Re: Facebook blackout at Bangladesh

Hi,
Thanks for writing on it.

Past experience shows the flow gains momentum in similar situations.

This is the hardest true that our wise(!) authorities do not understand. Even, I never cared about looking at the cartoons of our leaders(?) that were published on facebook, though I just heard of it, but immediately after banning facebook, I was finding it everywhere. Same for the other issue, cartoon drawing competition of our prophet!

But most interesting is that, we are still using Facebook. They will never be able to stop us using unless they bring us JIC.

Best Regard,
Raju
------------------------
http://hungrycoder.xenexbd.com - For novice.

On Mon, May 31, 2010 at 11:46 AM, Shahidul Shuvra <s_shuvera@yahoo.com> wrote:

Facebook blackout That the government has temporarily, not permanently, blocked the social networking website 'facebook' speaks for the administration's note of caution about the move. The temporary ban on access to the popular website makes it amply clear that the administration wants to be sure of the justification of its decision. One thing is however confusing: whether the decision has been prompted by the posting on a few pages of anything that might have caused offence to religious sentiment or of obnoxious caricatures of some top personalities of the country. The explanation should be clear so that people know the real reasons behind the government decision. Whatever may have prompted the authorities to take the decision, we feel that it does not go well with the government's avowed goal of turning the country digital. Also there was the option of complaining to the facebook authority for immediate removal of the objectionable contents. Such a move would have been proper for a quiet redress to the problem. Why this was not done is incomprehensible. Instead, the temporary ban is expected to make people further inquisitive about the contents and they will skirt around the restriction to exchange those even more widely. Past experience shows the flow gains momentum in similar situations. The other point to ponder is the crime, if it is a crime at all, of a single person or a handful of people should not be a strong argument in favour of closing the facebook facilities used by about 10 lakh users. More importantly, of these 10 lakh users, the majority belong to the age group of 18 to 25 - the segment of population who will be the driving force behind any programme of a digital Bangladesh. Since one or a handful of these young men may be responsible, there is no point victimising the entire band. One last point we would like to underline is that the legal provisions should be exercised extremely cautiously so that no one innocent gets punished. http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=175683 31 May 2010 The Independent Shahidul K K Shuvra 01715245459

Facebook blackout from Bangladesh

That the government of Bangladesh has temporarily, not permanently, blocked the social networking website 'facebook' speaks for the administration's note of caution about the move. The temporary ban on access to the popular website makes it amply clear that the administration wants to be sure of the justification of its decision. One thing is however confusing: whether the decision has been prompted by the posting on a few pages of anything that might have caused offence to religious sentiment or of obnoxious caricatures of some top personalities of the country. The explanation should be clear so that people know the real reasons behind the government decision.

Whatever may have prompted the authorities to take the decision, we feel that it does not go well with the government's avowed goal of turning the country digital. Also there was the option of complaining to the facebook authority for immediate removal of the objectionable contents. Such a move would have been proper for a quiet redress to the problem. Why this was not done is incomprehensible. Instead, the temporary ban is expected to make people further inquisitive about the contents and they will skirt around the restriction to exchange those even more widely. Past experience shows the flow gains momentum in similar situations.

The other point to ponder is the crime, if it is a crime at all, of a single person or a handful of people should not be a strong argument in favour of closing the facebook facilities used by about 10 lakh users. More importantly, of these 10 lakh users, the majority belong to the age group of 18 to 25 - the segment of population who will be the driving force behind any programme of a digital Bangladesh. Since one or a handful of these young men may be responsible, there is no point victimising the entire band.

One last point we would like to underline is that the legal provisions should be exercised extremely cautiously so that no one innocent gets punished.

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=175683

31 May 2010
The Independent
Shahidul K K Shuvra
01715245459

Bangladesh: 14 Community Radio Stations are going to On Air first time in Bangladesh

Community Radio for Development: Voices for the voiceless
14 Community Radio Stations are going to On Air first time
in Bangladesh


Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), since its inception, has been advocating with the government and with other organizations for the promotion of Community Radio to address critical social issues at community level, such as poverty and social exclusion, empowerment of marginalized rural groups and catalyze democratic process in decision making and ongoing development efforts.

Ministry of Information, Government of People's Republic of Bangladesh has approved 2 more Community Radio Initiators for installation and operation of community radio in Bangladesh on 20 May, 2010. Now total 14 Community Radio Stations are going to On Air first time in Bangladesh.

The main objective of community radio is to provide livelihood related information to the rural communities in an understandable way. Agriculture, education, health, disaster, women and child issues, market price, services, etc. will be cover in the community radio for the community people.


Bazlu
_____________________
AHM. Bazlur Rahman-S21BR
Chief Executive Officer
Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC)
&
Head – Community Radio Academy

House: 13/1, Road:2, Shaymoli, Dhaka-1207
Post Box: 5095, Dhaka 1205 Bangladesh

Phone: 88-02-9130750, 88-02-9138501
01711881647 Fax: 88-02-9138501-105

E-mail: ceo@bnnrc.net, bnnrc@bd.drik.net
www.bnnrc.net

DNA-powered life

DNA-powered life

The first self-replicating bacteria cell controlled by a synthetic genome has been created by American scientists and it has widened the possibility of creating artificial life a real possibility --- for the first time in human history.

Though the world was not far away from it, the immediate-past Bush administration had put a cap on such research because of ideological reasons. But President Barack Obama directed the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues that he established last fall.
The main objection to such research was primarily from the right wing of US politics and some religious groups that included the Vatican on the grounds that it was like playing the role of God. More to it, there were a few influential progressive groups also who opposed such research on ethical grounds.

But medical advancements in other countries like China, South Korea and Singapore were worrying US policymakers. For the first time the chances of Asia stealing a march in the sciences, loomed large. The US administration had no choice but to go for it, themselves. President Obama rightly explained, "those at the cutting edge of technology will dominate the future". And life science was surely the frontier of today's knowledge.

The replication of a living cell powered by a manmade DNA has not only created the possibility of a Frankenstein-type scenario but it has other uses, too. Apart from producing human organs, the breakthrough will mean that oil could be produced from algae and crops and cows could be produced in factories.

How the immense possibilities opened by the new science will be used by humanity will depend on so many factors, including business and ethics. But the possibilities of its abuse seem open-ended. Some kind of international control like the NPT needs to be devised. Otherwise, we may face a replication of the nuclear proliferation problem.

