D.Net has opened 101st telecentre in Jessore on April 26, 2008 in collaboration with Shalia Roy Choudhary High School with the support of Volunteers Association for Bangladesh (VAB), USA & sponsored by BUET Alumni, Huston, Texas, USA. Students and community people will get access to livelihood information (education, health, agriculture, law, employment etc.) and IT skills training on basic computer applications from the centre.

Mr. Abual Hossain, Deputy Commissioner, Jessore inaugurated the centre. ‘This telecentre introduced a great opportunity for the students and community people to learn computer at village level’ stated Mr. Hossain. Ms. Jahanara Begum, UNO, Jessore Sadar chaired the inaugural ceremony.

From left Mr. Abual Hossen, DC, Jessore, Bimal Roy Chowdhury, Mr. Shahidul Islam, Ajoy Kumar Bose

Mr. Bimol Ray Choudhary, founder of the school was present in the ceremony as 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 from D.Net were also present. Members of SMC of the school and representatives of civil society attended the event.

The profile of Gunijan (www.gunijan.org.bd) was exhibited in the programme. A quiz competition was arranged after the exhibition where eight students were awarded.

Gunijan School Event

To build a knowledge society, as announced in the national Information and Communication Technology (ICT) policy of Bangladesh, and reap the benefits of it Bangladesh need telented young generation 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 ICTs, and thus do not know how this modern technology can be utilized for the benefit of rural livelihood.

Students are practicing Computers

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 togather with D.Net.