Incorporate pvt stakeholders\\\' opinions in draft Nat’l Informatics Policy: Experts

FE Team | Published: June 25, 2014 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

FE Report
Experts Tuesday called for incorporating opinions and recommendations of private stakeholders in the proposed 'Draft National Informatics Policy 2014' in order to make its data and information more purposeful and time-befitting.
They also observed that Bangladesh still lags far behind in information technology enough to safeguarding its information which has reached mass people through digital technology. They suggested provision in the draft informatics policy ascertaining how to preserve information so that those are not misused by the cyber criminals.
The observations came at a finalisation workshop on 'Draft National Informatics Policy 2014' at the BBS auditorium in the city. Statistics and Informatics Division (SID) of BBS organised the workshop. International affairs adviser to the prime minister Gawher Rizvi was present as the chief guest while SID secretary Nojibur Rahman chaired the workshop.
Deputy secretary of SID Tahmid Hasnat Khan made a PowerPoint presentation on the draft national informatics policy formulation process.
In his address as chief guest Gawher Rizvi said it is very important from the public policy perspective to make the information available to people and it is not enough to keep information in the shelves.
"Application of ICT will bring significant change in the governance process as nothing can be hidden from public at the age of digitisation," said Mr Rizvi. He said information and technology has made the government more transparent and accountable by showing the performance of various ministries.
Former president of Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) Mostafa Jabbar, who was present as the special guest said it should be ensured that the information produced by BBS will be available to people through the device available with them, especially through mobile technology.
He said the present draft policy has mostly got the opinion of the ministries and government agencies and no private sector opinion was visible there. Also opinion of the end users should be included before finalisation of the draft, he added.
"Various challenges in the areas of data preservation, secrecy and use have arisen as soon as information has been made available. Bangladesh still lags behind in data preservation and security areas like the developed countries have in place although Bangladesh has achieved much progress in digitisation process," he added.
Mr Jabbar suggested taking up an action plan for the timely implementation of the policy.
Nojibur Rahman said the data and information cannot be used for the benefit of the people unless informatics is there which manages information. The main challenge at present is to use the information for people's welfare.