SUBMITTED BY

ABID HOSSAIN KHAN

ROLL: 45 BATCH: 6TH

MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA

SUBMITTED TO
MOHAMMAD MOQBUL
HOSSAIN

TERMPAPER ON:
ICT POLICY OF
BANGLADESH
A Middle Income Country in 2021

Date of Submission: 3112-2015

PROFESSOR
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
SYSTEMS
UNIVERSITY OF DHAKA

Table of Contents
1.1
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
2.1

ICT (Information and Communications Technology)

ICT Policy of Bangladesh
Objectives of ICT
Importance given to ICT
ICT Vision 2021 (Digital Bangladesh)
ICT Policies and Regulatory Framework
Contribution Towards Middle Income Country
2.1.1 Macroeconomic Framework
2.1.2 Inflation control
2.1.3 Reducing Poverty and Inequality
2.1.4 Agricultural Development
2.1.5 Remittance Inflows
2.1.6 Foreign Direct Investment
2.1.7 ICT and Science and Technology for National
Development
2.1.8 E-Governance
2.1.9 Company Productivity
2.1.10 Internet Facility
2.1.11 Social Networking
2.1.12 Banking sectors
3.1 Improvements from ICT Policy
3.2 ICT and Economic Growth
3.2.1 E-Commerce and online/mobile transactions
3.2.2 No one left behind civil registry and financial
inclusion
3.2.3 Business productivity
3.2.4 Rapid expansion of the IT/ITES industry
3.3 ICT and Education
3.3.1 Education quality improvement through IT-enabled
learning
3.3.2 Teacher empowerment in primary and secondary
education
3.3.3 Strengthening vocational stream
3.3.4 Expanding IT graduate pool
3.3.5 Building E-learning infrastructure
3.3.6 Vocational ICT training
3.4 ICT for Greater Transparency, Good Governance and Improved
Public Service

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3.5 Resource Mobilization: 7FYP

3.6 Enabling Environment
3.6.1 Reliable and secure infrastructure
3.6.2 Policy and legal framework and whole-of-government
approach
3.6.3 Financing
3.6.4 Partnerships
3.7 Enabling E-Governance
3.8 Key projects of ICT policies
4.1 Limitations in ICT Policy
4.1.1 ICT Supported Infrastructure and Lack of Resources
4.1.2 Insufficient Funds
4.1.3 Costly Internet Connection
4.1.4 Technical Condition of Government
4.1.5 Social and Cultural Factors
4.1.6 Political Factors
4.1.7 Corruption
4.1.8 Lack of Time
4.1.9 Lack of Knowledge and Skill
5.1 Suggestions
5.1.1 Human resource development
5.1.2 Financial allocation and institutional capacity
5.1.3 Affordable Connectivity
5.1.4 Locally relevant and local language content
5.1.5 Public-Private Partnerships framework
5.1.6 Reliable and continuous power
5.1.7 Legal reform for businesses and consumers
5.1.8 Branding Bangladesh as a software/ITES outsourcing
destination
Conclusion
Reference

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1.1 ICT (Information and Communications Technology)

ICT is an umbrella term that includes any communication device or
application, encompassing: radio, television, cellular phones, computer
and network hardware and software, satellite systems and so on, as well
as the various services and applications associated with them, such as
videoconferencing and distance learning.
The ICT sector of Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing sectors of its
economy. ICT has been declared as the thrust sector by the Government. A
comprehensive ICT Policy has been formulated and a National ICT Task
Force, headed by the Honorable Prime Minister, has been formed. The
Government organization entrusted for the development and promotion of
the ICT sector is the Ministry of Science and Information & Communication
Technology. Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), the apex body for
promotion of all kinds of ICT activities in the country, works under the
Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology.

1.2 ICT Policy of Bangladesh

National ICT is headed by the Honorable Prime Minister. ICT has been
given considerable importance from the Prime Ministers Office in the last
few years. The Ministry of Science and Technology has been renamed as
the Ministry of Science and ICT which has been entrusted the duty of
working as the primary hub for ICT policy and implementation in the
country.
Broad Areas of ICT Policy:
ICT Infrastructure
ICT Capacity Building
Support to ICT Industry
Applications of ICTs for Socio-Economic Development
Regulatory Issues
Financing of ICT-Related Projects
Research and Development in ICT
The council of ministers endorsed the draft national information and
communication technology (ICT) policy-2015, which clams The ICT policy
will be less regulatory but more developmental and promotional. The
policy will be implemented in three phases -- short goals are expected to
be attained by 2016, mid-term goals by 2018 and long-term ones by 2021.

1.3 Objectives of ICT

This Policy aims at building an ICT-driven nation comprising of knowledgebased society by the year 2006. In view of this, a country-wide ICTinfrastructure will be developed to ensure access to information by every
citizen to facilitate empowerment of people and enhance democratic
values and norms for sustainable economic development by using the
infrastructure for human resources development, governance, ecommerce, banking, public utility services and all sorts of on-line ICTenabled services. The objectives are:

Provide effective incentives for development of ICT sector to both local and
foreign entrepreneurs
Develop an efficient ICT infrastructure that provides open access to
international and national network
Promote and facilitate use of ICT in all sectors of the economy for
transparency, good governance and efficiency improvement
Establish legislative and regulatory framework for ICT issues like IPR, data
security and protection, digital signature, e-Commerce, ICT education etc. as
well as to ensure quality ICT education provided by different private
organizations
Set up national databases that are reliable and easily accessible to all the
people of the country
Promote use of ICT by providing special allocations for ICT project
implementation in the public sector. Train the decision makers in ICT use and
promote a ICT culture
Develop a large pool of world class ICT professionals to meet the needs of
local and global markets
Set up a very high quality ICT institution to continuously promote and foster
ICT Industry
Enact Laws and Regulations for uninterrupted growth of ICT, in conformity
with World Trade Organization (WTO) stipulations.

