The government has planned to implement a Tk 500-crore project to establish optical fibre cable network in 290 new upazilas by December 2015 without foreign assistance.
‘The government has prepared the Development Project Proposal for 290 upazilas of 64 districts to enhance the modern internet and information technology in the country,’ a senior official of the Planning Commission told New Age on Thursday.
‘Most part of the country, except 13 upazilas for geographical position, will be connected with the internet service after implementation of the project by 2015 under the government’s National Broad Band Policy 2009,’ he said.
The Planning Commission prepared the project proposal which is now waiting to get final approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, headed by prime minister.
The Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited under the
posts and telecommunications ministry will
implement the proposed project. The total cost of the project has been
estimated at Tk 499.28 crore while the implementation period has been set from January 2013 to December 2015.
There are currently 303 upazilas, out of a total 486 upazilas, which have no broadband internet service in the country, said the Planning Commission official.
But the government has planned to set up the service in 290 upazilas as there is no administrative
upazila in four metropolitan cities — Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi — and rest 13 upazilas would not be possible to establish the internet service for their geographical position.
Those thirteen upazilas are Bhola sadar, Swandip, Hatia, Moheshkhali, Kudubdia, Baghaichari, Longdu, Juraichari, Bilaichari, Barkol, Muladi, Mehendiganj and Hizla.
Under the sixth five-year plan the government wants to expand of infrastructure facilities for development of information and communication technology for transforming the country into ‘digital Bangladesh.’
-With New Age input
