Modern information complexes are being constructed in every division of the country and the facilities will eventually be established in all districts, Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon said on Sunday.
“Construction work is already underway in 26 districts,” he said while inaugurating the construction of the Barishal Divisional Modern Information Complex at Kashipur-Ichakathi in the city.
The Department of Mass Communication under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting organised the programme.
The minister said the government’s plan goes beyond building physical infrastructure, as it wants to bring the information complexes up to global standards.
“We are considering infrastructure planning and engineering as well as software engineering separately to ensure that the complexes meet global standards,” he said.
The complexes will have modern cinema halls and cineplexes equipped with electronic screens for screening digitally produced films, Swapon said.
People will be able to enjoy films using advanced technologies such as 3D and 4D, while the government plans to gradually extend such facilities from the district level to upazilas, he added.
Describing the complexes as digital information service centres, the minister said people would be able to access a range of digital information and services from there.
“The information complexes are being established to provide people with multifaceted services, including information, entertainment, knowledge and research,” he said.
However, developing skilled manpower will be a major challenge in making the facilities fully functional, Swapon said.
He called for educational institutions in areas where information complexes are being established to encourage students to use the facilities. Leaflets explaining the services will be distributed among educational institutions through the Ministry of Education, he said.
“These complexes are not meant to be merely attractive buildings. Our objective is to provide multifaceted information, entertainment, knowledge and research services to the people,” the minister said.
Information and Broadcasting Secretary Mahbuba Farzana, who chaired the programme, said the Barishal complex would play an important role in combating misinformation and disinformation.
The facility would help deliver accurate information to the public through modern technology and information services, she said.
Barishal Divisional Commissioner Khalil Ahmed, Barishal City Corporation Administrator Advocate Bilkis Akhter Jahan Shirin, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Md Shah Alam, Barishal Range Deputy Inspector General Zulfikar Ali Haider, Director General of the Department of Mass Communication Abdul Jalil and Barishal Metropolitan Police Commissioner Abu Rayhan Muhammad Saleh also spoke at the programme.
Project Director Moniruzzaman said the seven-storey Barishal information complex was being constructed at a cost of Tk 17.64 crore.
Deputy Project Director Rezaur Rabbi Monir later presented the details of the project through a multimedia presentation.
Officials said the complex would provide technology-based information services, support media professionals in their work and help ensure the delivery of accurate information to the public.