1.4 Importance given to ICT

This Policy aims at building an ICT-driven nation comprising of knowledgebased society by the year 2021. In view of this, a country-wide ICTinfrastructure will be developed to ensure access to information by every
citizen to facilitate empowerment of people and enhance democratic
values and norms for sustainable economic development by using the
infrastructure for human resources development, governance, ecommerce, banking, public utility services and all sorts of on-line ICTenabled services.
The executive committee of the national ICT task force, headed by the
honorable principal secretary, administers the implementation of
decisions taken by the task force.

 A program called the support to ICT task force (SICT) has been initiated,
with financial support from the government, to provide implementation
and monitoring support to the task force.
The ministry of science and ICT has come up with a comprehensive ICT
policy in 2002.
The ministry of post and telecom has also come up with a national
telecom policy in 1998 (time for a revised policy).
Bangladesh government adopted the national ICT policy in 2008. It
includes action items for realizing the goals of national development. The
constitution of Peoples republic of Bangladesh has edified social equity.
The national ICT policy of 2008 has clearly indicated the development
goals for Bangladesh. The vision and objectives are aligned with the
general national goals while the strategic themes are areas within the
broad objectives that can readily benefit from the use of ICT. The action
items are generally meant to be implemented either in the Short term (18 months or less)
Medium term (5 years or less) or
Long term (10 years or less)

1.5 ICT Vision 2021 (Digital Bangladesh)

The Government of Bangladesh has declared Vision 2021 with a target to

make Bangladesh as a middle income country using Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) and development of favorable business
environment for innovative companies. ICT has been considered as a
thrust sector. Vision 2021 lays down goals and strategies together with a
framework for mobilizing our natural and human resources to achieve
those goals. Vision 2021 calls for Bangladeshi socio-economic environment
to be transformed from a low income economy to the first stages of a
middle-income nation by the year 2021, when poverty would have all but
disappeared, where society would be full of caring and educated people
living healthy and happy lives.
The Digital Bangladesh vision, arguably, runs parallel to the Information
Society vision advocated by the World Summit on Information Society
(WSIS). The Honorable Finance Minister of Bangladesh elaborated on the
concept in his budget 2009-10 speech as a socio-economic transformation
process, enabled by information and communication technologies. In the
same year, the Honorable Prime Minister outlined the Digital Bangladesh
having four key priorities
(a) Developing human resources ready for the 21stcentury
(b) Connecting citizens in ways most meaningful to them

(c) Taking services to citizens doorsteps

(d) Making the private sector and market more productive and
competitive through the use of digital technology
(e) Expand and diversify the use of ICTs
to establish a transparent, responsive and accountable
government
develop skilled human resources
enhance social equity
ensure cost-effective delivery of citizen-services through publicprivate partnerships
and support the national goal of becoming a middle-income
country within 2021
join the ranks of the developed countries of the world within thirty
years

1.6 ICT Policies and Regulatory Framework

A plethora of acts, policies and guidelines are in place, some are more
robust than the others, which is guiding the nation towards the realization
of Digital Bangladesh. Hence, it was only natural that the 6th Five Year
Plan (6FYP) places an equal importance to Digital Bangladesh as part of
the nations development strategy. During the 6FYP period, the country
has made important strides in utilizing technology to bring in tangible
transformation in all four areas mentioned by the Prime Minister. Progress
made in bringing government services to the doorsteps of citizen is
probably the area where Bangladesh registered most significant progress.
Vertical (with government ministries and agencies) and horizontal (i.e.,
with citizens) policy advocacy and development interventions have
resulted in a number of citizen-centric e-initiatives and services such as
multimedia classroom and teacher-led education content development in
public schools, mobile phone based health service from Upazila Health
Complex, agricultural and other livelihood information and services (eTathyakosh) online through grassroots outlets.

Digital BD policies and regulatory framework

ICT policy 2009
Right to Information Act 2009
Perspective Plan
ICT Act 2013 (amended)
Strategic Priorities of Digital Bangladesh
Cyber Security Policy 2010
Rural Connectivity Policy Guideline 2010
Broadband Policy
Mobile Keypad Standardization Policy
Guidelines for Utility Bill Payment
e-Krishi Policy
National e-Governance Architecture
Mobile Banking Policy Guideline
National Telecom Policy 2010
Guidelines on Mobile Financial Services (MFS) for
the Bank
Secretariat Instructions 2014 (amended)
Proactive Information Disclosure Guidelines 2014
Innovation Team gazette
National Portal management gazette
Because of the cross-cutting nature of the vision, these work plans
encompass priorities in almost all development sectors. Hence, the 7th
Five Year Plan (7FYP) needs to consult and align with thoseat the same
time, it also needs to identify scope for revising those documents in light
of changes in the national priorities set in the 6FYP.

