Post and Telecommunication Minister Advocate Shahara Khatun Sunday seen at inauguration of ‘Post e-Pay (Mobile Banking)’ at GPO headquarters, Gulistan in city Sunday.

Post and Telecommunications Minister Advocate Shahara Khatun Sunday said the hands of 120 million able citizens of the country could turn into the hands of prosperity through utilising the prospects of Information Communication Technology (ICT).

“Telecommunications industry has now become a thrust sector for foreign investment,” she said, adding, ‘The whole world has become a global village with the auspices of the ICT.’

The Minister was addressing while inaugurating a pilot project styled ‘Post e-Pay (Mobile Banking)’ jointly run by Postal Department and Bangla Phone at the GPO headquarters, Gulistan in city.

Sahara said the telecom business previously was confined with a particular segment of businessmen, but after assuming in power in 1996, the then Awami League government created opportunity for opening up the sector for all which have bring revolutionary changes over the years.

3G mobile technology, and availability of Laptops at cheap rates has enhanced tele-density from 29 percent to 67 percent and internet density from 9 percent to 20 percent during last 4 years which has ensured easy telecommunication, e-banking, mobile banking across the country, Shahara added.

Necessary steps will be taken shortly to reach the facilities of mobile banking up to the grassroots people, she mentioned.

Director General of Postal Department, Nayeb Delwar Hossain presided over the inaugural ceremony while Secretary, Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Abu Bakar Siddik, Additional Secretary, Shawkat Ali, Additional Director General, Fazlur Rahman, Managing Director of Bangla Phone Md. Mobarak Ali also spoke on the occasion.

While addressing Nayeb Delwar Hossain said the Postal Department and Bangla Phone have jointly started this pilot programme on a joint revenue-sharing basis, initially which will be run in seven divisional cities. It will gradually be expanded across the country, he added.

Speakers said opening of Post e-Pay (Mobile Banking) will usher in a chapter in the arena of cloud based Electronic Platform who’s main services will be e-payment gateway, e-commerce platform, document management system and tracking and delivery of goods.

The services will distributed among the people through 10,000 outlets and 100,000 targeted agents across the country.

News: The Daily Sun/Bangladesh/17th-Dec-12