Erstwhile enclaves ‘to be brought under Digital Bangladesh initiative’

The government will bring all the 111 ex-enclaves and their residents under Digital Bangladesh programme, said State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim, reports UNB.

Citing the lack of internet connectivity, mobile coverage, e-post offices and other technological facilities in those areas, Tarna said the government has taken the decision to make those areas technologically up to date.

Out of the 111 ex-enclaves, three e-post offices will be set up in three of those areas, which will gradually be expanded in other ex-enclaves, she told UNB.

On the midnight of July 31, 2015, the 111 ex-Indian enclaves were merged with the mainland of Bangladesh following the ratification of land boundary agreement (LBA) by Indian Loka Sabha and Rajya Sabha unanimously. There were over 37,000 people in the 111 ex-enclaves that include 59 in Lalmonirhat, 36 in Panchagarh, 12 in Kurigram and four in Nilphamari.

The State Minister also informed that the Post and Telecommunications secretary has also inspected the sites recently to make a feasibility report.

With the bringing of the areas under the Digital Bangladesh banner, Tarana said, the ex-enclave people will be able to immerse themselves with the rest of the country’s population and avail themselves of internet via broadband and fibre optical connectivity.

Given the low presence of mobile coverage in those areas, she has urged all the mobile operators to expand their towers in those enclaves as early as possible.

Telecom secretary Shyam Sunder Sikder told UNB that among 36 enclaves in Panchagarh, they have begun constructing e-post offices in tSadar Upazila’s Garati, one in Bodha and Debiganj’s Kotbhajni enclave as pilot projects.

He further said eight adjacent enclaves will also be included in its coverage through these three post offices.

The secretary said the project has been divided into three processes—the installation of fiber optical connectivity, setting up e-post offices along with computer labs and building training centres—under a Tk 10 crore budget.

 

Erstwhile enclaves to be brought under Digital Bangladesh initiative

The government will bring all the 111 ex-enclaves and their residents under Digital Bangladesh programme, said State Minister for Posts and Telecommunications Tarana Halim, reports UNB. Citing the lack of internet connectivity, mobile coverage, e-post offices and other technological facilities in those areas, Tarna said the government has taken the decision to make those areas technologically up to date. Out of the 111 ex-enclaves, three e-post offices will be set up in three of those areas, which will gradually be expanded in other ex-enclaves, she told UNB. On the midnight of July 31, 2015, the 111 ex-Indian enclaves were merged with the mainland of Bangladesh following the ratification of land boundary agreement (LBA) by Indian Loka Sabha and Rajya Sabha unanimously. There were over 37,000 people in the 111 ex-enclaves that include 59 in Lalmonirhat, 36 in Panchagarh, 12 in Kurigram and four in Nilphamari. The State Minister also informed that the Post and Telecommunications secretary has also inspected the sites recently to make a feasibility report. With the bringing of the areas under the Digital Bangladesh banner, Tarana said, the ex-enclave people will be able to immerse themselves with the rest of the countrys population and avail themselves of internet via broadband and fibre optical connectivity. Given the low presence of mobile coverage in those areas, she has urged all the mobile operators to expand their towers in those enclaves as early as possible. Telecom secretary Shyam Sunder Sikder told UNB that among 36 enclaves in Panchagarh, they have begun constructing e-post offices in tSadar Upazilas Garati, one in Bodha and Debiganjs Kotbhajni enclave as pilot projects. He further said eight adjacent enclaves will also be included in its coverage through these three post offices. The secretary said the project has been divided into three processesthe installation of fiber optical connectivity, setting up e-post offices along with computer labs and building training centresunder a Tk 10 crore budget.