2.1 Contribution Towards Middle Income Country

The Perspective Plan targets annual real GDP growth rate to rise to 8.0 per
cent by 2015, and further to 10.0 per cent by 2021, significantly improving
living standards of the population by drastically reducing unemployment
and poverty, riding on substantially higher output and export growth. Per
capita annual income is projected to rise to about USD 2,000 (at constant
2013 dollars) by 2021, thus crossing the middle income threshold. Among
others, a prudent macroeconomic policy will be required to ensure internal
and external stability, low inflation and high economic growth. Accordingly,
this chapter presents a macroeconomic framework, spelling out the key
targets, and articulating strategies and policy guidelines underlying the
Perspective Plan FY2010-FY2021.

2.1.1 Macroeconomic Framework

The macroeconomic framework of the Perspective Plan will support the
strategies and policy guidelines to achieve the development vision through
ensuring of macroeconomic stability over the long-term. For Bangladesh,
the journey to middle income country and high HDI status requires
sustained growth and its equitable and inclusive nature. The technical
framework designed to achieve growth and related dimensions of the
macro economy shows that the economy needs to grow at a consistently
high rate over the next eleven years for the vision to be realized.
Key Macroeconomic Indicators
Benchmark
Target FY15
Target FY21
FY10
Real GDP Growth (%)
6.1
8.0
10.0
CPI inflation (%)
7.5
6.0
5.2
As per cent of GDP
Gross Investment (%)
24.4
32.5
38.0
Gross National Savings (%)
30.0
32.1
39.1
Total government revenue (%)
10.9
14.6
20.0
Total government expenditure
14.6
19.6
25.0
(%)
Exports (billion US$)
16.2
38.8
82.0
Imports (billion US$)
21.4
52.8
110.5
Remittances (billion US$)
10.9
17.8
38.5
Unemployment rate (%)
30.0
20.0
15.0
Poverty (head count, %)
31.5
22.5
13.5
Source: Perspective Plan projections

2.1.2 Inflation control

Bangladesh has generally succeeded in maintaining reasonable price
stability. Occasional spikes in the inflation rate arose mainly as a result of
supply disruptions due to natural disasters, and global price shocks. Since
high inflation, especially led by food price inflation directly hurts poor
people, the target will be to maintain a moderate rate of inflation of
around 5-7 per cent per year by ensuring well-coordinated monetary and
fiscal policies; improvements in productivity; attention to supply
augmentation; enhanced public sector role and strengthened competition
policies.
2.1.3 Reducing Poverty and Inequality
The poverty profile measured by head count ratio using the cost of basic
needs approach revealed that 31.5 per cent of the 2010 population, lived

below the poverty line. It also indicated a 1.8 per cent annual poverty
decline between 2005 and 2010. At this rate, the head count ratio of
national poverty will stand at 22.5 per cent of the population in 2015,
thereby achieving one of the major MDGs. The projected higher growth of
around 9.2 percent during FY16 and FY21 is expected to reduce head
count poverty rate to about 13.5 percent of 2021 population. Antipoverty,
anti-inequality measures need to target removal or reduction of
inequalities in advancing opportunities for people in different income
brackets. This particularly includes targeting the opening of blocked
advancement opportunities for disadvantaged rural and urban poor
people.
2.1.4 Agricultural Development
Agricultural land is limited and is reducing at 1 per cent per annum.
Modern methods of production, including water resource management,
high yielding drought and submergence resistant seeds, increase in land
productivity through efficient irrigation, flood control and drainage, are
among the key factors in achieving a higher level of self-sufficiency in food
production to feed the ever increasing population and to save foreign
exchange for food imports.
With a view to enhance agriculture production and ensuring food security,
the target is that, by 2021, food deficiency will be eliminated and the
country will attain self-sufficiency in food production enabling to meet
nutritional requirement of the population.
2.1.5 Remittance Inflows
Besides strengthening our balance of payments position, remittance
inflows have had significant impact on poverty reduction. Remittance
inflows in 2011, at $11.5 billion, were about 10 per cent of GDP. Sustaining
the growth of remittance inflows could be a major source of external
finance in the march up to the countrys middle income threshold by 2021.
Government is strengthening institutional arrangements to facilitate
remittance. However, increase of remittance flow will depend on the speed
of economic recovery of the labor taking countries.
2.1.6 Foreign Direct Investment
Bangladeshs projected needs for investment in infrastructure for an
expanding transport network and burgeoning urban centers cannot and
need not be met from domestic resources alone. With improved economic
management and a highly liberalized investment regime, and with

strategic locational shifts in labor-intensive industries, Bangladesh could

become an attractive destination for private capital flows over the next
decade.
2.1.7 ICT and Science and Technology for National Development
The new Science and Technology Policy focuses on scientific research and
production using indigenous resources as much as possible. It focuses on
finding solutions to the emerging problems in agriculture, health,
environment and climate change. The new Policy suggested access to
quality educational materials for studying science, mathematics,
engineering and other subjects requiring instruments. To encourage
innovation and production of new technology a proper institutional system
of copyright and patent should be established. In view of the expanded
agenda for research in science and technology, a higher share of GDP will
be allocated for research and development.
2.1.8 E-Governance
Digital democracy is the computerization of political discourse, policymaking and the political process. It ultimately increases, enhances and
deepens citizen participation in government policy and decision-making
processes through electoral campaigns, voting, consultation, public
opinion polling and communication exchange between elected officials and
constituents.
2.1.9 Company Productivity
Technology enhances company productivity in multiple ways and the rapid
growth of cloud-based computing has reinforced the impact and expanded
the possibilities. The early impact of technology in emerging markets on
company productivity was at the basic level of greater PC usage, office
software, and email. The rapid decline in the cost per unit of computing
power as microprocessors become faster and cheaper is growing at an
exponential pace as well. Technology has helped companies improve how
they interact with and take feedback from their customers. The cloud gives
companies of any size access to capabilities and services that previously
were available to only the largest enterprises, at a fraction of their
historical cost.
2.1.10
Internet Facility
The Internet has become a big leveler allowing small companies to operate
on a level playing field with large ones. The Internet has made it easier for
producers to procure inputs (raw materials) for their production processes

and reduced production costs. Price discrimination (targeting marketing,

products, and prices to specific individuals) has been made much easier by
the Internet.
2.1.11
Social Networking
In developed countries, ICT has transformed the print, movie, music, and
gaming industries with an increasing number of consumers now creating
their own content through blogs, wikis, podcasts, Facebook, Instagram,
and Vine. Authors can publish their books digitally on Amazon for a
fraction of the cost of using traditional publishers. Musicians and
filmmakers likewise have web-based access to potential customers
through YouTube and other online platforms.
2.1.12
Banking sectors
By using various types of ICT services banking sectors of Bangladesh make
their task easy in different sectors that take long time in the past. Now
bank can easily transfer money from anywhere in the country. Now
banking system can maintain the database for their clients and make easy
access when it is needed. Also, verify the sign of the accountholders by
maintaining the digital signature of the clients.

3.1 Improvements from ICT Policy

In 2021, Bangladesh will take its place amongst middle income nations of
the world, where progress is not just reflected in higher living standards
but also in a wide range of human development indicators. And all this will
be achieved with the recognition that the state must play a key role in
sustaining economic development. Bangladesh intends to use ICT as the
key-driving element for national development.

3.2
Growth

ICT and Economic

3.2.1 E-Commerce and online/mobile transactions

Mobile phones and internet have the potential to inter alia expand market
access and level the playing field for small producers. At the same time,
consumer prices will be driven down and the quality will increase due to
increased competition. Specific focus on rural e-commerce and low-cost
online transactions must be devised and popularized.
3.2.2 No one left behind civil registry and financial inclusion

The vision for Digital Bangladesh is to establish an equitable, inclusive

society and economy. Development of a comprehensive civil registry that
is linked to all service delivery by the government, and preferably also by
non-government service providers, will ensure inclusion. A whole-ofgovernment approach, possibly steered by the Cabinet Division, will be
necessary to establish and use the civil registry across all service delivery
organizations. True financial inclusion mechanisms that provide extremely
low-cost mechanisms at citizens doorsteps for banking, money transfer
including safety net payments and local and foreign remittances, credit
including microcredit, insurance including crop, health, life, disaster and
other kind, must be formulated and popularized.
3.2.3 Business productivity
ICTs have proven to increase productivity in virtually all sectors of
economy and business ranging from agriculture, manufacturing and
services. Appropriate productivity tools must be adopted alongside
incentives for quick adoption.
3.2.4 Rapid expansion of the IT industry
ICTs hold immense promise for a country like Bangladesh which boasts a
booming youth population, with a sharp interest to learn ICT tools and put
them to the purpose of gainful employment. A collaborative approach is in
process to develop technical and soft skills which is necessary for the
sector, generate employment for local, foreign and outsourced jobs.
Additionally, establishment of necessary infrastructure, international brand
image of the country, and access to finance for entrepreneurs is required
to tap into the imminent demographic dividend.

3.3 ICT and Education

The 6FYP envisaged restructuring the education system to make it more
attuned with the technologically evolving global landscape. The role of
ICT in boosting the quality of education will be emphasized and steps will
be taken for narrowing the ICT skills between urban and rural people.
Steps taken for enriching the education system are:
3.3.1 Education quality improvement through IT-enabled learning
All classrooms in primary, secondary, tertiary and professional education
must be turned into multimedia classrooms with appropriate infrastructure
consisting of reliable power, high-speed internet and necessary equipment
with teaching staff well equipped to use them to improve teaching-

