Bangabandhu International Cyber Security Awareness Award 2023 was awarded for the first time in the country.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak announced the names of the winners at the prize distribution ceremony at a city hotel on Thursday.

Winners in each category received a cash prize of $10,000. The funding was raised through the 'Golden Jubilee Bangladesh Concert' held in New York's Madison Square Garden in 2022.

Bangladeshi Teenager Tamjid Rahman received the cyber security awareness and education award for students in the competition. He is working to create safe online awareness under the slogan 'Janle Ain, Safe Online'.

Two organizations received the Cyber Security Innovation Award for Entrepreneurship. One initiative is the `End Now Foundation’ from India and the other is the ‘Bite Capsule’ from Bangladesh.

Two initiatives also received Cyber Security Leadership Awards for government officials, public service providers, and professionals. One is the ‘Digital Security Cell’ of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), and the other is the ' Bangladesh Police Women Network'.

‘Pathchala Foundation’ received the Bangabandhu International Cyber Security Awareness Special Recognition Award. It is an initiative of the third-gender community.

In his speech, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, four things are important to ensure cyber security. First, is awareness; to ensure cyber security, it is important to ensure awareness at all levels. Second, technology development. Third, development policy framework and fourth, international cross-border collaboration.

“More private sector initiatives are needed. Without government and private sector initiatives we cannot succeed. Without involvement at all levels, we cannot succeed,” he added. 

The state minister also announced to arrangement of the 'Bangabandhu International Cyber Security Awareness Award' competition from next year onwards.

He said, “We are working together to implement the Digital Bangladesh concept under the competent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Digital Bangladesh is now a visible reality due to several initiatives. We are moving towards a cashless Bangladesh. We are working on the advice of Sajeeb Wazed Joy, advisor to the prime minister on ICT, with the aim of 70 per cent of cashless transactions by 2027. For this purpose, we have already launched the 'Binimay' software.”

Bangladesh has launched the "Bangabandhu International Cyber Security Awareness Award" for the first time, with the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority and the Digital Security Agency of the ICT Division spearheading the effort, supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). 

This award, named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the father of the nation, aims to recognize individuals and organizations worldwide, with a particular focus on the least developed countries, encouraging them to undertake innovative initiatives in cybersecurity awareness.

ICT Department secretary Md Shamsul Arefin, UNDP resident representative Stefan Liller, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority managing director GSM Zafrullah, Digital Security Agency director general Abu Saeed Md Kamruzzaman, among others, were present.

Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul