"ICT can be used for poverty alleviation and community development... and media can play a vital role in creating awareness among people in this regard," he said at a meeting with IT Journalists Forum.

The Bangladesh working group for World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) yesterday organised the meeting at its office. Syed Marghub Murshed presided.

Marghub Murshed said timely use of ICT could open up new opportunities and help poverty allevaition and wealth creation.

Information and knowledge should help create a level playing field for all and ICT is a key to environment sustainable development and poverty reduction, he added.

The BTRC Chairman also said application of ICT could also help integrate the developing countries with today's networked economy and knowledge-based information society.

Reza Salim, member secretary of the Bangladesh working group on WSIS said that political leaders should act now for development of ICT infrastructures on a priority basis.