learning. Massive local content generation must be undertaken through

industry participation and crowd-sourcing of teachers, teacher trainers and
learners. MOOCs may become a viable, low-cost, high-outreach form of
educational content delivery which is participatory and learner-centered.
3.3.2 Teacher empowerment in primary and secondary education
Experiences of introducing technology in education in the world over have
produced a consensus that no amount of technology can replace or
marginalize the teachers role. Thus, technology should be used to
empower teachers with on-demand and on-the-job capacity development,
peer collaboration and learning. The Teachers Portal has played a
particularly effective role in developing both collaboration amongst
teachers and competition for educational excellence. Other innovation
avenues must be explored to incentivize teachers for modulating their
behavior and preparing them to improve teaching-learning in classrooms.
3.3.3 Strengthening vocational stream
Vocational stream is not attractive for the youth, as was explained earlier
in the document. However, there is a national target to increase enrolment
in the vocational stream to 20 per cent of the entire student cohort. This
will require re-branding of the vocational stream in order to ensure that
the curriculum is market-ready, linking graduates to the job market more
effectively and making appropriate use of ICTs for training purposes.
3.3.4 Expanding IT graduate pool
If Bangladesh has to meet the increasing demand of local and outsourced
IT jobs in the world, tertiary educational institutions, industry and the
government must work together to rapidly increase the number of
qualified IT graduates who are industry-ready every year. In-house training
may need to be established in companies (perhaps funded by the
government) and accreditation mechanisms must be in place to ensure
high quality with regard to the establishment of a National Certifying
Authority.

3.3.5 Building E-learning infrastructure

A model is being implemented meeting two interrelated objectives:
(a) Creation of smart/multimedia classrooms
(b) Training teachers to create digital contents for their use in
classrooms.

The Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Primary and Mass

Education (MoPME) undertook two initiatives multimedia classroom (MMC)
and Teacher-led Digital Content Development after successful prototypes.
Two separate projects under MoE and MoPME are currently underway
aimed at establishing 20,500 MMCs and 7,000 MMCs at the secondary and
primary level respectively. The Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) has
set up computer labs in 3,544 educational institutions in order to expand
ICT education at the grassroots level. Bangladesh Research and Education
Network (BdREN) has been established in 6 universities and gradually, all
universities will be brought under this network.
3.3.6 Vocational ICT training
Finally, in terms of spurring ICT related vocational training, 4 MMCs in each
of 64 Technical School and College (TSC) have been set up and teachers
training is underway for all teachers. Bangladesh Open University (BoU)
has undertaken an initiative to launch e-learning/online program for its
target audiences. Bureau of Manpower, Employment and Training (BMET)
is also set to launch e-learning courses for migrant workers. Under the
7FYP, proposals could be made to enable delivery of such e-learning
courses through Digital Centers which have been established across rural
and urban Bangladesh.

3.4 ICT for Greater Transparency, Good Governance and

Improved Public Service
The Perspective Plan stipulates, e-governance will manage the way that
citizens deal with the government and with each other, allow citizens to
communicate with government, participate in government policy making
and planning, and to communicate with each other. It articulated that
work flow in government and semi-government offices will be fully
integrated with ICTs through re-engineering of governments business
process. There are 23 targets under four interrelated components of the
Digital Government category:
(a) E-Administration - business process re-engineering of government
agencies
(b) E-Citizen services - converting traditional service delivery into eservice delivery system to take service at citizens doorsteps.
(c) An inclusive information and knowledge management system
(d) ICT for equity
As the ensuing discussion reveals, Bangladesh has witnessed significant
progress in the area of Digital Government, although the latest e-

Government Development Index (e-GDI) ranking, prepared by UNDESA,

positioned the country low at 148 (UNDESA, 2014). It is, nevertheless, to
be pointed out that in 2012, in spite of Bangladeshs low 150th rank, the
country got placed alongside the US, China, India, Brazil, Japan and other
giant economies, i.e., in the category of countries with populations larger
than 100 million, that succeeded in making a special effort to improve
service delivery to large swathes of their populations (UNDESA, 2012).

3.5 Resource Mobilization: 7FYP

It is predicted that by 2020, as a result of high internet speed facilitating
ICT induced service delivery, human development and employment
opportunities, Bangladeshs GDP will attain an additional 2.6 per cent of
growth. The sources of this additional growth is directly attributable to the
IT/ITES industry and indirectly through service delivery reforms, which will
allow citizens to be more productive as a result of increased predictability,
transparency and accountability in public service delivery.
The strategy of developing the ICT sector is to reduce investment risk and
strengthen market forces in order to increase productivity and efficiency of
all conceivable governance activities and wealth creation sectors of the
nation. To ensure inclusive growth, public investment is only
recommended to deal with market failure which inhibits delivering ICT
benefits to those market segments, where profitable private investment is
not feasible for the time being.

3.6 Enabling Environment

3.6.1 Reliable and secure infrastructure
ICTs require reliable infrastructure consisting of power, high-speed
internet connection and appropriate equipment - at a minimum to be
functional. When service delivery and businesses become dependent on
ICTs, this reliance is paramount and unavoidable leading to the
requirement that the infrastructure needs to be ubiquitous. This means
that redundant infrastructure must be ensured in all service delivery and
business organizations that have adopted ICT-based service delivery.
Information security becomes a critical priority of the government with
appropriate measures in place to prevent against cyber-attacks which will
be increasingly common with citizens identity and financial information
becoming increasingly online. The country will need to build international
alliance for software infrastructure from open source and proprietary
technologies. These are elaborated in section.

