Zunaid Ahmed Palak, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Department, has declared that illegal or unregistered mobile phones may face a ban starting July of this year. “Unregistered mobile phones will have the opportunity to register them,” he told the media on Tuesday (Jan 23) at the Secretariat. Palak explained that the process to curb illegal or unregistered phones would take approximately five months.   He also stated that during the next three months, technological improvements would be made, followed by two months of experimentation.   He urged everyone to refrain from obtaining phones illegally during this period and instead purchase them through proper channels. He also highlighted the BTRC's dedicated efforts to prevent unregistered phones from entering the grey market, deterring theft and smuggling. “These measures aim to safeguard local industries and maintain law and order through effective technology utilisation,” he said.

State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak on Tuesday (Jan 16) directed the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) to take steps to block all unregistered mobile phones. He issued the directive at a meeting with senior officials of the BTRC at the commission office in the capital Dhaka's Agargaon area this morning, said a press release. The state minister said that the regulatory body has a system of database and automatic registration of mobile handsets manufactured and assembled in and imported to the country. Noting that there is no alternative to taking initiatives to increase export income and investment, create employment and increase revenue in the telecommunication and information technology sectors to lay the foundation for 'Smart Bangladesh' with specific goals in the next five years, he directed all concerned to work with utmost sincerity to achieve this goal. During the current global economic crisis, a simple technology-based solution can benefit the country in many ways, increasing exports, investment and employment, and maintaining law and order, Palak said. Mentioning that a revolutionary change has taken place in service delivery through 'Parichoy' verification authentication service, he put emphasize on making all databases interoperable with one another to make the service more accessible. BTRC Chairman Engineer Md Mohiuddin Ahmed and Spectrum Division Commissioner Engineer Sheikh Riaz Ahmed, National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) Director General (DG) Major General Ziaul Ahsan, BTRC DG (admin) Abdullah Al Mamun, DG (engineering and operations) Brigadier General Md Ehsanul Kabir, DG (spectrum) Brigadier General Mohammad Maniruzzaman Jwel and DG (system and services) Brigadier General Mohammad Khalil-Ur-Rahman were present, among others, at the meeting.   Source: BSS

The ‘Cyber Security Bill-2023’ passed in Parliament on Wednesday, September 14.  State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak moved the Bill, which was passed by voice vote. Earlier, the Cabinet at its recent meeting gave the final approval to the draft of Cyber Security Bill, 2023. It has replaced the existing Digital Security Act.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said that the transfer order of Consumer Rights Protection Directorate’s Dhaka divisional office Deputy Director Manjur Mohammad Shahriar was suspended following the order of the Prime Minister. Zunaid Ahmed Palak delivered the information through his verified facebook page on Tuesday. On Monday during a drive at Uttara outlet of Aarong Manjur Mohammad Shahriar fined four lakh fifty thousand taka and closed the outlet for pricing two types of rate for the same type of dresses. After admitting the wrongdoing by the outlet authority it was opened. Manjur Shahriar while conducting drive during the month of Ramadan also fined different firms. Zunaid Ahmed Palak in his verified facebook page wrote, there were strong criticisms throughout the social media when Deputy Secretary Manjur Shahriar was transferred to Khulna on the day of his drive in Aarong. Deputy Director of Consumer Rights Protection Directorate Manjur Mohammad Shahriar was much praised for his role against the anti adulteration and price hiking drives on the occasion of Eid. As the matter was much discussed on the social media so it came to the notice of daughter of Bangabandhu       and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina who is visiting Finland at the moment. Later on June 4 the authority cancelled the transfer order of Manjur Mohammad Shahriar. Public Administration Secretary Fayez Ahmed also confirmed the matter of cancelling transfer order of Manjur Mohammad Shahriar to the media. AH  

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak said internet prices will be reduced in this year. He said this in a post on his verified Facebook page on Monday morning. In his status, Palak wrote, “A few days ago, VAT on internet services were reduced to 5% from 15%. VAT reduction on ITC, IIG and NTTN by 5% will reduce the cost of internet services.” Thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Palak also wrote, "Thank you, honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, thanks to Mr. Sajeeb Wajed Joy, honorable advisor, architect of Digital Bangladesh, for utilising the power of youth, another step towards building a prosperous Bangladesh.” MHK

Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader said that State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak expressed regret following the incident of being a motorcycle passenger on road without helmet. The minister said this while discussing with the newsmen at the secretariat on Thursday. Zunaid Ahmed Palak who took the charge of Sate Minister for Information and Communication Technology for the second term joined his work station at the secretariat on the first day boarded on a motorcycle. After joining office he posted a photograph and wrote on his verified facebook page, ‘First day at office boarded on a motorcycle.’ But the post created huge criticism on social media as he had no helmet on his head, though the motorbike rider had it. Following the incident on Thursday the Bridges Minister talked to the newsmen about bringing back discipline on roads. At that time in response to a question of newsmen he said, one State Minister has expressed regret to me over the incident of being passenger of motorcycle without helmet. I asked him over the matter. Later he expressed regret to me and promised that this type of incident will not happen in future. Obaidul Quader said, as a minister he said it with open heart and after his acknowledgment I cannot say him more. AH