Online Desk: The names of the recipients of “Bangabandhu International Cyber Security Awareness Award 2023” were announced on Thursday.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak announced the names of the recipients at the prize distribution ceremony held at the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Radisson Blue Water Garden.

Contestants from different countries around the world won the award in five categories.

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 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.

Junaid Ahmed in his speech at the event said,”Four things are important to ensure cyber security. First, awareness; to ensure cyber security, it is important to ensure awareness at all levels, second, technology development. Thirdly, Development Policy Framework and fourthly, International Cross border Collaboration.”

He also said that more private sector initiatives are needed. “Without government and private sectors’ initiatives we cannot succeed.”

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) in Bangladesh.

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.

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.

Md. Shamsul Arefin, Secretary, ICT Division ,Stefan Liller, Resident Representative, UNDP; GSM Zafrullah, Managing Director, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority; Abu Saeed Md Kamruzzaman, Director General, Digital Security Agency were, among others, present at the event.