The BFDS is aware that the names of the two sites are almost similar. It said the site under the jurisdiction of Bangladesh Computer Council provides registration as well as advisory support to already established freelancers. On the other hand, the site the department is developing is for a database of anyone trained in any kind of freelancing. The BFDS hopes that the name of the department's site will be changed.
However, according to sources in the department, the site is being developed internally. It will be launched after quality testing. There is no possibility of changing the name of their site. But there is a possibility of merging both the sites. This can be done after some more investigation.
ICT department director general Mustafa Kamal told Prothom Alo that there should be an official site. Since they are developing a site, the ministry will sit and decide which site will remain operational.
Ananya Raihan, founder and chief executive of information technology company Dnet and iSocial, told Prothom Alo that it is better to have a government platform for the benefit of freelancers. Since the ICT Department is also developing a site for freelancers, the ministry will have to decide which one they will give priority to.
*The report has been rewritten in English by Shamim Raza