16th Int'l Conf.
Computer and Information Technology, 8-10 March 2014, Khulna, Bangladesh
E-Governance Using Social Network
A Model for Strong Democratic Environment in Bangladesh
Md. Amer Muntaq Ganim
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Khulna University of Engineering & Technology
Khulna, Bangladesh
ganim09@yahoo.com
AbstractIn recent years, investigating national incidents of
Bangladesh it has been seen that social network played a vital
role. Though social network sites like Facebook, Twitter, and
Google+ are mainly used for connecting people all over the world
but they are now being used for advertisements, news updates
and for various important purposes of day to day happenings.
Microblogging is getting more and more popular among
educated and conscious people of Bangladesh. It is becoming
another popular media which can provide entertainment and
knowledge sharing about anything. Social Networking Sites
(SNS) has become rendezvous of different people, different
beliefs and interests to share and discuss. In this circumstance
here we propose a model of e-governance using SNS for
democratic Bangladesh perspective. Direct interaction between
citizens and government can strengthen democracy.
Accountability and transparency of politicians and government-
workers can be ensured by flow of information to citizens of
various developing activities. This paper proposes a model
concerning these matters, in order to reduce corruption using a
government controlled SNS.
KeywordsSNS (Social Network Sites), E-governance,
Democracy, Transparency, E-Democracy, ICT (Information and
Communication Technology), G2C (Government to Citizens).
I. INTRODUCTION
E-governance is the idea to connect root people with the
government directly using web. There are several synonyms of
e-governance including digital government, one-stop
government and online government [3]. It is the use of modern
information and technologies such as internet, local area
networks and mobile phones by governments to improve
effectiveness, efficiency for service delivery and to promote
democracy. The objective of e-governance is to support and
ease things for all parties. Its main purpose is to make a
government more citizens centered. E-governance enables
citizens to access government services and information
through the use of internet or mobile phones. It brings
transparency and reduces corruption. The government of
Bangladesh is trying to build an e-government backbone. To
keep pace with the modern world and to ensure a digitalized
governance system, the government of Bangladesh identified
four elements to give priority: e-governance, e-learning, e-
commerce, e-citizen [1]. Already people of Bangladesh are
enjoying some e-governance service. They are getting various
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Md. Kamruzzaman
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
Khulna University of Engineering & Technology
Khulna, Bangladesh
mkzaman12@hotmail.com
results of public examination through mobile phones and
websites. Many national institutions have their own websites.
National web portal have been launched, so people can
oversee the activities of government [15].
The term democracy originates from Greek word
dmokrata which means rule of the people. Democracy is
a form of government in which all eligible citizens have an
equal say in the decisions that affects their lives. Democracy
allows eligible citizens to participate equally, either directly or
through elected representativesin the proposal,
development, and creation of laws. It encompasses social,
economic and cultural conditions that enable the free and
equal practice of political self-determination [16]. Modern
political democracy is a system of governance in which rulers
are held accountable for their actions in the public realm by
citizens, acting indirectly through the competition and
cooperation of their elected representatives [17]. But in the
age of internet we learned about a new form of democracy, e-
democracy. E-democracy is the use of information and
communications technologies (ICT) and strategies by
democratic sectors within the political process of local
communities, states, regions, nations and on the global stages.
Here the term democratic sectors means governments,
elected persons, media, political parties, interested groups,
civil society organizations, citizens and voters [18].
Bangladesh is practicing democracy more than a decade.
Political parties also practicing e-democracy, they have their
own websites and they are using social network to spread their
news and holding election campaign. The use of internet-
based social media programs that connects friends, family,
classmates, customers and clients is known as social network.
At present many social network sites are available such as
Facebook, Twitter, Google+ etc. and they are playing a vital
role. Social network now not only connects people and creates
community but also has become a way of advertisement. Even
political movements starts from social network. For example,
we can say about Tahrir square in Egypt and Shahbagh
movement in Bangladesh [19] [20]. In Bangladesh there are
more than 3 million people who are connected to different
social network, especially Facebook [13]. From the above
discussion this paper proposes a model to develop a strong
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democratic environment in Bangladesh by connecting e-
governance, democracy and social network.