The Independent

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=174524

Rooppur power plants

Rooppur power plants

The much-awaited agreement on cooperation on nuclear energy between Bangladesh and Russia has been finalised. Codenamed "Framework Agreement on Cooperation in the Field of the Use of Nuclear Energy for Peaceful Purposes", the deal signed on Friday in Moscow is now definitely going to pave the way for establishing the country's first nuclear power plant at Rooppur in Pabna district. The idea of setting up a nuclear plant there was mooted in the 60's and different governments toyed with it but never made tangible progress. There were other pressures as well. This time we certainly hope things will take different shape with both parties showing keener interests for a balanced world order. The compulsion is, indeed, greater today because of the global warming that is posing a serious threat to this planet.

In fact, the implication of the deal on nuclear energy between Bangladesh and the Russian Federation is likely to be far greater than what it apparently seems to be. The specific mention of the nuclear energy's use for peaceful purposes is significant because what we need most is power generation from this plant. If everything goes according to the plan, the country may have two Russian-built nuclear reactors with a production capacity of 1,000 megawatts of electricity each. If and when that happens, the country will enter a different phase of energy source, expertise and technological management. The framework of the agreement amply clears how the transfer of expertise and technology will be completed in phases.

What, however, matters in this case is the safety standard of the plants. The Chernobyl disaster has left a lesson for all the countries aspiring to produce nuclear energy. Along with provision for research, education and training of our engineers and technicians in the Russian Federation, there is a clause providing for development of innovative reactor technologies in accordance with IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) safety requirements. We hope that while implementing the project highest priority would also be given for safety of the reactors and for ensuring no repeat of Chernobyl-like accident.

The Independent

http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=174523

BTRC Website is Down!!!

BTRC Website is Down!!!

Yes, in Digital Bangladesh, BTRC (Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Board) is Down!!!

Bangladesh Government Giving up 3,500 new VoIP Licences by Next Three Months

The government has decided to issue more than 3,500 licences to the local entrepreneurs for handling international calls to and from Bangladesh through voice over internet protocol technology, which is still prohibited under the existing law.

"The licences will be issued to the new entrants within next three months after the Telecom Regulatory Act 2010 gets parliament's nod," Telecom Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju said yesterday.

The minister's disclosure is expected to bring all illegal VoIP operators under a legal framework.

Industry insiders said at present more than 1,500 people are involved in illegal VoIP business.

The minister was speaking at a press meet with Telecom Reporters Network Bangladesh at the head office of Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Ltd in the capital.

Sunil Kanti Bose, posts and telecommunications secretary, explained a bit more about this saying anyone can do the VoIP business under the legal framework at affordable costs.

"After taking the VoIP licence, the operation cost of a licensee would be maximum Tk 5 lakh," said Bose.

Around 60 million minutes of international calls are made to and from Bangladesh a day. Industry insiders say presently more than 20 percent of the total calls are still routing by the illegal VoIP operators.

VoIP has become a lucrative business as the technology offers international calls at charges much lower than the legal calls. Hundreds of people have been engaged in this business.

The government has recently cancelled licences of five landline operators for their involvement in illegal international call termination through VoIP technology.

The operators are RanksTel, Dhaka Phone, National Telecom, Peoples Tel and WorldTel. Besides, licences of more than 20 internet service providers were cancelled for the same reason.

Replying to a query, the minister said that the government has no intention of shutting down any more television channel.

The government shut down Channel 1 due to its own legal problem, he said.

How and Where is BTN [Reply]

Dear Mr. Vickram,

Instead of talking on "How and Where is BTN?" you pasted here your own text which is not related to BTN activities. You should know what is relevant and irrelevant! Moreover, you deleted my two letters and you also deleted replies of others. Before you also did same thing on my post where you deleted my main post which started real discussion. It must be declared as a cyber crime. This must be avoided to get my readers' attention and step back from misleading my readers. I honor your text, but it should be posted from your given subject.

Please don't try to publicize your texts on the basis of my post.

Best wishes,

Shahidul K K Shuvra

IT and Science Editor

The Independent

--- On Thu, 5/20/10, Vickram Crishna <v1clist@yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

From: Vickram Crishna <v1clist@yahoo.co.uk>
Subject: Re: [bytesforall_readers] How and Where is BTN?
To: bytesforall_readers@yahoogroups.com, bdresearchers@yahoogroups.com, voice-of-south@yahoogroups.com
Date: Thursday, May 20, 2010, 10:35 PM

All (not just the gentlemen, Shahidul, I am sure everyone across the whole region is keenly watching events unfold)

[Why are they becoming incorporated with multinational companies, working under the corporate social responsibility programs? Why are they active in only agreement signing with some profit hungry companies?]

We seem to follow trends like lemmings (although it is curious that in fact, lemmings do not actually jump off cliffs in mass migration, as is the popular myth). At the end of the Second World War, even though it had been clearly established that corporations are unable to follow dictates of either nations or even national groupings (IBM, the oil majors and the global pharmaceutical companies had all conspired to support Nazi Germany in its crimes against humanity before, and even during, the war), a firm trend was adopted in most of the western economies to encourage mass corporatisation of many commercial activities. In the East bloc economies, instead of public (supposedly widely held ownership) corporatisation, state agglomerates were used to control commercial activities (manufacturing and services).

The 'Third World' countries were swayed this way and that, depending on whose hegemony - Eastern or Western blocs - ran writ. Widely disparate cultures prevented the alternate Non-Aligned economic movement from gaining traction. With the trashing and discarding of the Eastern bloc economic solutions, accelerated by the 1980s Afghan War (a deliberately nuanced economic move by the Western bloc countries, chiefly the USA, but others played their role), nowadays the Western solution seems to be the only game in town (and instead of one or a group of nations involved in the current Afghan troubles, we see the amazing situation of a de facto corporatisation, via outsourcing, of even a war. The battle is so vicious that humanitarian and nation-building missions - healthcare, engineering - from India and other countries are deliberately targeted).

The fact that the ownership of typical widely held corporate institutions are unable to actually exercise control, which remains in the hands of an extraordinarily small number of people (who do not, as is often alleged, belong to only one religious community or the other), is largely ignored. The complete failure of market-based regulatory models (as pointed out by major global economists such as Nobel laureates Stiglitz and Krugman, aside from many others including market experts) to manage market mechanisms is also ignored and almost forgotten, it seems, a scant year after near-total global collapse, and with the vision of a fresh European collapse looming.

We now see that the governments of major Asian countries have practically abandoned all pretense of alternate economic models, handing over precious service assets to private control. Despite far-seeing Constitutional models of government, day-to-day practices show that expedience often overrules prudence.

It remains to be seen how genuine improvement of this sad situation can evolve.

Vickram
http://communicall. wordpress. com
http://vvcrishna. wordpress. com

It is best to tell about D.net than BTN

I am obliged to tell about D.net at the request of IT community as well as my readers. I try to void, as much as possible, criticizing a man or organization specifically. For me, as a journalist, it is not always possible. Not only BTN, once I made constructive criticism about BASIS because writing about such bodies may not go against a particular person.

I am very sorry to tell about D.net and Ananya Raihan who recently arrogantly replied to my post. I often ask myself- how are researchers of D.net write research papers when they can't even write a small English press release correctly. As a witness I found their Power Point Presentation is similar to reading an essay on cow (garu rochona) by a student of class nine. The write-ups posted on the website of D.net are poorly written and, of course, these are raw contents which need much improvement and editing. I would like to invite Dr. Raihan to join my IT department as an apprentice to learn editing and preparing contents. Repetition, compilation, cut and past you will be found in the papers of the organization. I don't know why are they funded to produce these papers of low quality?

Spinnovation Ltd was severely criticized for producing a low quality 'Bangladesh ICT Roadmap.' But cleverly D.net, which was also involved with preparing the draft of ICT Roadmap, escaped the attacks by IT community. It saved its back perfectly! What are the quality and credibility of the organization to be involved with every IT endeavor of Bangladesh?

No need to tell Ex-Chairman of BTN is a controversial man; and Renata Dessallien, UN Resident Coordinator, who was present at the launching of BTN's Mission 2011 is also reportedly criticized for inviting the military backed government. I think regular newspaper readers know these better than Dr. Raihan. Only for fund and opportunity a section of IT pioneers are always flattering those people who are in power.

D.net claims it is a research organization but it is working as like as NGO and company. Criteria must be fixed for defining a research organization which is will be far off from NGO typed functions.

Our country is lagging behind for lack of education and IT expertise in terms of social and economic development that yet to be improved. This lacking is a blessing for pseudo research organizations like D.net. They are easily feeding people whatever they want to.
Previous letters attached in Dnet file.

Best wishes,
Shahidul K K Shuvra
01715245459
The Independent

Bangladeshi Telecom Firms Axed

By cancelling licences of five private telecommunications companies for violation of set rules, the authorities are unlikely to win many a friend. Big business houses involved in such corporate malfeasance, for reasons understandable, will definitely fall short of accepting the hard fact in good grace. Subscribers who are now suffering for no fault of their own will also not be pleased. Yet, the punitive action taken against the five companies for breach of contract and involvement in illegal business practices, as claimed by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), is the least that it could do. The firmness demonstrated on this issue of business malpractices deserves appreciation. In this case, the powerful business coterie engaged in illegal activities will surely get alerted that not all acts of violation of legal provisions will be allowed to go unpunished.

However, one disturbing question concerning the severity of punishment needs to be answered. The five companies penalised now are not the only ones which have been found guilty of running illegal business using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). Earlier other companies including a leading cell phone company of the country were penalised for the same offence. But the type of penalty was quite different in those cases: they got away apparently with hefty fines, may be much less than what they earned. In this case the main switches of the telephone companies were earlier sealed off and now their licences have been cancelled.

Clarification needed
Now that the public impression is that companies are treated differently for the same offence, we feel, it is incumbent on the government to come up with a clarification on the latest move. This may remove misgivings, if any, among the public over what looks like uneven treatment. We are in favour of adequately raising BTRC's capacity for monitoring and supervision of companies before and after issuance of licences. As for the subscribers of those five companies, they certainly deserve adequate compensation for the harassment and sufferings they have been subjected to.

The Independent

14 May 2010

Virtual office for minimising traffic jam and energy crisis

In near future your absence from office will be appreciated by your boss who now often scolds at you for being late at office. This is at all not a joke. Just wait some years and you will be surprised with your traditional mind that office coming and leaving at fixed times will not be a matter. In fact, there will not be an office for you to come. Your presence in office will not be essential and office administration may discourage you to attend office every day.

Now your boss maybe upset with this feature containing above narrated comments and forecast; he may think this assumption can encourage you to neglect office duty and these are stupid words to jeopardise the management of your office.

One of the commonest phrases of IT is 'paperless office,' 'officeless' job will be a buzzword to invite people to join the cyber world where nothing exists physically. Every day coming at your tower shaped office at Motijheel will be wasting of time, working at a fancy office never will be prestigious for you, and it is not superficial to tell some of businessmen will prefer to avoid making office building.

The delivered assumptions are taken from some instances of the recent recession which awarded thinkers some lessons on how to survive. Especially IT based businessmen or the users of technology have taken several strategies to sustain and get out from the global economic turmoil. In recent global economic crisis some business bodies tried to reduce budgets and for that reason they cut down IT expenditures. Not yet I can tell they got benefits out of this strategy.

However, on the contrary, innovative businessmen looked for solutions inside the use of IT to avoid inevitable threat of the recession. To be more on IT was their way of solution and overcoming the biggest economic crisis; they outsourced works with adding further innovations, they shut down offices to reduce office running cost and appointed netizens who will work from home on contact basis.

Fact is that traditional office idea is going to be only past. To start business or any other mission you have to look for an office, especially in a good location. A well-decorated office costs much, at the moment of energy crisis you have to be concerned that how much electricity a staff is wasting, staying office for a long time means wasting of huge energy, a staff spent water in bathroom, cook of the office spend gas to cater you lunch, tea and coffee.

This is the expenditures from the side of your employer. From your pocket you are paying for your travel to office, for horrible traffic jam you spent hours to arrive office, wasting of time means wasting of money, this boring journey makes you feel tired at office, you are dizzy to continue works; leaving office to home is an another hassle which you will face with your tired body, at evening it is hard to get bus, taxi driver is asking much, at night taking rikshaw is not safe because newspapers reported muggers are on the rise. Best alternative to the problem is converting the traditional office administration to the virtual office system.

From your computer at home or with switching on your laptop and mobile phone you will attend your virtual office. Every type of work can be done at the e-world, you can conduct meeting, papers can be signed at there, you can easily supervise a staff. All the staffs will be stayed at grip of the office bosses. Staff monitoring will be effective and every outcome will be recorded according to the merit of works. So here negligence of duty is too tough than traditional office.

The concept of virtual world was imagined even before the advent of information and technology. Already westerners are at the virtual world with outsourcing works and jobs. You will find only 4/5 persons based company are in the business of billion dollars, they just outsource works, they are managing their works almost virtually.

