PM inaugurates 2nd submarine cable line

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has inaugurated the country's second submarine cable line paving the way of getting uninterrupted broadband internet services with cheaper price and better quality.

Through a video conference with local public representatives and government officials from her Gonobhaban residence the Prime Minister inaugurated the submarine cable (SMW-5) and the landing station at Kuakata of Patuakhali district.

With commissioning of the SMW-5 Bangladesh has achieved redundancy in submarine cable at the same time got access to huge capacity of bandwidth up to 1500 Gbps submarine cable system.

Inaugurating the submarine cable and its landing station the prime minister said she is very pleased with having the opportunity of commissioning the better internet connectivity of the country. She added, "The second submarine cable is a fulfillment of our stride that we had initiated after coming to power in 1996."

She said Bangladesh had got opportunities two more times to be connected free of cost in 1991 and 1994 with the IIG. But, the then ignorant BNP government didn't accept the offer in plea of 'leaking out' secret information of the country. It's the best example how a country may face debacle under an inefficient government, she added.

The prime minister said the second submarine cable will help people getting better and speedy internet connectivity.

Sheikh Hasina said Bangladesh could not achieve desire goals of development even after 46 years of independence as the country was not administered democratically with a proper development plan after killing of Bangabandhu. Bangladesh would have been a developed country within ten years of independence if Bangabandhu was alive, she said.

The prime minister said since coming to power in 1996 her government has been putting efforts for country's socio-economic development as well as takes forward the country in the field of science and technology.

She noted that except a small part of Dhaka city the whole country was under analog telephone system in 1996. Awami League has digitalised the country's whole telecommunication system after coming to power in 1996, she said.

Sheikh Hasina said her government has attached importance to development of country's southern parts as it was neglected for a long time. Due to negligence of the subsequent governments the southern parts, once known as 'food storehouse', was ruined out. Now, the region is getting back its old glory as the present government has given additional attention to its development.

Urging the people to protect the development works of her government the prime minister said continuation of a government is very important for continuation of the development. Without continuation of the government in 2014 it would not have been possible to take the country to current development pathway, she said.

On the occasion she also inaugurated a number of projects of the Ministry of LGRD and Cooperatives implemented in Patuakhali district. The projects are 175 meter long bridge from Kalapara headquarter to Tiakhali ghat bazar, Rangabali Upazila Complex and expanded administrative building of Kalapara Upazila Parishad.

Minister for LGRD and Cooperatives Engineer Khandakar Mosharraf Hossain, State Minister for Post and Telecommunications Tarana Halim, spoke among others on the occasion while PM's principal secretary Dr Kamal Abdul Naser Chowdhury conducted the function.

Railway Minister Mujibul Haque, Chief Whip ASM Firoz, PM's advisors HT Imam and Dr Towfique-e-Elahi Chowdhury, parliament members and senior officials were present at Gonobhaban.

Local political leaders Mahbubur Rahman, MP, and Shahjahan Mia, post and telecommunication secretary Shyam Sundar Sikder, Deputy Commissioner of Patuakhali Masudur Rahman and a number of beneficiaries of various government projects took part in the video conference from Patuakhali side.

Later, the prime minister also inaugurated two power stations, supply of additional 60 mw electricity to Bangladesh from Indian state of Tripura under redial mode, 100 percent coverage of electricity in of ten upazilas of the country and some projects.

Source: bss