Govt signs deal with KT, IOM to build digital Maheshkhali
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Dhaka: A tri-party Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) among Bangladesh, Korea Telecom (KT) and International Organisation of Migration (IOM) has been signed to turn Bangladesh’s southern Maheskhali Island into digital one.
The MoU was inked in presence of State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2016 in Barcelona, Spain on Tuesday, according to a message received in Dhaka from Spain on Wednesday.
Additional Secretary of ICT Division Md Harunur Rashid, Executive
Vice-President of Korean Telecom (KT) Jong-Jing Yoon and IOM Chief of Mission Sarat Das inked the deal on behalf of their respective organisations.
‘This is an historical event as we’ve reached an understanding and signed MoU to make the Maheskhali Island, located in the Bay of Bengal and off the coast of Cox’s Bazar fully digital under a project titled Converting Maheskhali into Digital Island,’ Zunaid Ahmed Palak told the function.
He said KT and IOM have become partners with Bangladesh to transform the lives of the marginalised people living in the Maheshkhali Island. ‘After successful implementation, the government will replicate it in all remote locations of Bangladesh,’ Palak said.
As per the agreement, KT will provide high-speed internet backbone infrastructure, and also analyse the needs of the residents of Maheshkhali Island, Cox’s Bazar district, and provide concrete and practical solutions to ensure people’s easy access to various services, including tourism, health, agriculture and education using the ICT.
The IOM will act as the project implementation entity, and in such capacity provide liaison services between Bangladesh government and KT to facilitate communication and cooperation, as well as carry out needs assessment of the residents.
According to agreement, the Bangladesh government will facilitate the project implementation and coordinate with other ministries, divisions and government agencies to ensure the access to and utilisation of government communication networks.
The parties will collaborate in the development and implementation of relief and development projects using the ICT.