3.6.2 Policy and legal framework and whole-of-government

approach
An innovation may start with experimentation but there is no getting
around to the fact that policy framework, and often legislation, is
necessary to scale up innovation. Institutionalization of an innovation
almost always requires policy and/or legal reform. Years of e-Governance
investment has been known to fail globally because required policy and
legal safeguards were not developed to institutionalize the new ways of
doing old things. The countrys ICT Policy and ICT Act only facilitate certain
fundamental issues regarding ICTs. In order to scale up and institutionalize
ICT-based service delivery, administration, business productivity, a number
of policy and legal reform may be necessary by sectoral ministries ranging
from Cabinet Division, Ministry of Public Administration, Law, Education,
Health, Agriculture, Banking, Election Commission, etc.
3.6.3 Financing
Making Digital Bangladesh a reality will ultimately require undertaking of
large investments. However, it is possible to mobilize finances in a flexible
way. The ICT Policy allows the provision for a percentage of the revenue
budget and development budget to be used for ICT-based expenditures.
Many large projects have ICT components which can be more effectively
designed and sourced often by pooling funds or sharing plans and
activities. Mechanisms may be devised for a whole-of-government
approach in ICT implementation especially when connectivity, hardware
and software infrastructure components are concerned. Since a large
portion of ICT activities are funded by development partners, more aid
effectiveness can be obtained by coordinating across development
partners as well. Lastly, private investment can be mobilized directly or in
the form of universal obligation funds. For ICT industry entrepreneurs,
special investment funds need to be set up. Mechanisms for valuation of
intellectual property are a high priority for the industry.
3.6.4 Partnerships
For both service delivery and industry development, partnerships within
the government, with non-state and global actors, can be of high value at
least in terms of resource mobilization. There is a great value to be gained
by striking partnerships across government organizations: infrastructure
sharing, expertise sharing, complementary implementation, etc.
Partnership with private sector may bring in private investment through
PPP arrangement where the risk is shared across the partners. Partnership

with reputable international companies has the additional benefit of

developing the brand image of Bangladesh.

3.7 Enabling E-Governance

The increasing role of ICTs in accelerating delivery of public service is
running parallel to the growing demands for transparency and
accountability in all regions of the world. E-Governance attempts to deal
with two interrelated and mutually exclusive objectives
(a) Internal, focusing on processes (operations)
(b) External, fulfilling peoples needs and expectations by simplifying
processes
The concept of e-governance epitomizes horizontal and vertical
connectivity by providing a virtual, yet, de jure platform for streamlining
government-to-government (G2G), and G2C/C2G interactions, respectively
(business-to-government (B2G) and vice versa, i.e., G2B interactions).

3.8 Key projects of ICT policies are shown below

Union information centers by ministry of ICT A2I
500 UISC has been
established by 2012.
Run on a PPP operational
model

Provided with means of ICT

facilities

Loyal youths are

operating these centers
with Govt support.
Women participation is
increasing.

ICT facility in rural postal offices

E-centers in 8500 rural
post offices within 2015

These e-centers would be

equipped with desktop pcs,
laptop, printers & others ICT
facilities with internet
connectivity
Assembling of low cost laptop & fiber optic
Started from 2010,
Primarily the educational
producing 03 models of
institutes & govt agencies are
laptops.
supplied.
Computer facility in schools
2100 secondary schools
Thousands of teachers of these
are provided with
schools are rained on
multimedia classrooms.
computer skill & contents.

Rural people have more

attachment to these
post offices than any
other ICT facility

Expanded the capacity

to other IT equipment

Approved projects to
implement the theme
connect a school,

Others thousands are

provided with computer
labs with internet
connectivity.
Projects undertaken by
Local govt ministry is
developing
infrastructure (building,
rooms in union offices)
in remote administrative
units.

connect a community.

other ministries & governmental agencies

Ministry of health is working to ICT ministry has
connect health complexes with connected all district
video conference facility,
commissioners office
especially for rural complexes. with a secured network.
Extending this project
connect other govt
offices.

It is to be highlighted here that 41 indicators, cutting across global and

national domains, are proposed to incorporate the gender perspective of
Digital Bangladesh. The proposed set of indicators will not only aid to fill
this critical void but more pertinently, allow making necessary policy
reforms and adjustments to capitalize on any particular momentum. For
instance, the 318 action items pertaining to gender priorities under ICT
Policy 2009 could be reviewed through these indicators. At the same time,
efforts should be made to make sure that the progress achieved in
Bangladesh is comparable to others in the world so that the country can
further build its ITES image and also emerge as a role model for
implementing e-governance reforms in revamping traditional public
service delivery processes.

4.1 Limitations in ICT Policy

Although the Government of Bangladesh is committed to implementing
ICT, the process is hindered by a number of limitations. The limitations are
categorized as external or internal. External limitations include lack of
equipment, unreliability of equipment, lack of technical support and other
resource-related issues. How these external and internal limitations
negatively influence the use of ICT are described below.
4.1.1 ICT Supported Infrastructure and Lack of Resources
Bangladesh is one of the developing countries that lack the resources and
appropriate infrastructure for implementing ICT. The effective use of ICT
would require the availability of equipment, supplies of computers and
their proper maintenance including other accessories. Most of the rural
areas in Bangladesh do not have electricity and therefore one cannot even
run a computer in the first place. On the other hand most of the cities of
Bangladesh lack continuous of electric supply. The development of the ICT

