DEVELOPMENT OF ICT IN THE LAST DECADE & ITS ROLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF BANGLADESH

PRESENTED BYGROUP-RHINE93RD LAW AND ADMINISTRATION COURSE

MAMUNOOR RAHMANSAMSUN NAHARMD. MOSHAREF HOSSAINS.M. MUNIM LINCONTAHSINA NASRIN

INTRODUCTION

ICT is the vital point of any digital initiative. ICT covers the vast area of information technology, communication technology and of course the telecommunication technology; categorically processing of information and ensuring connectivity. Digital Bangladesh is an Idea that includes the IT use for management, administration and governance to ensure transparency, accountability and answerability at all levels of society and state.ICT is also a combination of physical backbone and intellect. Computer Systems, Network Machineries, Software, Wire and Wireless Connectivity Systems, Broadcast Hardware and many other Hardware and Accessories are the physical backbone. The trained human behind the backbone are the intellect.

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this paper is to get an idea about the development of ICT sector and its impact on the development of Bangladesh. There are some other specific objectives of the paper also. These are followings:To have clear idea about the overall development of ICT sector.To find out government initiative for the development of ICT sector. Socio economic impact of ICT development in Bangladesh.Factors that hampers the overall ICT development process.Measures to overcome the problemProspects of Bangladesh in ICT sector.

LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

As is the case with any research, readers need to consider the presented results within the context of limitations. Also, the process of posing and answering particular research questions typically generates more questions that need to be explored through further research. Most importantly with respect to the current research, readers need to remember that we considered only secondary data available; reference to others may have produced different results. The extent to which our findings can be generalized certainly requires further investigation. Besides there was extremely limited time to conduct a quality research, especially related to this vast area under scrutiny.

METHODOLOGY

The main sources of information in this study are secondary sources such as books, reports, publications of different organization, newspaper and internet. In addition to these, the outcome of group discussion among the members and their views has been incorporated in this study. The members were also depended on the supervisor for suggestions.

LITERATURE REVIEWTo achieving the Digital Bangladesh vision, is divided into four major inter-related components: Digital Government, Digital Education, e-Health Care, and Digital Business (Ananya Raihan, 2009).

e-Government is- “the use by government agencies of information technologies that has the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government.The resulting benefits can be less corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and/or cost reductions”. (Monem & Hasan 2012)

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. (Karim. A, Principal Secretary, 2010). (UNCTAD, 2008).

Continued

E-Agriculture helps in dissemination of gathered information to the farmers, mostly lived in rural areas, to use in their routine work (World Summit on the Information Society, Geneva 2003).

These services are provided and enhanced through the Internet and related technologies. The information disseminated by e-Agriculture can be divided into several major areas, which is called as services of e-Agriculture (Panchatopa D. and Karmakar C. K. 2006).

E-Health is a recent term refers for healthcare practice supported by Information and Communication Technology. But the term is not only about electronic processes. The term also covers some psycho-socio factors. (Eysenbach 2001)

ICT DEVELOPMENT IN LAST DECADE IN BANGLADESH

The government has only from 1997 started the process of developing a national ICT strategy.

In 2002 Bangladesh identified ICT as a "thrust sector”

INFRASTRUCTURE

Poor infrastructure is the biggest challenge for implementing the vision of a ‘Digital Bangladesh’.

The government has decided to build a tech park, WiFi zone, computer lab etc for the progress of ICT sector.

PC MARKET

The tablet is getting popular among people. The year 2012-13 has been the year for notebook and tablet PC .

PC sales specially tab and laptop in 2013-14 increased along with the widescreen smart phones.

SOFTWARE & OUTSOURCING

The earning from outsourcing IT jobs has increased by 56% in 2013 .According to BASIS officials, at present there are more than 500 software companies in the country. Of these, about 178 are doing outsourcing jobs. The country's ICT export exceeded 100 million US dollars in the last fiscal year . 

E-COMMERCE /M-COMMERCE

The growth rate of ecommerce sites has diminished that concern. Toady ecommerce sites are mushrooming to cater different aspects of individual needs.M-commerce or Mobile Commerce refers to wireless electronic commerce used for conducting commerce or business through a handy device like cellular phone or Personal Digital Assistant (PDAs).

3G AND TELCO

The commercial operation of 3-G mobile technology has been initiated. The number of mobile users has increased to 9.86 crore and internet users to 3.40 crore. Also tele-density and internet density have increased to 64.6% and 19.9%, respectively.

E- AGRICULTURE

E-agriculture involves the conceptualization, development, evaluation and application of innovative ways to use information and communication technologies with a focus on agriculture and infrastructural development.

Access to Information (a2i) Programme is an UNDP and USAID supported project (programme) having its office at the Prime Ministers’ Office. The overall objective of the project is to provide support in building a digital nation through delivering services at the citizen’s doorsteps.

NATIONAL PORTAL FRAMEWORK (NPF)

The National web Portal Framework (NPF) is the single platform for accessing all public information from any government organization to ensure easy accessibility for citizens, easy updating of data by non-technical personnel and sharing of data amongst various organizations.

