Social media users are upbeat with news of the Bangladesh government’s move to create its own social media platform, “Jogajog”, as an alternative to Facebook, and “Alapon” as an alternative to WhatsApp. Bangladesh’s state minister for information and communication technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak has announced this news on July 24.
At the inaugural function of Entrepreneurship Masterclass Series 2, the minister said, “Through this (Jogajog app), the entrepreneurs of the country will be able to create their own online marketplace and group for information, data and communication.” He also explained how his ministry successfully created “Boithok” app as an alternative to Zoom online and “Surokkha App” for vaccine registration. Bangladeshi stage and film director Nasiruddin Yousuff has seen the interview of state minister and is waiting for the details of the platform. “A Bangladeshi film has gone to Cannes. And now, an app to compete with Facebook. Being a freedom fighter, I am happy with the strides the nation is taking on its 50th year of independence,” he said.
Mymensingh-born sarod player Sharif Arefin Rony, who enrolled into Rabindra Bharati University in 2019, has also welcomed this initiative. “I feel so proud to hear that my country is taking such technological initiatives to compete with global leaders,” he said from Kolkata.
Dhaka-based director Sazzad Khan is excited about “Jogajog” and “Alapon”. He already uses state-owned landphone operator Bangladesh Telecommunication Company Ltd’s over-the-top (OTT) calling application called Alaap. “It is a very handy app, gets updated regularly and can even be used to make calls abroad at a rate that’s cheaper than phone calls,” Khan said. According to him, it is good that the government is creating new apps.
Dhaka-based businessman Mohammad Munna is also another “Alaap” user, who is happy with the high video and audio quality of calls made by this app. “It is completely secure. One can use this to make any international calls for work and business purposes. Now, I am looking forward to Jogajog,” Munna said.
Rony also pointed out that the youth of Bangladesh is now attempting a lot of new things, especially in the IT sector. “I hear of so many apps being created from Bangladesh. Finally, the population of Bangladesh is turning into an asset for the nation,” he said.
(This article was originally published in the Times of India)
