calls. The industries ministry will take steps so that the chemicals are removed quickly [from buildings]."

Mozammel said the committee recommended that investigations be conducted against those whose negligence in duties resulted in these fire incidents and those who approved the risky buildings.

The cabinet committee chairman said a decision has been taken to hold a meeting in Ramadan to take steps to avert fire incidents. The meeting will be attended by the home minister, city mayors, police, and the regulatory authorities of hotels and restaurants.

Concerned about the rise in criminal activity at the Rohingya camps, the minister said, "Diplomatic efforts will be stepped up to repatriate the Rohingya refugees."

On the rising price of essentials, Mozammel said, "The ministry concerned has been asked to bring down the prices of essential commodities."