II. RELATED WORKS
It has been seen that a lot of researches have been done in
the scope of e-governance. To strengthen the connection
between government and citizens using new technology is the
main objective of e-governance. In the late 1990s the e-gov
(Electronic Government or Electronic Governance) field arose
as a new idea [3]. A brief discussion on the history of e-gov,
current status of e-gov in 2004, content of the field as it
appears in current research is done by author Thomas A.
Horan [3]. In [12], authors present the concept of e-
governance to describe and analyse local ICT policy and the
role of various stakeholders in it and analyse the way
European urban policymakers guide their city into the
information age. Basic problems, major issues for
implementing and acceptability of e-governance in India have
been explained in the research by author Sanjay Kumar
Dwivedi.
So there are a lot of researches on e-governance from
history to implementing issues, problems, acceptability, new
models for e-governance with different perspectives to
different countries. E-governance using existing SNS
technology for improving e-government services and
proposing a model and guidelines for improving Serbian
regional government entities social networks appearance in
Serbia is the recent research on e-governance scope [5].
Bangladesh as a developing country and for coping with the
technologies and challenging world there are also many
researches on e-governance to improve Bangladesh.
Researching based on surveying of high ranked employees
of various government organizations and politicians of
oppositions and ruling parties of Bangladesh to find their ideas
about E-governance authors proposed recommendation for
improving e-governance in Bangladesh [6].
Launching of e-governance by Bangladesh government,
opinions about e-governance in Bangladesh, capability of
existing institutions to implement e-governance, challenges of
practicing e-governance initiatives are discussed by author
Mohammed Asaduzzaman [7].
In [8] authors have discussed on the issues that are the
impediments of implementing e-governance and provide
specific recommendations for implementing e-governance in
the most feasible, cost-effective, and efficient manner in
Bangladesh.
In [10], authors proposed a model of e-governance where
main goal is to implement e-governance in a flexible and cost
effective manner to suit with current infrastructure in
Bangladesh to provide better information and service delivery
of the government to the public; and hence promote
democratic practices through public participation and
consultation for urban and rural areas of Bangladesh.
In [9], authors researched on e-government for developing
country and identified and analysed the challenges and
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opportunities of the initiative of e-government in developing
countries.
In [11], authors present a proposal of a justifiable,
feasible and effective framework for implementing e-
governance by ensuring maximum utilization of existing
infrastructure as well as providing a parallel initiation of the
re-engineering process in Bangladesh.
From above discussion it is concluded that a many of
researches have been done on e-governance in Bangladesh in
different sectors. And our proposed model of e-governance
will be new to Bangladesh that will help to strengthen
democracy.
III. CONNECTIONS AMONG E-GOVERNANCE,
DEMOCRACY AND SNS(SOCIAL NETWORKING SITES)
Government is the institution which decides different
issues in national and international manner in order to develop
a nation and to increase the standard of livelihood of the
citizens. We can say a government is democratic when it is
decided by the citizens of a country. Citizens elect their
representative through direct vote in a democratic government
system. Bangladesh, where at present democratic government
system is going on over a decades but democratic environment
is absent in most cases. Peoples participation, participating in
decision making as a source of power is democracy. But in
Bangladesh this aspect is not available. Peoples relation with
the government is happened in two activities while casting
vote for election and giving tax [18]. After being elected by
the citizens, most of the representatives do not have any
connection with the citizens. Many causes are responsible for
this. Indifference of public representatives and unwillingness
of citizens both are responsible for this. As an overpopulated
country it seems impossible for an elected person to pay heed
to everyones problem. Bureaucratic complexity and lack of
political moral keep away leaders from changing public needs
and priorities [18]. For tedious activities in government offices
people want to avoid them. So public problems and demands
remains unknown. It hinders the main mantra of democracy.
Democratic environment is greatly hampered in Bangladesh
for the distance between government and citizens.
Government is trying various paths to connect with the
people and to give them services. To make things easier
government is using websites, mobile phones, social media to
keep connect with the citizens, and usage of this digital
process is known as e-governance. The main problem of this
e-governance system is it is one-sided. Government keeps
connection with the people but people can not connect directly
with the government by e-governance. From Figure-1, we can
see government passing information to citizens through digital
media but citizen only works here as a receiver. They can not
participate in any discussion to opine in this e-governance
system.