infrastructure in a country is dependent on the availability of a reliable

electricity supply. Implementing ICT demands other resources, such as
computers, printers, multimedia projectors, scanners, etc - which are not
available in all institutions. Besides, ICT requires up-to-date hardware and
software.
4.1.2 Insufficient Funds
Effective implementation of technology involves substantial funding, that
is very hard to manage in developing countries like Bangladesh, where
many people are living below the international poverty line. ICT-supported
hardware, software, internet, audio visual aids, teaching aids and other
accessories demand huge funds. The lack of funds to obtain the necessary
hardware and software is one of the reasons people do not use technology
in their daily usages. Efficient and effective use of technology depends on
the availability of hardware and software and the equity of access to
resources. These costs are in most cases inflated and cannot be provided
by most developing countries, including Bangladesh.
4.1.3 Costly Internet Connection
The Internet usage in the country is very limited and confined to cities,
and the costs are high but the speed is not satisfactory. The bandwidth fee
for the Internet is around US$250, which is considered high in terms of
socio-economic condition of the operators and users. The current state of
access to ICTs (below in text box) in Bangladesh clearly reveals the poor
condition in the internet connection.
4.1.4 Technical Condition of Government
The technical conditions to support e-Government initiatives in
Bangladesh seem very poor as the initiatives to e-Government, especially,
offering e-services to the citizen is scattered, and so far there exists no
integrated and sustainable services. A study reveals that lack of internet
access and sustainability of e-services, top-level management initiatives,
technical integration and interoperability and budget and finance are
hurdles to overcome on the way to introducing and practicing eGovernment in Bangladesh. In any e-Government services, access to ICTs
is the key factors in all respects, but the condition and scope of accessing
ICTs in Bangladesh is very poor and in some cases problematic.
4.1.5 Social and Cultural Factors
Half of the population of Bangladesh are women who are relatively
deprived of access to the advantages of technology. Women are
underrepresented in almost every aspect of ICT implementation in
Bangladesh. One of the most significant social factors influencing the use

of ICT in Bangladesh is the low social status of women and hence the use
of ICT to women is not considered important. Women are supposed to be
primarily the caretakers of family and children. Men disproportionately
occupy academic, management and technical roles, which by virtue of the
nature of the work provide easier access to the internet and related
technology. Even if women have the necessary hardware and software,
they may find little time to use them due to being busy with domestic
chores.
4.1.6 Political Factors
One of the most notable of the limitations to the use of ICT in developing
countries seems to be the political will of the people in the corridors of
power. The allocation of sufficient funds for ICT does not seem to be very
attractive to the leaders. It can be seen from the budgetary allocations in
third world countries that greater allocations may be for the defense forces
rather than on ICT. If the political leaders favor the technology, it will
bloom. The new Government of Bangladesh came with Bangladesh as a
digitalized one in all sectors. Hence they are also trying to implement
information technologies in education as well. Unfortunately if this political
government will change after five years due to the democratic election
then Vision 2021 might be changed due to antagonistic attitudes among
the political parties of Bangladesh.
4.1.7 Corruption
The situation in Bangladesh represents a distinct case where corruption
has found a remarkably safe space in which to proliferate, despite the
vigilance of control mechanisms. Corruption is so pervasive that it has
evoked widespread condemnation, both inside and outside the country.
Consequently, Bangladesh has been consistently ranked by Transparency
International as one of the most venal among the researched countries. As
a result, corruption can be identified as one of the strong barriers to the
implementation of ICT. The misuse of government funds which could have
been used to develop other sectors like the integration of ICT is channeled
in other directions i.e. few people benefit from those funds by pocketing all
the money. Huge budgets are passed to buy modern teaching and learning
materials for the improvement of the teaching and learning process, but in
the end only minor improvements are found in the overall technical and
vocational sector.
4.1.8 Lack of Time
Bangladesh, a developing country, has a shortage of teachers, and they
are already burdened with heavy workload. Some of the institutions have
already introduced two shifts, without increasing the number of teaches.

So teachers' teaching load has been increased due to conducting classes

in both the shifts. Moreover, most of the teachers are also responsible for
administrative tasks. In these circumstances teachers dont have time to
design, develop and incorporate technology into the teaching learning
situation. Teachers need time to learn how to use the hardware and
software, time to plan, and time to collaborate with other teachers. Some
teachers are unable to make appropriate use of technology in their own
classrooms, while others are unwilling to try because of anxiety, lack of
interest, or lack of motivation.
4.1.9 Lack of Knowledge and Skill
Teachers lack of knowledge and skills is one of the main hindrances to the
use of ICT in education both for the developed and underdeveloped
countries. Integrating technology in the curriculum requires knowledge of
the subject area, an understanding of how students learn and a level of
technical expertise. Lack of knowledge regarding the use of ICT and lack of
skill on ICT tools and software have also limited the use of ICT tools in
teaching learning situation in Bangladesh.

