Space For Rent

Space For Rent
Tuesday, August 25, 2015, Bhadra 10, 1422 BS, Zilqad 9, 1436 Hijr


a2i services at all Union Information and Service Centres
Digital network connects former enclaves
Saleem Samad with Laili Begum in Kurigram and SM Munim in Panchaghar
Published :Tuesday, 25 August, 2015,  Time : 12:00 AM  View Count : 191

Most of the former enclaves in Kurigram and Panchagarh districts have been brought under the digital network.
The initiative was taken after Access to Information (a2i) Programme, an activity directly under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), recently announced establishing Union Information and Service Centre (UISC) in all 111 former enclaves.
Dashiarchara village in Kurigram, which used to be an Indian territory for more than four decades, the utility services and civic amenities have never reached the residents.
The villagers of Dashiarchara saw flicker of light when UISC began its journey from August 21st.
In a rented space in the growth centre of the village Dashiarchara, the UISC was established with temporary electric power connected with wires hanging from bamboo poles from a nearby village.
However, the centre is waiting for formal functioning after getting internet connection to begin its journey to provide services to the residents. The villagers will acquire the right to access government facilities.
From the same bamboo poles the electric power also connects the outpost for police force, which has been already deployed hours after the land swap from 1 August.
In former Gariti enclave in Panchaghar, the electric power could not be accessed immediately, the UISC has been established in neighbouring Pukuridanga village where electric and internet connectivity were available readily.
The facility for Gariti village could not be finalised. Once the utility services are provided at the soonest the UISC would be established, said a district official in Panchaghar.
Both, Dashiarchara and Gariti UISC have received new computers, accessories and trained personnel for operating and offering services from the centre.
The government have already brought under third generation (3G) network internet services in all district towns and of course the mega cities.
There are 4,547 Union Information and Service Centres in Bangladesh. The centres are newly established one-stop service outlets operating at all Union Parishads.
The already established digital network covering all the unions, including the former enclaves, social equality, productivity, public services, transparency, accountability, creation of employment opportunities, health care and disaster management services will be extended through this project.
The UISCs are envisaged to provide public exam results, download government forms, birth and death registrations, online university admissions,  VGD/VGF card database, livelihood information, employment information, visa processing /visa form printing, email and internet browsing, computer training, video conferencing, mobile banking, photocopying/scanning/photo/mobile phone services and other facilities to the hard-to-reach population.
The government has undertaken a plan to expand 3G facilities in upazilas and 2.5G in villages to bring rural people under the digital network and enable to reach high-speed internet services in upazilas and villages from January 2016 to June of 2017.
This is being implemented through a project titled, 'Introduction of 3G Technology and Expansion of (2.5G) Network'.
Meanwhile, the Post and Telecommunications Ministry has plans to establish 3G-network in all upazila towns, growth centres, large educational institutions and other places under the new project.









Editor : Iqbal Sobhan Chowdhury
Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka. Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000. Phone :9586651-58. Fax: 9586659-60, Advertisemnet: 9513663, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected].