The government yesterday awarded 15 eminent personalities and organisations, including Annisul Huq, the recently deceased mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, for helping to spread ICT services.

Huq's two daughters received the Smart Citizen Service Award that recognised the mayor's efforts in creating “smart city services”.

DNCC was presented another award on smart citizen service in local government. Panel Mayor Muhammad Usman Gani received it.

The government's ICT Division organised the awards ceremony in the capital's Bangabandhu International Conference Centre celebrating the first National ICT Day. 

The other recipients include Prof Muhammed Zafar Iqbal (lifetime achievement), City Bank Ltd (online banking), ServicEngine Ltd (software export) and Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (education on ICT).

Toufique Imrose Khalidi, publisher and editor-in-chief of bdnews24.com, was awarded in a special category while Pantho Rahman of Channel i, Muhammad Khan of Kaler Kantho and Mahmudul Hasan of Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha were awarded for their contribution to journalism.

Presenting the awards, Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury said the country is very close to realising digitisation and citizens have already started to get the benefits of digital services.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on ICT Division Imran Ahmed and Secretary to ICT Division Subir Kishore Choudhury also spoke.