Md. Zahidur Rabbi

Samsung has recently launched its S24 lineup at the galaxy unpacked event on 17 January 2024. We had a chance to get our hands on the device exclusively and here’s what we thought of it in terms of first impressions:

Recognised for premiering innovative consumer technology on the global stage, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) stands as one of the most influential tech events worldwide. This year, held from January 9 to 12 in Las Vegas, USA, CES 2024 has already showcased a variety of unique gadgets. Here are some of the coolest gadgets that caught our eyes in CES 2024 so far.

Bangladesh Election Commission Secretariat has released the 'Smart Election Management BD' app, which is intended to help voters to stay updated online. Voters can see their polling centres and their addresses, voter numbers, and voting serial numbers by providing NID information and birth date in the designated sections of the app.

The Dhaka-Chittagong highway is set to be dotted with artificial intelligence (AI) based CCTV cameras covering a span of 250 kilometres. The cameras, financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) at BDT 152 crore 56 lakhs, are aimed at enhancing the capabilities of the highway police, according to sources associated with the project.

The government has taken an initiative to introduce digital health cards for all citizens, in a bid to eradicate the need of preserving physical prescription and test files by creating a unified digital database.

Earlier this year, Starlink officials came to Bangladesh to potentially strike a deal with the ICT Division in operating in the country. But what is the hype around Starlink and how may it impact communications in Bangladesh? Let's take a look.

The grand finale of Ennovators 7.0, a digital ideation competition hosted by Banglalink Digital Communications Limited was held on 4 December at Capital’s Pan Pacific Sonargaon ballroom. 

Professor Dr. Syeda Sultana Razia of Chemical Engineering Department of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) has been awarded this year's prestigious 2023 OPCW-The Hague Award, in recognition of her efforts to educate the people about the peaceful uses of chemistry, particularly in chemical safety and security. 

As the year draws to a close, Spotify Wrapped has become a much-anticipated annual tradition for music enthusiasts. This feature of Spotify compiles a comprehensive summary of your musical journey throughout the year, presented in vibrant and engaging graphics. From top songs to unique listening habits, Spotify Wrapped offers users an insightful reflection of their year in music.

Starlink, a satellite internet system operated by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, will be allowed to operate over Gaza if the satellites are approved by Israel, according to Israel's Minister of Communications.

In a recent cabinet reshuffle, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been assigned with the additional role of overseeing the Ministry of Science and Technology, while Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT), has been assigned with the additional responsibilities of the Posts and Telecommunications Department, following the departure of the two technocrat ministers from these ministries.

CrackPlatoon Charging Solution Ltd, in collaboration with Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) and Sumatra Filling Station, recently launched their first ever commercial Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Infrastructure at Manikdi, Dhaka Cantonment.

Uttara Motors, the manufacturer and distributor of Bajaj motorcycles in Bangladesh, has recently launched The Pulsar N250 motorcycle.

Skoot Ltd, a local startup, has launched an e-bike rental station at Chowhatta Point, Sylhet on November 25. Through this station, users can rent an electric bike for as long as they require.

The government has formed the new 'National Cyber Security Agency' which will replace the previous 'Digital Security Agency', according to an official gazette published on November 17, 2023. The Cyber Security Agency will be responsible for monitoring online communication and countering cyber crimes.

Following a recent policy decision, the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has taken the initiative to conduct a comprehensive audit of Teletalk, the state-owned telecom company, for the first time.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has recently announced two new AI-powered creative tools for Facebook and Instagram users. Built on Emu, Meta's foundational model for image generation, these two tools - Emu Edit and Emu Video - provide users with new ways to edit photos and generate videos using text prompts.

A birth certificate is a vital document, often required for various official purposes. Inaccuracies in birth certificates can lead to complications during verification processes. Fortunately, birth certificates can now be updated online, a service which includes options for adding both English and Bangla names, photo attachments, and more. This guide explains how to update your birth certificate online.

Startup Bangladesh Limited, a government-backed venture capital firm, is set to inject Tk 100 crore into 46 selected startups, aiming to strengthen the country's startup ecosystem. Since its establishment in 2020, the company has actively approved investments totaling Tk 73.50 crore across 28 companies, dispersing Tk 64 crore. These investments span critical sectors such as healthtech, agritech, edtech, logistics, fintech, e-commerce, and renewable energy.

The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is set to initiate legal proceedings against 11 airline companies over unpaid frequency allocation dues. According to sources, British Airways, United Airways, GMG Airlines, and Regent Airways are among the airlines identified for legal action. These companies, according to BTRC, have failed to settle their financial obligations pertaining to frequency allocation, a vital service for airline operations ensuring safe and effective communication channels.