Govt offices at UZs, districts under internet network

The government has reportedly decided to bring its nearly 18,000 offices located at upazila and district headquarters under a single internet network using the fibre optic and microwave connectivity belonging to the state-owned Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL). Funds required for establishing this all-important connectivity will be made available from an existing project, titled, 'Infosarkar', of the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC). Thirty offices of each of the upazilas and 55 offices of each of the districts would get relevant equipment, including video conferencing unit and router for joining the nationwide network.

Fortunately, all the upazilas already have either fibre-optic or microwave connectivity. This has given the advantage now to complete the process of bringing the two important tiers of the country's administration under a single internet network possibly by June next year. If the officials and experts concerned work sincerely and necessary funds are made available, there should be no reason for any delay in completing the networking project on schedule. However, instances relating to the execution of public sector projects within the deadline are rare, mainly because of procedural delays and a sort of bureaucratic inertia. But the delays have been taking a large economic and, at times, physical, toll on the people.

People from all shades of opinion would welcome the move to connect upazila and district level offices under a single national internet network since the right use of the facility can work wonder as far as decentralisation of the decision-making process is concerned. More importantly, the facility would offer an opportunity to make decisions expeditiously. All the intentions and possibilities sound good and make one hopeful about having a decentralised and dynamic administration. But one can hardly shrug off scepticism. The level of efficiency and lack of sincerity on the part of officials at the centre and also working in other tiers of the administration do generate deep frustration among people who are supposed to be benefited by the development projects, big or small.

The immediate past government had attached top priority to the 'digitisation' of the country. Rhetoric aside, the newly installed government, does need to make a dispassionate evaluation of the progress made during the last five years. Such an assessment can help it to remove the flaws and deficiencies of the programme and fine-tune the same in accordance with the actual national need. Automation of the entire government administrative network across the country is a long-felt need. It can help save time and money not only of the government but also of people who often seek the help of various administrative services. While pursuing the goals of bringing the administration closer to the people technologically, officials and political leaders who make decisions having effects, both positive and negative, on the taxpayers need to be equally competent and sincere to help deliver the goods by using the fruits of technological advancement. Otherwise, the goal of 'digitisation' would continue to elude the people and also the policymakers who sincerely want to make the best use of the same for wider nationalbenefits.