DHAKA, Nov 11, 2014 (BSS) - Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina today called upon the country's youth force to become entrepreneurs and create employment opportunities for others with the help of information and communication technology (ICT).

"There is an inclination among the educated persons to go here and there for fetching a job after completing study. But we don't want our youths to go here and there and approach others for jobs," she said.

"Instead of relying on others, the youths should be entrepreneurs of their own, stand on their own feet and create employment opportunities for others," she added.

The Prime Minister was addressing the "Digital Centre Entrepreneurs Conference" at the National Parade Square in the city. Some 11,000 entrepreneurs of over 4,500 "Digital Centres", previously known as "Union Information and Service Centres (UISCs), joined the conference.

LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Ashraful Islam, eminent IT expert and PM's ICT Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, State Minister for ICT Junaed Ahmed Palak and UNDP Country Director Paulin Tamesis addressed the conference as special guests chaired by Local Government Division Secretary M Monzur Hossain.

PM's Principal Secretary Abdus Sobhan Sikdar spoke, while PMO Secretary Md Abul Kalam Azad delivered the welcome address and Project Director of the A2I Programme Kabir Bin Anwar gave the vote of thanks.

Two Digital Center entrepreneurs -- Bishakha Chakma of Rangamati Sadar upazila and Md Arifuzzaman of Rangpur Sadar upazila -- shared their experiences with the audience at the programme.

The Prime Minister said the aim of the setting up of the UISCs is to make arrangements for every person to stand on their own feet. "It (UISCs' activities) won't remain limited to only Bangladesh as we have arranged training for the unemployed youths so that they can go abroad after getting training," she said.

Terming the Digital Center entrepreneurs as the "Digital Son" of the country, the Premier also urged them to devote themselves to building "Sonar Bangla" as dreamt by Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and thus take the country forward.

In this connection, she mentioned that the country's youths could now take collateral-free loan up to Taka 1 lakh from the Karmasangsthan Bank and start their own business. "The ceiling of loan would be raised to Taka 2 lakh in future to create further scope for self-employment," she said.

Mentioning that some ill attempts are being made to remove the entrepreneurs of the Digital Centers who are associated with these centers from the beginning, Sheikh Hasina categorically said that these Digital Centre entrepreneurs would not be removed rather they would certainly stay in their position.

In this connection, Sheikh Hasina issued a strong warning to the public representatives including the pourasabha mayors and councilors, upazila parishad chairmen, union parishad chairmen and members not to make any interference and put their "own people" in these Digital Centres.