Virtual office is as an alternative to saving office expenditure and it can be involved with cost reduction strategy. Before IT was regarded as expensive office items, which were luxury at office and not affordable. During the economic meltdown experts suggested businessmen for more involvement with computers to save investment. Virtual world was their safe place than the well furnished office.
Currently, especially in Bangladesh, appreciating such kind of office is not an easy matter. Employers can have difficulty to imagine that office which is deferent than conventional office system. According to company laws office in a commercial area is needed for registration of a company. This law will be unnecessary and also troublesome for introduction of virtual office which is not associated with size, decoration and location of office. Changes of mindset of office bosses are the prerequisite to adopt ICTs, essence of IT will be comprehended by IT literate generation, employees and employers.

Becoming virtual office based can ease huge traffic jam at the streets and can ensure maximum use of time. This is the environment friendly office; it is safer than other industrial technology which can be havoc to the environment. Sometimes it is called green technology because it protects us from the shadow of carbon emission. Being IT focus is a blessing to environment. Perhaps it is a technology for slowing down climate change and environmental pollution.

E-office can be an omen for the development of the developing countries. In future educated people ofBangladesh can join international office from here, no hassle of visa and work permit that can limit our travel. Besides saving power and time it can drive the nation towards gripping global outsourcing business.

Source: http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=173313

Source: http://www.theindependentdigital.com/index.php?opt=view&page=9&date=2010-05-14

14 May 2010

The Independent

Shahidul K K Shuvra

Editor of IT and Science pages

Cell- 01715245459

19 Dhanmondi, Road No. 1, BELTower,

Dhaka-1205.

Office telephone numbers are as follows:

9672091-95(PABX)
8629785 (Fax)

Banglalink now 1.5cr strong

Mobile phone operator Banglalink has so far added around 1.5 crore subscribers to its network, showing its strong position in terms of customer acquisition in the six-player market.

The company, however, will have to be happy with the market's second position, as Grameenphone still holds the top position with ease.

For customers, Banglalink offers some benefits, including free talk time, SMS (short message system) and a special package for postpaid customers, to celebrate the 1.5 crore landmark.

The Egypt-based Orascom Telecom Holding's subsidiary, Banglalink, reached the landmark on May 4.

"Innovation is always a key behind the success," said Ahmed Abou Doma, chief executive officer of the operator, at a press meet at the company's head office in Dhaka.

The telecom regulator's available data shows that Grameenphone had 2.39 crore customers followed by Banglalink's 1.42 crore and Robi's 1.09 crore as of March. The total number of mobile subscribers in Bangladesh reached 5.47 crore in March.

"We are very strong now," Doma said.

BG enters 3G telephony system soon

Bashundhara Group, leading business and industrial conglomerate in the country, will soon enter the era of third generation telecommunications - the transmission control protocol (TCP) popularly called internet protocol (IP) telephony.

Transmission control protocol (TCP) solution provider in the United States of America, the SYSCO, has been appointed to supply the basic devices, technical know-how and commissioning of the system. An agreement has been signed between the Bashundhara Group and the MetroNet (Bangladesh) Limited, local agent of the SYSCO, in the corporate office of the Bashundhara Group on Sunday morning. Co-Chairman of the Bashundhara Group Sadat Sobhan and Chief Executive Officer of the MetroNet (Bangladesh) Limited Syed Almas Kabir signed the agreement on behalf of their respective entities.

Advisor (Press & Media) Mohammad Abu Tayeb, Deputy General Manager (IT) Anisur Rahman Khan, Project Coordinator Ehsanul Haq Chopra of the Bashundhara Group and Deputy General Manager of the MetroNet (Bangladesh) Limited Mohammad Mahbubul Alam among others joined the agreement signing ceremony.

Forerunner in expediting development by introducing modern technology in the country, the Bashundhara Group has opted to procure the system for bringing all its enterprises under an integrated, fast, economic and multi-purpose communication network in phases. First phase of the project is supposed to be finished by early August this year.

iPad’s int’l launch slated for May 28

Apple Inc said on Friday it would launch the iPad tablet computer in nine international markets on May 28, following a strong debut in the United States last month.

The iPad will go on sale in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and Britain. Pre-ordering
for those markets was scheduled to start on May 10.
The international launch was originally schedule for late April, but Apple delayed it by a month due to what it called
higher-than-expected demand.

Apple also said the iPad will expand to Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore in July.

The iPad, a 9.7-inch touchscreen tablet intended primarily for games, Web browsing, and digital media of all sorts, went on sale in the US on April 3.

The company has already sold more than 1 million iPads. Analysts expect the company to sell roughly 5 million of the devices this year.

Shares of Cupertino, California-based Apple fell 3.3 per cent to $238 in midday trading on the Nasdaq. The broader Nasdaq market was down 1.6 per cent.

Software Piracy May Have Peaked Amid Recession, Industry Says

Piracy of software made by companies including Microsoft Corp. and Symantec Corp. may have peaked last year as the recession led to changes in consumer behavior that kept illegal copying in check, an industry group said.

A slowdown in personal computer sales, combined with consumer education and enforcement efforts, spurred a drop in piracy in 54 of 111 countries studied by Washington-based Business Software Alliance and market researcher IDC. Piracy rose in 19 countries, according to the report released today.

Driven by the growth of PC sales in China, India and Brazil, global piracy climbed to 43 percent of all installed software, up 2 percentage points from 2008. The rate represents $51.4 billion of goods, unchanged from the year earlier when currency fluctuations are taken into account, the group said.

Software piracy "continues to have significant repercussions on both the global economy and national economies," Robert Holleyman, chief executive officer of the software trade group, said in an interview. Unlicensed software allows "companies in high piracy markets to compete unfairly against companies in low piracy markets like the U.S. that are paying for their software."

Georgia, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh led the list of the nations with the highest rates, each with more than 90 percent, according to the data. The U.S. has the lowest rate at 20 percent, followed by Japan and Luxembourg with 21 percent each.

China, India, Brazil

An estimated 79 percent of software installed in China is unauthorized, at a potential commercial value of $7.58 billion, the group said. The piracy rate is 65 percent in India, representing $2 billion in value, and 56 percent in Brazil with a cost of $2.25 billion, according to the study.

"We just see this huge increase into the market in China of PCs but nothing close to that in legitimate software," Holleyman said. "That's the gap we have to close."

