Dhaka: State Minister for Information Tarana Halim has attributed her successes in immediate past assignment as state minister for posts and telecommunications to strong direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and PM’s ICT Advisor Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

‘I performed as a worker at the posts and telecommunications ministry for two years and four months following the direction of the Prime Minister. Now, people will get the result within March and April of this year,’ Tarana said on Sunday after taking charge of the new portfolio at the seminar room of Press Information Department (PID).

Mentioning that the completion of the Bangabandhu Satellite-1 project as one of her successes at her former portfolio, Tarana said the much-awaited project will be launched in between March 27 to 31 of this year from Florida in the USA.

Finance ministry has already approved Tk 600 crore for expanding the network of state-run mobile phone operator

Teletalk while the guideline for introducing 4G internet service has also been approved, she added.  

Tarana also pointed out some of her successes, including completing the registration of SIM cards through biometric method just in five months, setting up connection with the second submarine cable, expanding the internet network throughout the country that increased the number of mobile phone users to 14.71 crore and internet users to 7.72 crore, taking initiative for the implementation of Mobile Number Portability System (MNPS) and simplifying tax structure for the booming of mobile phone industries.

Replying to a query over her transfer to the Information Ministry, Tarana said, ‘I will work wherever the Prime Minister wants.’

Welcoming the new State Minister, Information Minister Hasanul Haq Inu said ‘We will work together in the information sector as this year is very important for the government.’

Earlier, Inu welcomed Tarana at the ministry with a floral wreath.