Grameenphone Ltd., in collaboration with leading Bangla daily Prothom Alo, launched the second round of‘Grameenphone-Prothom Alo Internet Utshab,’ today - this year's sequel to the immensely successful program that began last year. It is an initiative of their continued endeavors to empower the youth with one of the biggest power tools of today, the internet. Last year the program consisted of 101 events in semi-urban and rural schools and colleges of Bangladesh. This year they will delve further by hosting 120 events covering 6 zones of the country that will include schools and colleges of divisional cities as well as those in rural and semi-urban areas.
The Ministry of Education and Support to Digital Bangladesh (A2I) Project, Prime Minister's Office have endorsed the program in view of its potential in contributing to building Digital Bangladesh”. Other brand giants such as Google, Wikipedia, Facebook, Opera and Nokia are also proudly endorsing this grand initiative.
The main events will consist of a number of components that will educate the students, as well as their parents and teachers, on the benefits of internet. There will be discussions and audiovisuals on the utilities of internet. On-hand training and demonstrations of internet browsing, devices and applications will help them learn more easily. Like last year, the “i-Genius” contest, a mobile browsing competition, is likely to be the biggest attraction. Students all around Bangladesh have demonstrated huge enthusiasm for entering the contest. They are all inspired by Chowdhury Sadid Alam, last year's i-Genius Grand Master who recently returned from his prize trip to Oslo. Earlier this year, the 2011 i-Geniuses helped prepare the ground through small internet awareness campaigns in their communities.
After the events the 120 new i-Geniuses will compete in the national round and Grand Finale in Dhaka where the brightest i-Genius will become the “i-Genius Grand Master 2012”. While attractive prizes will await the Grand Master, all 120 i-Geniuses will get the opportunity to participate in trainings and tech conferences that will greatly enhance their knowledge on internet and technology. The grand finale will be telecast on Channel I.
Kamal Abdul Naser, Secretary, Ministry of Education, Nazrul Islam Khan, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Matiur Rahman, Chief Editor, Prothom Alo, Faridur Reza Sagor, MD, Channel I, Allan Bonke, CMO, Grameenphone and representative from other partners of Internet Uthab were present on the inauguration ceremony.