How to realise the dream of a 'Digital Bangladesh'
Tuesday, 1 September 2009
Salahuddin Ahmed
The people all around the country do know one concept very well at the present time, which is "Digital Bangladesh". To some people, digital Bangladesh means change of clock time and to others, it apparently means 'nothing'. It is obvious that the idea of digital Bangladesh should be made clear.
A top priority of the present government is to make Bangladesh digital. The people should know what does 'digital' mean and what the government is trying to achieve. A simple explanation is that the government wants to spread the ICT (Information Communication Technology) knowledge to people and to promote modern technology such as high-speed wireless internet.
Since the government has already introduced the concept, it should now announce the specific measures it is going to undertake, and also the goals it wants to achieve. Unfortunately, our administrators behave more like dreamers who do not know how to make their dreams a reality.
There are certain sectors that need to be digitised or modernised for the general development of the country. The agriculture sector is one of the main areas that need to be developed. Does the government have any idea how to revolutionise this sector? Modern computerised procedure can make a difference in this sector. Our farmers depend on traditional tools and procedure and do not know how to get the maximum output from their lands. It is the agriculture sector to which the government should give its most serious attention.
'E-governance' is also something that we need to focus on, specifically. 'Digital Bangladesh' directly relates to 'e-governance' that ensures transparency and accountability of the government. All government activities should come to public knowledge and people should get all relevant information from government websites.
The government has recently declared that people can get all relevant information and that information will be available for all. Do we actually believe that we can get all government information even if we go to government offices? To ensure that the people really get the relevant information, such information should be flashed on the websites of the respective ministries.
The education sector should also be urgently modernised and developed. The government needs to make it sure that students and especially the university students get access to free and high-speed internet connection to get the real glimpse of the 21st century technologies.
All education institutions should be equipped with computer labs where students can get internet access. Students must have ICT knowledge and for this computer education should be made mandatory up to the HSC level.
Bangladesh looks forward to reaching a milestone in terms of ICT by 2021. Historically, the successor governments in our country do not appreciate or support the initiatives of their predecessors. Hence, a big responsibility devolves on this government to involve the opposition in the massive task of spreading ICT knowledge and developing the country technologically. We cannot build a 'Digital Bangladesh' overnight; it is obviously a long-term project.
The writer is an MBA student & Graduate Assistant at Ashland University, OH. He can be reached at: sahmed@ashland.edu
The people all around the country do know one concept very well at the present time, which is "Digital Bangladesh". To some people, digital Bangladesh means change of clock time and to others, it apparently means 'nothing'. It is obvious that the idea of digital Bangladesh should be made clear.
A top priority of the present government is to make Bangladesh digital. The people should know what does 'digital' mean and what the government is trying to achieve. A simple explanation is that the government wants to spread the ICT (Information Communication Technology) knowledge to people and to promote modern technology such as high-speed wireless internet.
Since the government has already introduced the concept, it should now announce the specific measures it is going to undertake, and also the goals it wants to achieve. Unfortunately, our administrators behave more like dreamers who do not know how to make their dreams a reality.
There are certain sectors that need to be digitised or modernised for the general development of the country. The agriculture sector is one of the main areas that need to be developed. Does the government have any idea how to revolutionise this sector? Modern computerised procedure can make a difference in this sector. Our farmers depend on traditional tools and procedure and do not know how to get the maximum output from their lands. It is the agriculture sector to which the government should give its most serious attention.
'E-governance' is also something that we need to focus on, specifically. 'Digital Bangladesh' directly relates to 'e-governance' that ensures transparency and accountability of the government. All government activities should come to public knowledge and people should get all relevant information from government websites.
The government has recently declared that people can get all relevant information and that information will be available for all. Do we actually believe that we can get all government information even if we go to government offices? To ensure that the people really get the relevant information, such information should be flashed on the websites of the respective ministries.
The education sector should also be urgently modernised and developed. The government needs to make it sure that students and especially the university students get access to free and high-speed internet connection to get the real glimpse of the 21st century technologies.
All education institutions should be equipped with computer labs where students can get internet access. Students must have ICT knowledge and for this computer education should be made mandatory up to the HSC level.
Bangladesh looks forward to reaching a milestone in terms of ICT by 2021. Historically, the successor governments in our country do not appreciate or support the initiatives of their predecessors. Hence, a big responsibility devolves on this government to involve the opposition in the massive task of spreading ICT knowledge and developing the country technologically. We cannot build a 'Digital Bangladesh' overnight; it is obviously a long-term project.
The writer is an MBA student & Graduate Assistant at Ashland University, OH. He can be reached at: sahmed@ashland.edu