The union information and services centres (USICs) across the country are run at the whims of the operators for lack of guidelines, affecting the core objective of keeping rural people informed about current affairs at home and abroad.
A total of 4,501 USICs under public-private partnership (PPP) modality were established in November 2010 for citizens' easy and cost-effective access to livelihood information and services that affect their life.
It was done as part of the government's move to develop a digital Bangladesh to catch up with the fast-moving world.
In reality, however, the centres have allegedly been plagued by irregularities and are run at the whims of the entrepreneurs.
During a recent visit to some of the unions in Sylhet, it was found that the service charges varied from union to union--sometimes reaching an irrational level.
As for speed, the internet was found too slow to provide the expected level of service on the information superhighway.
There is also problem of adequate publicity and motivational steps on part of the government to bring more people to the centres.
In Tetly union of Sylhet, the customers were found receiving any service from the UISC at excessively high charges. Here Tk 25 to 35 was charged for one-hour internet browsing, for sending one e- mail Tk 20 to 30, for a birth certificate Tk 1000.
The rate of internet browsing is same at the outside service providers.
In this union of a 36,000-strong population, only five to six people come for receiving services.
Asked for his comment on this high rate, Tetly union parishad chairman Osman Ali said he was not aware of the high charges and no one had ever complained to him in this respect.
The UP chairman claimed the income of the entrepreneurs is high but they show less as they think the actual picture of their business will hamper the process of making it public institution in future.
On the other hand, in the UISC of Tukerbazar union parishad of the same district, the charge for an hour's internet browsing was Tk 10 and Tk 20 for sending an e-mail. The number of service-receivers is comparatively high in this centre-30 on an average.
Entrepreneur of this UISC Junaid Ahmed told this reporter that, on average, 30 people, mostly students, come to his centre for taking services daily.
They receive services like email, opening email account, birth certificate, skype, scanning, form filling up, and various kinds of application.
He said he could not start training programme as a charity organisation has been doing it in this union under a three-year project. After completion of their project, Mr Junaid will start training programme for the local students.
Tukerbazar union parishad chairman Shahid Ahmad said the service cannot be provided at an expected level due to slow internet. He said awareness should be increased in this regard so that more people come to receive services for their livelihood and other purposes.
The union parishad bought one computer in 2010 from its annual development (ADP) fund. Now there are three computers and other machinery there.
Former adviser of caretaker government Hossain Zillur Rahman told the FE that the infrastructure and manpower for operating these equipment should be ensured to provide information services to the doorstep of people. The services also should be based on the demand of people, he added.
"We see no significant success so far achieved in this initiative as PPP model has not worked at national level. Besides, the profit issue of the entrepreneurs should be monitored," said the noted economist.
He stressed preparation of guidelines for the UISCs to avoid any kind of whim of the authority or the entrepreneurs.
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