There's no guarantee that the software makers would have realized those sales. Still, it's estimated that, for every $100 of software sold, an additional $75 worth of unauthorized versions enter the market. A typical scenario is a business buying a single legitimate copy and then installing it on dozens of computers to avoid paying licensing costs.

The Business Software Alliance is a lobbying group representing major software companies including Microsoft, the world's biggest maker, Adobe Systems Inc. and Symantec, the biggest maker of security programs, including the Norton series of software. IDC is a market researcher based in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Quantifying Piracy

The study attempts to determine piracy rates in 111 countries, looking at programs used for security, productivity, operating systems and games installed on personal computers.

A report by the Government Accountability Office last month cautioned that it's difficult to quantify the economic effects of counterfeit and pirated goods even as it said "the problem is sizeable."

Holleyman said the purpose of his group's study, now in its seventh year, is to attempt to quantify the problem as part of lobbying governments and to determine if industry efforts to slow unauthorized use of its products is working.

--With assistance from Alex Tanzi in Washington. Editors: Romaine Bostick, Steve Geimann.

SOURCE:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-05-11/software-piracy-may-have-peaked-amid-recession-industry-says.html

Re: [ict_of_bangladesh] Re: How and Where is BTN?

Thanks to Mr. Shahidul K K Shuvra for explore the right news for us in ICT sector. I think all of us should aware about the opportunist. What we have seen in the last caretaker government resume, many of them become closed with that Government and boiling the political parties. Now many of them trying to purchase present Government party men and some of them introducing they are freedom fighter. But last 7 years they never speak that word. The BTN Chairperson one of them, who has involved many incident in Bangladesh. I am not how he become occupy it? Basically his employer BRAC making money from it. So all are should avoid these types of opportunist. Yours S M Nazer Hossain --- On Sun, 5/9/10, Shahidul Shuvra <s_shuvera@yahoo.com> wrote: From: Shahidul Shuvra <s_shuvera@yahoo.com> Subject: [ict_of_bangladesh] Re: How and Where is BTN? To: "Ananya Raihan" <ananya@dnet.org.bd> Cc: bangla_ict@yahoogroups.com, "Sayeed Rahman" <banglait@gmail.com>, ict_of_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com, bytesforall_readers@yahoogroups.com, bdresearchers@yahoogroups.com, voice-of-south@yahoogroups.com Date: Sunday, May 9, 2010, 6:51 AM Dear Raihan, I am very happy to get your reply. So far I never made any personal attack on you. At personal level we have a good relation. But I don't know why you became so angry with me! I think it may have other reason because I might unintentionally hit you business that you are doing with the name of ICT4D and researcher. It is out of your frustration that ICT4D business is not going well. You also told 'full of mix of truth and lie, with distorted the reality…" It means you questioned my credibility and honesty. You should know that for many years I contributed and developed ICT contents without donation, funds, patronization. It was part of my self endeavor which not related to the job that I am doing for my newspaper. I am sorry to tell you that the local IT contents I developed so far is richer and better than what your Dnet and BTN produced with fund, donation etc. "The process of formation of BTN started in 2005". When did you get registration of BTN? When Mission 11 was declared? Military backed government? More to describe! We found some activists became so sycophants with the last caretaker government, now they are doing same thing with this government. "Firstly, BTN never promised to establish 40,000 telecentres. Because, BTN is not an implementing agency, rather it is an umbrella institution, which was born to facilitate members and others in establishing telecentres." Don't lie! BTN told it will set 40,000 telecentre by afford of it members. How can BTN tell that when its members are not well equipped to set 40,000 telelcentre? You are increasing members of BTN, but your telecentre became only 3000 (according to your data) one year before 2011. It sounds very funny. So 40,000 was stunt to get some extra benefits. "When BTN was established the number of telecentre was less than 50". Wrong information. Photocopy shops, digital studio in outside cities, computer composing kiosk, telephone and fax centres…..are synonymous to telecentre. So there were lakhs of telecentre before the birth of BTN. Please try to talk to me with knowledge, theory and practice that I showed you two years back in my writeups. And don't deny that 'according to my forecast' telecentre movement failed. Best regards, Shahidul K K Shuvra 0171524545 --- On Sun, 5/9/10, Ananya Raihan <ananya@dnet. org.bd> wrote: From: Ananya Raihan <ananya@dnet. org.bd> Subject: Re: How and Where is BTN? To: "Shahidul Shuvra" <s_shuvera@yahoo. com> Cc: bangla_ict@yahoogro ups.com, "Sayeed Rahman" <banglait@gmail. com>, ict_of_bangladesh@ yahoogroups. com, bytesforall_ readers@yahoogro ups.com, bdresearchers@ yahoogroups. com, voice-of-south@ yahoogroups. com Date: Sunday, May 9, 2010, 2:23 AM Dear Shuvro I feel it is my responsibility ( being the first secretary general of BTN and still a member of the executive committee) to respond to this motivational and ill-perceived memo circulated among the ICT4D practitioners across the world. The memo is full of mix of truth and lie, with distorted the reality, and it shows that you wrote this piece with inadequate research and probe. Let me go one by one: > BTN was started during the last military backed government. They made a controversial man its chairman, later he was replaced. > You did totally ignore the process of birth of BTN. The process of formation of BTN started in 2005, after the WSIS held in Tunis. A number of organisations involved in ICT4D decided to form BTN to foster the movement of building an inclusive information and knowledge system. The idea was to leverage the strength of organisations and accelerate telecentre movement. BNNRC, Practical Action, Drik, YPSA, Ekota FairTrade Forum and D.Net started telecentre times in Bangla to share the happenings on the ICT4D front to the stakeholders and they started publishing it with money from their own pockets. Then, in August 2006 a two day international workshop was held in Rangpur, which was organised by BNNRC, YPSA and D.Net to initiate the process of formation of a platform of ICT4D