Dhaka: The Cabinet on Monday approved the draft of the National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy 2015 to ensure effective use of the ICT to achieve national development goals and materialize the government’s vision to make Bangladesh a middle income country by 2021 and a developed one by 2041.

The approval was given in the weekly meeting of the cabinet held at Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.  

Briefing reporters after the meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat, Cabinet Secretary Mohammad Musharraf Hossain Bhuiyan said the ICT policy will be a developmental and promotional one, the cabinet secretary said adding that it would be used for ensuring transparency and accountability of the government, human resources development, ensure public services through public and private sector participation.

Musharraf Hossain said the policy has ten specific objectives, 54 strategic themes with an action plan of 235 programmes which will be implemented by different organizations under short, medium and long term work plan by the year 2016, 2018 and 2021.

The cabinet also approved the Cox’s Bazar Development Authority Act 2015 with a view to ensure development of the tourist city under a master plan, land zoning and regulate the ongoing hazardous construction activities.  

Musharraf Hossain said the cabinet has given final approval to the draft which suggested preparing a master plan for planned development of the city considering its growing importance.

The draft will now be placed in the parliament for approval, he said.

The cabinet secretary said the Cox’s Bazar Development Authority (CBDA) will be consisting of 15 members. Out of them four will be of full-time and 11 others will be representing from different professional, administrative and elected bodies.