Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday announced that her government will turn the country into “Smart Bangladesh” by 2041.

“We’ll make Bangladesh a developed country by 2041, and that Bangladesh will be a ‘Smart Bangladesh’,” she said said at the inauguration of Digital Bangladesh Day 2022 and prize distribution of Online Quiz Competition 2022.She added that her government has fixed four bases — smart citizens, smart economy, smart government and smart society – to turn the country into Smart Bangladesh.

“Every citizen will be skilled in technology, while economic activities will also be done through the use of technology. The government will also be [technologically] smart … We have already partially done that. The whole society will be technologically savvy,” she said.

The ICT Division organised the programme at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center, with “Advanced Technology Inclusive Development” as the theme.

State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak; Parliamentary Standing Committee on Post, Telecommunication and ICT Ministry Chairman AKM Rahmat Ullah, and ICT Division Senior Secretary NM Zeaul Alam also spoke at the programme.Earlier, Hasina distributed prizes among the winners of the quiz competition. Each of the winners received a laptop, mobile phone set and certificate.A documentary on Digital Bangladesh was also screened at the programme.

There, Hasina inaugurated Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park in Rajshahi and Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center in Barishal through digital authentication.

She also unveiled a graphic novel based on the life sketch of Sheikh Kamal, and a publication on Digital Bangladesh.

The PM also distributed Digital Bangladesh Award among the winners.