"Microsoft has started training teachers as a part of the 'Partners in Learning' programme, which is a global initiative that seeks to enable a worldwide community of students and educators to realise their full potential. It aims to equip teachers and their students with the necessary ICT skills," said Feroz Mahmud, country manager of the Microsoft Bangladesh while sharing views with the press at the Spectra Convention Centre on September 27.

"Our programs help educators connect with each other, prepare students for tomorrow's careers, and increase access to technology and training for learners in classrooms, campuses, and the larger community," said K M Imran Al-Amin, education program manager of Microsoft Bangladesh.

Imran also mentioned that they have already put forward a proposal to the education ministry in April for signing a memorandum of understanding for the Partners in Learning programme to train up teachers and students of class 1 to class 12.

"Microsoft has allocated a huge fund for the global Partners in Learning programme, which will be available until June 2009 and around 99 countries have already signed agreement with Microsoft to utilise it," Imran said.

Piracy is one the major competitors of Microsoft in the Bangladesh market, mentioned Feroz. While asked if open source is also considered as a threat to the software giant, Feroz said, "

We believe the wide use of pirated software is one of our largest competitor in Bangladesh rather than the open source programme."

Microsoft hopes that at least the corporate houses would take the initiative to stop using pirated software and use licensed ones.

Microsoft has already taken the initiative to create massive awareness among the people regarding the use of pirated software with Basis (Bangladesh Association of Software & Information Services) and hopes to launch mass campaign soon.

Among others, Ismat Shereen, chief operating officer, and Bakhtiar Rasul Shah, marketing manager of Microsoft Bangladesh, were also present at the event.