Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon has said the government is constructing modern information complex in every division. 

The programme will also be expanded at district and upazila level, he said while inaugurating the construction work of the modern Barishal Divisional Information Complex at Ichhakathi in Kashipur of Barishal city here today.

The event was organised by the Department of Mass Communication under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The information complexes will multifaceted centers for information, knowledge, entertainment and research, he said.

“The complexes will not only be eye-catching buildings; they will serve as hubs of information, knowledge and research. The complexes will primarily function as Digital Information Service Centres, providing a wide range of digital services to the public,” he said.

Swapon said development work under the project is already underway in 26 districts. To popularise the facilities and encourage students to engage in research, promotional leaflets will be distributed to local educational institutions through the ministry, he said.

“The government’s objective is not limited to infrastructure development; rather, it aims to bring the quality of the complexes up to international standard,” he said.

To achieve this, Swapon said, both infrastructure engineering and software engineering are being given separate and equal importance.

Highlighting the technological facilities planned for the complexes, Swapon said they would feature state-of-the-art, technology-enabled cineplexes and electronic screens, with facilities for screening digital movies as well as 3D and 4D films.

Speaking as chair of the event, Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Mahbuba Farjana said the information complexes would play important role in combating misinformation and disinformation.

Barishal Divisional Commissioner Khalil Ahmed, Barishal City Corporation Administrator Advocate Bilkis Akter Jahan Shirin, spoke among others on the occasion.

In his welcome address, Project Director Moniruzzaman said the seven-storey modern Information Complex in Barishal is being constructed at a cost of Taka 17.63 crore. 

Later, Deputy Project Director Rezaur Rabbi Moni presented details of the project through a multimedia presentation.