practitioners in Bangladesh. UNDP, Bangladesh supported this programme and D.Net met the remaining cost form its own pocket. After that event, the stakeholders agreed to form a platform. As a follow-up to this event on January 13, 2010 at BRAC Centre convening meeting of BTN was held, hosted by bracNet. The date for convening meeting was fixed before the 1/11 took place. There was no specific interest of the then government to promote BTN. Rather, I faced a tough time to explain what is BTN is to the then BTRC and other parties. The formation of BTN was no way linked with "Military Backed Government". I am wondering what is the reason for this "utter lie". We are not aware of any controversy surrounding the first chairperson. Please shed some light, why and how he was "controversial" . He was elected as Chairperson unanimously. The first AGM of BTN re-elected him. Later he resigned from the position of Chairperson, he as not "replaced". This is another false statement you made in your memo. > By 2011 they promised to make 40,000 telecentres across the country. So now, 1 year before 2011, they are supposed to set up about 30,000 telecentres. > Firstly, BTN never promised to establish 40,000 telecentres. Because, BTN is not an implementing agency, rather it is an umbrella institution, which was born to facilitate members and others in establishing telecentres. It was the aspiration of BTN members that by the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, the members want to have such number of telecentres. GrameenPhone representative Mr. Yahya announced at the convening that GP alone will establish 30,000 telecentres. During the BTN Telecentre Conference held in Bogra in November, 2008, BTN officially announced that it is not focusing anymore on numbers, the number would depend individual members' programme and government initiative. As the technology is advancing quickly, mode of access to technology and information would also change accordingly. Thus, sticking to a number would not be appropriate. BTN members played an active role in inclusion of telecentre agenda in the government programme. In the drafting of ICT Policy 2009, several members of BTN were engaged and the concept of telecnetres were mainstreamed and the new government has started establishment of telcentres aggressively and gradually telecentres will be established in all union parishad complexes. The number of telecentres would depend on need and resources allocated for this purpose. What is important is the information and knowledge system, where telecentre is an integral part. Referring to 40,000 telecentres and trying to identify how many telecentres are there ignoring such information is not an honest attempt. > > But now we are not observing its any significant activity. Some members of it told me they are not interested to continue its membership because it is just blessing a few people who only want a platform. We also found a BTN pioneer was focused by attacks with some allegations. Huge spam mails were sent. BTN is composed of its members, and the progress is dependent on the progress made by members. I should say all the members are very active in making progress towards building an inclusive information and knowledge system. When BTN was established the number of telecentre was less than 50. Now, the total number of telecentres exceeded 3000, this is an official account of BTN, so far I know. However, there are numerous spontaneous initiatives at the grassroots level and many telecentres are functioning about which BTN secretariat does not have up-to-date data at this moment. It was felt that a survey is needed. Significant activities are going on on the ground. They are not always in the news. I would like to you request you to investigate and make the activities more visible. Probably, it is BTN's and its members' weakness that they are not good in promoting progress so far made. It is true that BTN is going through a tough time and in the context of Bangladesh this is a natural course for any organisation. And in Bangladesh allegations are common, sometimes they are legitimate, sometimes unfounded. People with honesty of purpose do not send spam, rather they raise allegation directly to the right place and expose any wrong doing to its members and also to the public. That is needed for the organisations who work with the public fund. A journalist like you should not make any comments on rumour, rather produce report with solid evidence. That would be benefiting to all concerned. > I should not be proud that my assumption and analysis were right. > Yes, you should not be proud, because your assumption and analysis are wrong and based on lies and twisting of facts. > I made the analysis two years back to tell ICT4D people to take right track and work in favor of people, and avoid exaggerations. Now many telecentres are stopped and suffering. It can be a nice subject in another article of mine why ICT4D are not functioning well. Why are they becoming incorporated with multinational companies, working under the corporate social responsibility programs? Why are they active in only agreement signing with some profit hungry companies? > The dynamics of ICT4D is complicated and there are many challenges. Everything is not rosy. There are many mistakes and wrong doing and at the same time, there are shining success stories. It is true that not always right people are at the right place. That causes deviation from an ideal course of action. But nullifying progress in the ICT4D sector is self-diminishing. One can always debate about what is going wrong, but it should be done in a manner, which does not outright nullifying progress so far made on the ground. Such attempt would demotivate thousands of grassroots champions, who gave their heart and soul for changing our society through integration of ICTs. They work not for money, they do it out of passion and for having a great dream... BTN should not exist or should be reformed if it fails to fulfill the expectations of members and people around. But it does not mean that ICT4D is dead in Bangladesh. If BTN is not the right platform, there will be new platform which is really helping grassroots champions in making change. I would suggest to do some hard work and find both good and bad in the ICT4D. Then you would justify yourself as a good ICT4D analyst, otherwise it is just a populism. And it is better to claim yourself "prophet". I am open to answer any further question from you and anybody. Thanks Ananya Raihan Executive Director D.Net and Founder Secretary General of BTN __________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 5097 (20100509) __________ The message was checked by ESET Smart Security. http://www.eset. com

