​Her Excellency Sheikh Hasina
Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

Paving the way for sustainable growth in this modern era, Bangladesh, under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, is making remarkable advances in the ICT sector.

In 2004, with support from the United Nations Development Programme, the Prime Minister played a major role in creating an initial comprehensive blueprint for e-Government development and ICT leadership. Three years later, in 2007, a follow-up project was initiated, the ‘Access to Information (A21) Programme’. The principal objective of this programme is to determine a plan of action for ICT integration in key social sectors. In parallel, the ‘Digital Bangladesh by 2021’ agenda serves as a compass for social, cultural, and economic progress through innovative ICT integration and accessibility. Numerous programmes are outlined within the agenda: improving connectivity, government efficiency, social services, and digital literacy. These accomplishments gained recognition internationally and, in 2014, the Republic of Bangladesh received the ‘Global ICT Excellence Award in the Public Sector’ at the World Congress on Information Technology. In the healthcare sector, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has stressed the importance of ICT research and staff training programmes, as well as the establishment of new institutional facilities to provide better healthcare services to citizens at a lower cost and at a faster rate. The development of ICTs has also benefitted the country’s education system, with the continuing project of establishing multimedia classrooms throughout Bangladeshi schools.

In recognition of outstanding leadership and initiative, it is our honour to present Her Excellency Ms. Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bangladesh, with the ICTs in Sustainable Development Award.