Md. Palash Tushar Pathan, Reporter || The postal department has around 7,000 vacant posts across the country, of which the government plans to fill 2,000 this year, while the remaining 5,000 will be filled in phases.The information was disclosed at a press conference held at the Postal Bhaban in Agargaon, Dhaka, yesterday afternoon ahead of World Post Day 2026.Director General of the Department of Posts Kazi Asadul Islam said the government is working to transform the country’s traditional postal service into an integrated, smart and people-friendly logistics network by combining modern technology, improved infrastructure and efficient customer services.The extensive network of the postal department and the people’s longstanding trust in it are its greatest strengths. Our main goal now is to use this foundation to deliver fast, affordable, reliable and diversified services to people’s doorsteps, he said.World Post Day on October 9World Post Day will be observed on October 9. This year’s theme, announced by the Universal Postal Union (UPU), is Together for a limitless postal network.Against this backdrop, the postal department is expanding its services beyond traditional letters to include e-commerce, parcels, logistics and digital tracking, the press conference was told.Nearly 9 crore Nagad customersResponding to a question from journalists, the director general said Nagad, the postal department’s digital financial service, has nearly nine crore customers and its coverage is expanding steadily.811 tonnes carried through Speed PostFrom March 2026 to date, around 811 tonnes of goods have been transported through Speed Post, according to the press conference.The service has become increasingly popular among e-commerce businesses, small entrepreneurs and farmers for transporting goods from one part of the country to another.International parcel services expandThe department has also made progress in international parcel services.In the first three months of the 2025-26 fiscal year, 240 tonnes of parcels were transported abroad. During the corresponding period of the current 2026-27 fiscal year, the figure increased to 316 tonnes. That means international parcel transportation increased by 76 tonnes year-on-year, creating new opportunities for expatriate Bangladeshis and exporters, officials said.Additional Director General (Accounts and Establishment) Abu Taleb and Additional Director General (Postal Services) Zakir Hasan Noor, among others, were present at the press conference.