5.1 Suggestions
As Bangladesh proceeds boldly to implement its ambitious and yet
achievable Digital Bangladesh Vision 2021 priorities, it faces several
challenges. These are precisely the areas where the government needs to
work with the development partners to gather international best practices,
transfer technology and knowhow to the government, and build
institutional capacity. It must be realized by both the government and the
development partners that ICTs have emerged as a non-threatening
approach to catalyze, not force, administrative reform through various
productivity enhancement tools and knowledge management platforms,
but most importantly, by providing a natural vehicle for re-engineering
business processes both for service delivery and for administrative
decision making.
Elimination of the digital divide between rural and urban areas and
between Bangladesh and other nations is essential in order to be at par
with middle-income nations. A peaceful political environment is essential
for intellectual, social, cultural and economic development. Time and time
again, the nation's dream for Vision 2021 and Digital Bangladesh has been
shattered by the turbulent political situation. The country dearly needs a
tranquil political environment for the development of all sectors, including

ICT, and for the realisation of Vision 2021 and Digital Bangladesh.
Suggestion that I mostly recommend from my point of view are:
5.1.1 Human resource development
The policy makers in Bangladesh have woken up to the reality that
humanware is far more important than hardware and software to realize
the Digital Bangladesh vision. The HRD challenge appear in different
forms: first, the service providers especially the government must be
much more aware of the service delivery options and benefits ICTs
present; second, the government officials must embrace ICTs in their day
to day work the younger officers seem must more amenable to
developing an ICT work culture; third, the general literacy of the
population being less than 50% presents a significant challenge in
adoption of computer technologies.
5.1.2 Financial allocation and institutional capacity
The still lacking institutional capacity to identify, design and manage ICTbased projects within the government deters the policy makers to allocate
significant budgets that would be required to implement Digital
Bangladesh. Some of the demonstration initiatives called Quick Wins
facilitated by the Access to Information (A2I) programme and other
programmes such as Managing at the Top (MATT-2) are recently creating
an appetite for calculated risk-taking for larger ICT-based projects within
the civil service. Institutional capacity must be enhanced to formulate
conducive policies and procedures as well.
5.1.3 Affordable Connectivity
The cost of internet connectivity is still one of the highest in the region and
is well below the affordability of the common citizen. Broadband access is
still in its infancy because of lacking last mile connectivity and high cost of
access. Development of a policy for Universal Service Fund is still an area
of exploration.
5.1.4 Locally relevant and local language content
The new media and internet open up the user to a world of information
and knowledge, but unfortunately, very little is in the native language and
much of the content is not locally relevant, contextually meaningful or
culturally sensitive to the teeming millions.
5.1.5 Public-Private Partnerships framework

It is seen that ICT projects especially e-governance or e-service delivery

projects tend to sustain themselves much better when the private sector
takes a financial stake. Such public-private partnerships minimizes risk on
the government side and creates natural incentives on the private side to
ensure the quality of service and responsiveness to citizens. A PPP
framework that complies with Public Procurement Rules 2008 to
accommodate ICT projects is still very much in its infancy.
5.1.6 Reliable and continuous power
The country currently suffers from a chronic shortage of about 1,500 MW
of power. In locations of the country, power is not available when it is
needed to conduct a digital porgramme such as during office or school
hours. With Digital Bangladesh implementation, this shortage will one
hand impede progress of digitalization, and on the other, will make the
power shortage more acute unless power generation can be boosted in the
short term.

5.1.7 Legal reform for businesses and consumers

ICT-based service delivery requires modifications to many existing laws.
Several development partners are already working on legal reform. Such
effort may be linked to the reform necessitated by Digital Bangladesh
efforts for larger impact.
5.1.8 Branding Bangladesh as a software/ITES outsourcing
destination
For international market access for export focused software/ITES
companies, linkage is a critical factor, rather than presence of a potential
market. It has been found that NRBs (Non Resident Bangladeshis) have
played a significant role in creating that linkage. In majority of cases with
respect to successful export in key markets, particularly in USA, Japan and
Australia, the NRB entrepreneurs have played the main role in creating
market access. However, this linkage remains person dependent and very
small at a national level. With national sponsorship, involvement of
selected international missions, and a high-level committee to market the
country, a national momentum for country branding is very possible.

Conclusion

The main vision of the policy is to promotion and multipurpose use of ICT
to ensure transparency and accountability of the government, human
resources development, ensure public services through public and private
sector participation and achieve national development goals by 2021. The
policy has 10 special objectives, 56 strategic themes and 306 action
programs which will be implemented by different organizations under
short, medium and long term timeframe by 2016, 2018 and 2021.
A dependable information system is essential for efficient management
and operation of the public and private sectors. But there is a shortage of
locally generated information needed for efficient performance of these
sectors. In order to meet this objective, ICT used in every sector shall have
to be accelerated in terms of information generation, utilization and
applications. Considering the gravity and importance of ICT Honorable
Prime Minister has already declared ICT as the thrust sector. Over the last
few years, many nations have taken advantage of the opportunities
afforded by ICT within a policy framework, laid down guidelines and
proceed with the formulation of a national ICT strategy as a part of the
overall national development plan. Bangladesh intends to use ICT as the
key-driving element for socio-economic development.
Thus in 2021, Bangladesh will take its place amongst middle income
nations of the world, where progress is not just reflected in higher living
standards but also in a wide range of human development indicators. And
all this will be achieved with the recognition that the state must play a key
role in sustaining economic development.

Reference
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Bangladesh by 2021 And Beyond
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reality
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Bangladesh ICT Forum (2012) National ICT Policy-2009 of Bangladesh
Available at: https://bdictforum.wordpress.com/2012/03/14/national-ictpolicy-2009-of-bangladesh/
Shahiduzzaman Khan, (2004), Bangladesh: Ensuring transparency and
accountability
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