Re: How and Where is BTN ?

Dear Raihan, I am very happy to get your reply. So far I never made any personal attack on you. At personal level we have a good relation. But I don't know why you became so angry with me! I think it may have other reason because I might unintentionally hit you business that you are doing with the name of ICT4D and researcher. It is out of your frustration that ICT4D business is not going well. You also told 'full of mix of truth and lie, with distorted the reality…" It means you questioned my credibility and honesty. You should know that for many years I contributed and developed ICT contents without donation, funds, patronization. It was part of my self endeavor which not related to the job that I am doing for my newspaper. I am sorry to tell you that the local IT contents I developed so far is richer and better than what your Dnet and BTN produced with fund, donation etc. "The process of formation of BTN started in 2005". When did you get registration of BTN? When Mission11 was declared? Military backed government? More to describe! We found some activists became so sycophants with the last caretaker government, now they are doing same thing with this government. "Firstly, BTN never promised to establish 40,000 telecentres. Because, BTN is not an implementing agency, rather it is an umbrella institution, which was born to facilitate members and others in establishing telecentres." Don't lie! BTN told it will set 40,000 telecentre by afford of it members. How can BTN tell that when its members are not well equipped to set 40,000 telelcentre? You are increasing members of BTN, but your telecentre became only 3000 (according to your data) one year before 2011. It sounds very funny. So 40,000 was stunt to get some extra benefits. "When BTN was established the number of telecentre was less than 50". Wrong information. Photocopy shops, digital studio in outside cities, computer composing kiosk, telephone and fax centres…..are synonymous to telecentre. So there were lakhs of telecentre before the birth of BTN. Please try to talk to me with knowledge, theory and practice that I showed you two years back in my writeups. And don't deny that 'according to my forecast' telecentre movement failed. Best regards, Shahidul K K Shuvra 0171524545 --- On Sun, 5/9/10, Ananya Raihan <ananya@dnet.org.bd> wrote: From: Ananya Raihan <ananya@dnet.org.bd> Subject: Re: How and Where is BTN? To: "Shahidul Shuvra" <s_shuvera@yahoo.com> Cc: bangla_ict@yahoogroups.com, "Sayeed Rahman" <banglait@gmail.com>, ict_of_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com, bytesforall_readers@yahoogroups.com, bdresearchers@yahoogroups.com, voice-of-south@yahoogroups.com Date: Sunday, May 9, 2010, 2:23 AM Dear Shuvro I feel it is my responsibility ( being the first secretary general of BTN and still a member of the executive committee) to respond to this motivational and ill-perceived memo circulated among the ICT4D practitioners across the world. The memo is full of mix of truth and lie, with distorted the reality, and it shows that you wrote this piece with inadequate research and probe. Let me go one by one: > BTN was started during the last military backed government. They made a controversial man its chairman, later he was replaced. > You did totally ignore the process of birth of BTN. The process of formation of BTN started in 2005, after the WSIS held in Tunis. A number of organisations involved in ICT4D decided to form BTN to foster the movement of building an inclusive information and knowledge system. The idea was to leverage the strength of organisations and accelerate telecentre movement. BNNRC, Practical Action, Drik, YPSA, Ekota FairTrade Forum and D.Net started telecentre times in Bangla to share the happenings on the ICT4D front to the stakeholders and they started publishing it with money from their own pockets. Then, in August 2006 a two day international workshop was held in Rangpur, which was organised by BNNRC, YPSA and D.Net to initiate the process of formation of a platform of ICT4D practitioners in Bangladesh. UNDP, Bangladesh supported this programme and D.Net met the remaining cost form its own pocket. After that event, the stakeholders agreed to form a platform. As a follow-up to this event on January 13, 2010 at BRAC Centre convening meeting of BTN was held, hosted by bracNet. The date for convening meeting was fixed before the 1/11 took place. There was no specific interest of the then government to promote BTN. Rather, I faced a tough time to explain what is BTN is to the then BTRC and other parties. The formation of BTN was no way linked with "Military Backed Government". I am wondering what is the reason for this "utter lie". We are not aware of any controversy surrounding the first chairperson. Please shed some light, why and how he was "controversial". He was elected as Chairperson unanimously. The first AGM of BTN re-elected him. Later he resigned from the position of Chairperson, he as not "replaced". This is another false statement you made in your memo. > By 2011 they promised to make 40,000 telecentres across the country. So now, 1 year before 2011, they are supposed to set up about 30,000 telecentres. > Firstly, BTN never promised to establish 40,000 telecentres. Because, BTN is not an implementing agency, rather it is an umbrella institution, which was born to facilitate members and others in establishing telecentres. It was the aspiration of BTN members that by the 40th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence, the members want to have such number of telecentres. GrameenPhone representative Mr. Yahya announced at the convening that GP alone will establish 30,000 telecentres. During the BTN Telecentre Conference held in Bogra in November, 2008, BTN officially announced that it is not focusing anymore on numbers, the number would depend individual members' programme and government initiative. As the technology is advancing quickly, mode of access to technology and information would also change accordingly. Thus, sticking to a number would not be appropriate. BTN members played an active role in inclusion of telecentre agenda in the government programme. In the drafting of ICT Policy 2009, several members of BTN were engaged and the concept of telecnetres were mainstreamed and the new government has started establishment of telcentres aggressively and gradually telecentres will be established in all union parishad complexes. The number of telecentres would depend on need and resources allocated for this purpose. What is important is the information and knowledge system, where telecentre is an integral part. Referring to 40,000 telecentres and trying to identify how many telecentres are there ignoring such information is not an honest attempt. > > But now we are not observing its any significant activity. Some members of it told me they are not interested to continue its membership because it is just blessing a few people who only want a platform. We also found a BTN pioneer was focused by attacks with some allegations. Huge spam mails were sent. BTN is composed of its members, and the progress is dependent on the progress made by members. I should say all the members are very active in making progress towards building an inclusive information and knowledge system. When BTN was established the number of telecentre was less than 50. Now, the total number of telecentres exceeded 3000, this is an official account of BTN, so far I know. However, there are numerous spontaneous initiatives at the grassroots level and many telecentres are functioning about which BTN secretariat does not have up-to-date data at this moment. It was felt that a survey is needed. Significant activities are going on on the ground. They are not always in the news. I would like to you request you to investigate and make the activities more visible. Probably, it is BTN's and its members' weakness that they are not good in promoting progress so far made. It is true that BTN is going through a tough time and in the context of Bangladesh this is a natural course for any organisation. And in Bangladesh allegations are common, sometimes they are legitimate, sometimes unfounded. People with honesty of purpose do not send spam, rather they raise allegation directly to the right place and expose any wrong doing to its members and also to the public. That is needed for the organisations who work with the public fund. A journalist like you should not make any comments on rumour, rather produce report with solid evidence. That would be benefiting to all concerned. > I should not be proud that my assumption and analysis were right. > Yes, you should not be proud, because your assumption and analysis are wrong and based on lies and twisting of facts. > I made the analysis two years back to tell ICT4D people to take right track and work in favor of people, and avoid exaggerations. Now many telecentres are stopped and suffering. It can be a nice subject in another article of mine why ICT4D are not functioning well. Why are they becoming incorporated with multinational companies, working under the corporate social responsibility programs? Why are they active in only agreement signing with some profit hungry companies? > The dynamics of ICT4D is complicated and there are many challenges. Everything is not rosy. There are many mistakes and wrong doing and at the same time, there are shining success stories. It is true that not always right people are at the right place. That causes deviation from an ideal course of action. But nullifying progress in the ICT4D sector is self-diminishing. One can always debate about what is going wrong, but it should be done in a manner, which does not outright nullifying progress so far made on the ground. Such attempt would demotivate thousands of grassroots champions, who gave their heart and soul for changing our society through integration of ICTs. They work not for money, they do it out of passion and for having a great dream... BTN should not exist or should be reformed if it fails to fulfill the expectations of members and people around. But it does not mean that ICT4D is dead in Bangladesh. If BTN is not the right platform, there will be new platform which is really helping grassroots champions in making change. I would suggest to do some hard work and find both good and bad in the ICT4D. Then you would justify yourself as a good ICT4D analyst, otherwise it is just a populism. And it is better to claim yourself "prophet". I am open to answer any further question from you and anybody. Thanks Ananya Raihan Executive Director D.Net and Founder Secretary General of BTN Related Post: How and Where is BTN Project in Bangladesh?

Re: How and Where is BTN?

