D.Net launched the 101st telecentre in Jessore

On April 26 2008, D.Net launched the 101st telecentre in Jessore. The centre was established in collaboration with Shalia Roy Choudhary High School, Volunteers Association for Bangladesh (VAB), USA and sponsored by BUET Alumni, Huston, Texas, USA. The centre will cater to the students as well as the community people, who will get access to their livelihood information (education, health, agriculture, law, employment etc.) and IT skills training on basic computer application from the centre.

Mr. Abual Hossain, Deputy Commissioner, Jessore inaugurated the centre. ‘It is a great opportunity for the students and community people to learn computer at the village level’ stated Mr. Hossain.

Mr. Bimol Ray Choudhary, founder of the school was present in the ceremony as honorable guest. Mr. Shadul Islam Milon, Chairman of Nawapara Union, Mr. Ajoy Kumar Bose, Coordinator (CLP), Mr. Mossharrof Hossain, Abul Kalam Azad, Naimul Haque, Ashrafi Ferdushi of D.Net were also present.

Noted that to build a knowledge society, as announced in the national Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy of Bangladesh, and reap the benefits of a new economy, Bangladesh needs its young generation to be educated and acquainted with the state-of-the-art knowledge of ICT. In developing a base for skilled ICT professionals, various plans are underway; however, they are concentrated in urban or semi-urban areas. Students and youths in rural areas rarely get a chance to learn computer and ICT, and thus do not know how this modern technology can be utilized to benefit their rural livelihood.

It is understandable that with the poor resource base, it is not an easy task for the government alone to provide facilities and necessary resources for learning ICT skills throughout the country. Therefore, Volunteers Association for Bangladesh (VAB), New Jersey, USA, took this initiative, which is implemented by D.Net in Bangladesh.