Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said on Saturday lack of digital awareness is a major setback to digitalisation in the country.
He also called upon the trade bodies concerned including Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) to play a leading role in educating the people about the digital technology as well as engaging the people in the digital technology to move ahead with digitisation.
The minister came up with the observations while addressing as the chief guest at the virtual inaugural ceremony of a four-day programme organised on the occasion of the 22nd founding anniversary of BCS Computer City.
He said 35 per cent of the total mobile phone users in the country use smart phones.
"The number of smartphone users will suddenly increase from 85 per cent to 90 per cent with the expansion of 4G network and broadband internet connection across the country," he added.
The minister said the country is entering the 5G era. "This modern version of technology will be an industrial product."
In his speech, Mustafa Jabbar, also former president of BCS, described various initiatives taken by BCS since 1987, including computer fairs in Dhaka and outside Dhaka, to make people aware and involve them in computer technology and the need to use it.
He said VAT-tax on computer was withdrawn in 1998 under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
This was followed by a revolutionary change in the development of computer technology in the country - a step taken to build a digital Bangladesh.
Mustafa Jabbar recalled the role of media in popularizing computer and the contribution of then BCS leaders.
BCS president Shahid-ul Munir and former president Abdullah H Kafi were present at the function. Ahmed Hasan Jewel, Sabur Khan, former general secretary from USA Munem Rana, BCS general secretary Monirul Islam Moni, BCS leader Bhuiyan Enam Lelin, Rafiqul Anwar, Habibur Rahman Shaheen, and Moinul Islam Moin also spoke at the programme.