UNION DIGITAL CENTER

Union Digital Center is newly established one-stop service outlets operating at all 4,547 Union Parishads. Services through UDC….Public exam resultsGovernment forms downloadBirth and death registrationOnline university admission

Employment informationVisa processing Video conferencingMobile Banking

DISTRICT E-SERVICE CENTERS

The District e-Service Centre (DESC) is an ICT facilitated one-stop service centre which provides an efficient electronic version of the century-old manual and heavily bureaucratic service delivery system at every DC office.

MULTIMEDIA CLASSROOM

a2i through public private partnership has so far established 500 multimedia classrooms in secondary schools and trained about 4500 teachers through 400 trainers of public training institutes.

JATIYO E-TATHYAKOSH

Access to Information (a2i) programme has taken the initiative to provide a one-stop solution for sharing livelihood-related information, through an online knowledge bank, the Jatiyo e-Tathyakosh (www.infokosh.gov.bd).

E-PURJEE

E-Purjee is a SMS-based purchase order that sugar mills all over the country send to sugarcane growers during crushing season.

NESS (NATIONAL E-SERVICE SYSTEM)

The National e-Service System (NESS) is an initiative to consolidate all government e-Services within one framework. The NESS framework will accommodate all services offered by the government of Bangladesh to its citizens.

E-GOVERNANCE

Uses of ICT in Public Service and in Public Administration

E-TIN

NBR provide opportunity to collect TIN Certificate from Online. By this way one can collect TIN Certificate from his own PC. It is easy way.and fill-up the form online and you can get your TIN Certificate.http://secure.incometax.gov.bd/TINHome

ONLINE MEDIA

Digital media, which includes news updates, photos, videos distributed over the internet which are either non-copyrighted or copyrighted materials provided either freely or for a fee.

MACHINE READABLE PASSPORT (MRP)MACHINE-READABLE VISA (MRV)

The Bangladesh Government has implemented a project to replace 6.6 million Bangladeshi passports with new Machine-Readable Passports. According to a guideline of The International Civil Aviation Organization Machine-Readable Passport (MRP) and Machine-readable Visa (MRV) issue started by Bangladesh Government from April, 2010.

E-TICKETING

Recently introduced in public sector. Very much useful for mass people. It saves time, energy, working hour. People also get rid of from black market.

Example: Bangladesh Railway, For reservation for bus sit, reservation system in air service.

TELE MEDICINE

• A process where expert medical advice is accessed though the use of communication technology depend on needs of user.• include e-mail, internet, digital real time video.• introduced in 1999 in Bangladesh.• Bangladesh using this system for the treatment of •ENT, General surgery, Nephrology, Neurology, Gynecology, Ophthalmology etc.

E- TENDERING

procurement process may not work properly for which government introduced e- tendering. encompasses total procurement life cycle ensure transparency and mass participation.

E-BANKING

•All type of business perform through electronic network.• business to business and business to customer.• Automatic deposit and withdrawal of money•Quick transfer of fund•Instructing the broker•Balance inquiry. • mobile banking: B kash, M kash.

E- LEARNING

educational and commercial institutions come under good network system.

Available on websiteE-paper, digitized pen, pen drive, screen touch

ON LINE BIRTH/ DEATH REGISTRATION

manual and online system. required only relevant document have to pay 50 taka(more than 18 years).

CHALLENGESBangladesh is facing various obstacles to the promotion and implementation of ICT. Major challenges include:

Poor ICT infrastructureLack of public awarenessLow literacy rate or poor basic educationLow ICT knowledgePower deficitLack of IT trainingHigh-cost, lower liability of internet accessWide spread corruption

Lack of IT fundsPolitical instability or lack of political willSlow decision- making processAbsence of self- help culturePrivacy concerns or securityStart up cost very highLack of adequate hardwareLack of adequate connectivity

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

FOR PROMOTION:Exemption of Tax/VAT on Computer Hardware and SoftwareDeregulation of Telecom Sector & Establishment of BTRCInstallation of Digital Data Network in all Districts, Upazilas and Union level

For HRD: ICT training for the government employeesComputer training for secondary school/college teachersICT Internship program to provide on the Job training to new graduates

FOR INFRASTRUCTURE: Steps to establish central data center to last all government website and dataEstablishment of ICT Incubator for the Development of Software and ICT enable servicesHi-Tech Park- A would class Hi Tech Park will be established on 231 acres of land near Dhaka with all modern facilities

RECOMMENDATIONS

Public websites should be interactive so that they engage citizens as well as serve them.Provide Website, E-Mail and Phone based Government Services.Must have strong road map.Reduce internet and local bandwidth costs: All sorts of network bandwidth costs must be drastically reduced.Government should take initiatives to minimize digital divide within the country.Every organization should have strong IT division.Must have structured IT posts with handsome salary. Technical infrastructures should be flexible, etc.