H.E. Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak

H.E. Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak

Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP serves as the Minister of State forthe Ministry of Post, Telecommunication, and Information Technology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Widely recognized for his pivotal role in shaping Digital Bangladesh, he stands as a leading figure for realizing the newly adopted Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041. Minister Palak’s journey commenced at the grassroots through his active contribution in student politics. In 2008, he was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) from Bangladesh Awami League, the oldest and largest political party in the Country, which made him the youngest MP of the 9th Parliament. Subsequently, he was nominated as a Member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on ICT. At his 33, Minister Palak made history when he took over as the Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology in 2014making him the youngest memberof the Cabinet.He continued to hold the same position till 2023. During his tenure as the Minister of State for ICT, Bangladesh has made remarkable progress in digitalizing the nation, which includes, among others, government cloud services, expansion ofhigh-speed internet backbone up to village level, digitalization of 2500 public services, building around 100 hi-tech/ software/ IT parks, startup and innovation ecosystem and so on. In 2024, his responsibility was extended by inclusion of the responsibility of Post and Telecommunication Division in his portfolio that recognizes his ability to deliver. Minister Palak’s political influence and leadership promise were recognized through his nomination as a ‘Young Global Leader’ by the World Economic Forum in 2016 and featuring in the list of ‘100 Most Influential People in Digital Government’ by Apolitical in 2018. His tenure has been marked by several enviableinternational accolades including ICT Sustainable Development Award from ITU, over 17 WSIS Awards, and several WITSA Awards. Beyond his public service duties, Minister Palak nurtures a deep passion for music, art, authorship, sports, and movies. As he continues to spearhead advancements in Bangladesh’s digital landscape, his commitment to innovation and empowering peoplethrough technology remains unwavering.

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  • Organization
    Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Bangladesh
  • Profession
    Minister
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3 September 2024
16:15 - 16:35 CEST Geneva | 10:15-10:35 EDT, New York | 22:15-22:35 CST, Beijing
H.E. Ms. Emma Inamutila Theofelus (Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Namibia), H.E. Mr. Zunaid Ahmed Palak (Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Bangladesh), H.E. Mr. Mauricio Lizcano (Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications Colombia)...
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