Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Thursday asked the Directorate of Posts to take prompt measures to reap maximum benefits of the online business so that people can enjoy the services more easily.
“As the popularity of online selling and purchasing has been rising, the Directorate of Posts cannot lag behind. It has to take more prompt measures,” she said.
The prime minister gave the direction while inaugurating the newly-built 14-storey Dak Bhaban, the administrative headquarters of the Directorate Posts, at Agargaon in Dhaka.
Joining virtually from Ganabhaban, the prime minister also asked the postal officials to adopt modern technologies aimed at reaching the postal services to the grassroots.
She asked the postal directorate to introduce the cooling or freezing system at the upazila and union level so that the perishable goods can be transported from one place to another safely.
Sheikh Hasina said that her government has purchased 118 vehicles for the Directorate of Posts, adding that it would not be enough to purchase cars as it also requires cooling warehouses to preserve the postal goods which include perishable items.
The prime minister said that the government has started works to build 14 ultra-modern mail processing and logistic service centres with chilling chambers which are about to complete.
She said that her government has taken measures to build 38 consumer-friendly model post offices having the facility of ultra-modern mail processing and logistic service with chilling chambers at the district and divisional cities.
The premier said that they will establish such model post offices across the country in phases, adding, “We, in this way, want to reach the postal services to the grassroots. You (employees of the Postal Directorate) have to take the initiative to this end.”
She said that her government has signed bilateral agreements with different countries and the process is on to sign agreements t with more countries under the framework of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) so that the expatriates can easily send their hard-earned money at lower cost and in a legal way.
The prime minister hoped that the Dak Bhaban would bring dynamism in the work of the Directorate of Posts. She also released memorial postal stamps, marking the grand opening of the Bhaban.
Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar also spoke on the occasion while Secretary of Posts and Telecommunications Division Md Afzal Hossain gave the welcome address at the opening ceremony from the Dak Bhaban, Agargaon in the city.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Posts, Telecommunications and IT Ministry AKM Rahmatullah, among others, were present at the Dak Bhaban.
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus moderated the function while PMO (Prime Minister’s Office) Secretary Md Tofazzel Hossain Miah was present, among others, at the Ganabhaban end.
An audio-visual presentation was made on the development of the Directorate of Posts.