Thanks Mr. Shahidul K K Shuvra,
You are absolutely right. BTN started during the period of controversial caretaker Government and the Chairman is most controversial person. Who is involved in many incidents in Bangladesh. BRAC has providing fuel to serve their own interest. Why BTN is oiling I don't know? Is they has any fault? BRAC has making money to selling these types of guys. They are always with Government or manage Government people. We should avoid it.

Thanks again for your important views. I think BTN must be realized.

S M Nazer Hossain

--- In ict_of_bangladesh@yahoogroups.com, Shahidul Shuvra <s_shuvera@...> wrote:
>
>
> Gentlemen,
> Two years back I wrote two articles on telecentre movement, Birth of BTN and Trend & Trade of Telecenre Movement, where I showed wrong way and fallacy of ICT4D. The both articles were appreciated not only in Bangladesh, even I got kind responses from British, French and American ICT thinkers. However, some local development activists attacked my analysis; most of them even didn’t read my full articles and failed to grip the essence of my write-ups.
> BTN was started during the last military backed government. They made a controversial man its chairman, later he was replaced. By 2011 they promised to make 40,000 telecentres across the country. So now, 1 year before 2011, they are supposed to set up about 30,000 telecentres. But now we are not observing its any significant activity. Some members of it told me they are not interested to continue its membership because it is just blessing a few people who only want a platform. We also found a BTN pioneer was focused by attacks with some allegations. Huge spam mails were sent. Â
> I should not be proud that my assumption and analysis were right. I made the analysis two years back to tell ICT4D people to take right track and work in favor of people, and avoid exaggerations. Now many telecentres are stopped and suffering. It can be a nice subject in another article of mine why ICT4D are not functioning well. Why are they becoming incorporated with multinational companies, working under the corporate social responsibility programs? Why are they active in only agreement signing with some profit hungry companies?
> Best wishes,
> Shahidul K K Shuvra
> 01715245459
> Â
>

How and Where is BTN ?

Gentlemen,
Two years back I wrote two articles on telecentre movement, Birth of BTN and Trend & Trade of Telecenre Movement, where I showed wrong way and fallacy of ICT4D. The both articles were appreciated not only in Bangladesh, even I got kind responses from British, French and American ICT thinkers. However, some local development activists attacked my analysis; most of them even didn’t read my full articles and failed to grip the essence of my write-ups.
BTN was started during the last military backed government. They made a controversial man its chairman, later he was replaced. By 2011 they promised to make 40,000 telecentres across the country. So now, 1 year before 2011, they are supposed to set up about 30,000 telecentres. But now we are not observing its any significant activity. Some members of it told me they are not interested to continue its membership because it is just blessing a few people who only want a platform. We also found a BTN pioneer was focused by attacks with some allegations. Huge spam mails were sent.

I should not be proud that my assumption and analysis were right. I made the analysis two years back to tell ICT4D people to take right track and work in favor of people, and avoid exaggerations. Now many telecentres are stopped and suffering. It can be a nice subject in another article of mine why ICT4D are not functioning well. Why are they becoming incorporated with multinational companies, working under the corporate social responsibility programs? Why are they active in only agreement signing with some profit hungry companies?
Best wishes,
Shahidul K K Shuvra
01715245459

Related Post:

Call For ICT4D Grant Proposals

Bangladesh Government will Internet 500 Union Parishad (Upozella)

Parliamentary Standing Committee on Post and Telecommunication Ministry on Wednesday discussed possibility of bringing the country''s 500 union parishad under internet connectivity by the year 2013, reports BSS.

The Standing Committee talked about laying optical fiber network throughout the country by this time and where it is not possible to provide WiMAX connectivity to achieve the goal.

The government is planning to bring internet connectivity to people''s door steps as part of building a information based digital Bangladesh.

Chairman of the standing committee Hasanul Haque Inu presided over the meeting. Committee member and minister for post and telecommunication Raziuddin Ahmed Razu, ASM Feroze, M Abdul Quddus, M Nazrul Islam Babu and Muazzam Hossain Ratan attended the meeting.

The meeting also recommended formulation of a policy for people to legally pursue international telephone business using VOI (Voice over Inter-net Protocol) to encourage them abandoning illegal business in this field.

Source: ICT Bangla Group on Yahoo!

ATN Bangla Channel Secures Broadcast Rights for World Cup

Asian Television Network International Limited today announced it has secured the exclusive Canadian broadcast rights for the third ICC T20 World Cup from April 30, 2010.

ATN, broadcasting to Canada's South Asian community, will offer the World Cup live on Pay per View across Canada on Bell TV and Shaw Direct; in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and parts of Ontario on Shaw Cable; in British Columbia and Alberta on TELUS; in Saskatchewan and Manitoba on Sasktel and MTS respectively; and in Ontario and New Brunswick on Rogers Cable.

With two electrifying series in 2007 and 2009, the ICC World T20 has established itself with global audiences as one of the most watched sporting events in the world.

"ATN is excited to bring Canadians the T20 World Cup as a follow-up to the Indian Premier League which featured great players from around the world," said Shan Chandrasekar, President and CEO of ATN. "We are proud to be working with ESPN Star Sports on this most popular and fast paced format of international cricket."

The ICC World T20 is now an established part of the international cricket calendar and this year's event is in the West Indies, in Barbados, Guyana, St. Lucia and St. Kitts.

The world's top 12 ranked teams which will compete in the series are Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Source:
http://www.broadcastermagazine.com/issues/story.aspx?aid=1000369467

US Embassy in Dhaka will Introduces New Online VISA form to Streamline Process

The US Embassy in Dhaka will soon introduce a completely web-based Non-Immigrant Visa (NIV) application form.

With demand for U.S. visas increasing worldwide, the State Department is committed to using new technologies to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the visa application process, said a press release of US Embassy.

The new DS-160 NIV application takes advantage of new technology to serve visa applicants better.

The new DS-160 replaces all existing NIV applications forms with a single interactive, online form. Available now, applicants will be required to submit NIV applications using the DS-160 effective May 15, 2010.

Applicants will continue to complete visa application forms online, as they did with the Electronic Visa Application Form (EVAF).

The new DS-160 is available at: http://ceac.state.gov/genniv

With the new form, each applicant will be required to upload a visa photograph, and submit the form via the Internet. Instead of bringing multiple forms to his or her interview, some electronic and some handwritten, applicants using the DS-160 will now need only print one confirmation page.

The form is currently available in English. A Bangla language version of the form will be available soon. Additional information regarding the new form is available in their website at http://dhaka.usembassy.gov and http://dhaka.usembassy.gov/ds160.html

Source: - UNB, Dhaka