Digital Bangladesh Concert: ICT div urges to ‘verify first, share later’
The ICT division of the Bangladesh government organised a gala concert on Thursday in the capital celebrating the 3rd Digital Bangladesh Day with the theme ‘Shotto Mittha Jachai Agey, Internet a Share Pore’ (Verify first, share later), reports news agency UNB.
Thousands of youths took oaths on the occasion, promising to secure the country’s reputation as fake news and rumour-free nation.
State minister for information and communication technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak initiated the concert as the host, where country’s renowned musical band groups Warfaze and Nemesis and singers Pritom Hasan, Oishee, Spondon and folk icon Momtaz performed.
Organised at United International University (UIU) permanent campus in United City at Madani Avenue, Badda in the capital - the concert was joined by home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal as the chief guest who administrated the oath.
Underscoring the necessity of safe internet, home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said, “We should always check the facts before sharing on social platforms, as we have seen in recent times how rumours and fake-news can cause harmful incidents. We are thriving as Digital Bangladesh and we need safe and secure internet so that we can utilise the full potential of the internet.”
Later, the minister administrated the oath, taken by everyone at the venue.
Concert host and state minister for ICT division Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, “Under the prolific guidance of prime minister Sheikh Hasina and the Bangladesh government’s Information and Communication Technology affairs adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, we are successfully celebrating this day as Digital Bangladesh Day for the third time. We must ensure that no one can harm others by spreading fake news, rumours and negativity through the internet.”
“It’s our internet, and we need to keep it clean,” he emphasised at the event.
The speakers also showcased the government’s success in the ICT sector in recent years, with services like national helpline 999 and establishment of several ICT industries.
Not only the ministers, but the performing artists also pleaded to the audiences especially the youth not to pollute the internet sphere and spread negativity online.
The concert went on full swing with fireworks and tremendous performances by all the performing artists, who mesmerised the audiences with their popular tracks.
Started on 12 December 2017 as the National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Day, this concert was part of the day-long celebration of the ‘Digital Bangladesh Day’, renamed in 2018 by the cabinet division.