Govt to buy 85,000 laptops for educational institutions
Along with the laptops, the govt will also buy 5,000 web cameras, 5,000 routers and 5,000 network switches as part of the Sheikh Russel Digital Lab Project (Phase 2)
The government will buy 85,000 laptops to establish a Sheikh Russel Digital Lab in each of the 5,000 educational institutions across Bangladesh.
The Cabinet Committee on Public Procurement gave approval for the move on Thursday after a virtual meeting, Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal told the media, adding that the Department of Information and Communication Technology will make the purchases.
Along with the laptops, the department will also buy 5,000 web cameras, 5,000 routers and 5,000 network switches as part of the Sheikh Russel Digital Lab Project (Phase 2), with a cost of Tk487.21 crore.
The government is implementing this project to reach a number of goals, such as allowing the use of such labs as cyber centres for local communities, boosting the ICT capacity of students by expanding digital education and information services, and generating employment.
AHM Mustafa Kamal, who also serves as the chairman of the cabinet committee, added that despite approving the purchase, the committee has asked officials concerned to present a full list of companies participating in the tender process and their bids in the next meeting.