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16th Int'l Conf. Computer and Information Technology, 8-10 March 2014, Khulna, Bangladesh
citizen government
e-governance
services
Fig. 1. Relation between citizens and government in existing e-governance
services
To make citizen, an active participant through e-
governance we propose a model of a Social Networking Site
(SNS). SNS are widely used for connecting people with each
other. From Figure-2, we can observe here a two sided
communication and active participation of citizens where
existing e-governance system are one-sided. So, by e-
governance using a government controlled SNS it is possible
to eradicate the distance of the government and the citizens
where Bangladesh can create a more suitable democratic
environment.
citizen government
e-governance
using SNS
Fig. 2. Relationship between citizens and government using SNS as e-
governance
IV. PROPOSED MODEL:SNS FOR GOVERNMENT
E-governance is composed of three major components are
G2G (government to government), G2C (government to
citizen) and G2B (government to Business) [2], [6]. G2C
covers citizens interaction with government [6]. Proposed
model emphasizes on government to citizen issues and it is
designed to eradicate the existing problems of democracy in
Bangladesh. The model is essentially a SNS like Facebook,
but we propose to develop a different SNS officially for e-
governance in Bangladesh.
As Facebook is the largest and most popular existing SNS,
government could use Facebook for e-governance but
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proposed model does not appreciate it because as this is an
internal connection between the citizen and the government of
Bangladesh. So the government has to build a new SNS which
will act almost same as Facebook. By the term will act
almost same as Facebook, it expresses that the behaviour of
the SNS will be like Facebook but the administrative and
controlling will differ.
The model is based on two essential components: profiles
and pages. Profiles represent citizens and pages represent
government organizations, ministries and political parties etc.
This model gives the framework and functionality of profiles
and pages of this proposed SNS.
A. Profiles layout and functionalities
Proposed SNS comprises two types of profiles: citizen
profiles and PR (Public Representative) profiles. Citizens of
Bangladesh, having national identity card can have a citizen
profile. As this SNS is government controlled and designed
for discussing national issues, to avoid unwanted profile,
verifying using national identity card seems feasible. A citizen
profile can subscribe PR profiles or pages. When they would
be logged in the SNS they can see posts given by their
subscribed pages or PR profiles in the news feed. The term
news feed defines the first page seen by a user after logging
into a SNS. User having a citizen profile can comment on a
post submitted by his/her subscribed pages or public
representative profiles. User can subscribe new pages or PR
profiles as well as can unsubscribe the previous subscriptions.
Every user is eligible to post in the discussion forum attached
with every page. The type of post can be texts, photos or
videos. Subscriber of a particular page can also participate in a
discussion post by other users. Every citizen profile must give
some information about itself which can be seen by others.
Public representative profiles are provided by controlling
organization of the SNS. Here public representatives are
elected member of parliaments, mayor of city corporations,
UP chairman and all types of elected members who are elected
through direct election participated by the citizen of
Bangladesh. The owner of a specific PR profile will change if
necessary and it will be controlled by administration of the
SNS. User having a PR profile will also has his/her own
citizen profile. The main difference between a PR profile and
a citizen profile is that a PR profile can post his opinion like a
page can do where a citizen profile can only comment on
posts. PR profile can also comment, subscribe to other PR
profiles or pages. Another vital issue of a PR profile is that
the user must share his election manifest and electoral
affidavit in his/her profile. He/she will give his source of
income, educational background and participation in various
social works. User of a PR profile can share a message with
the citizen through his profile to share his view and thinking.
B. Pages layout and functionalities
Every ministry of government and governmental
institution will share their activities with the citizen through a
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page. The managing administration of the SNS will provide while necessary. Governmental institutions like city
the system of a page to the authority of a particular ministry or corporations, divisional offices, district offices etc. will
institution. provide information contacts about the area such as contacts of
police, fire brigade, tax office, passport etc. The pages will
post their day to day happenings of their sector and flow the
information to the citizens of Bangladesh. Government must
ensure that every single information about public affairs come
Citizen online. Citizens having citizen profile can comment on these
profiles PR
profiles
posts and can express their joy, grief, opinions like other
social networks. Pages hold the power to keep active this SNS.
In every page, there is a discussion board, where citizens can
discuss on a certain topic. Pages can launch public survey
through the SNS.
Figure 3 shows the basic structure of the SNS that
Every Ministrys
government will use. Circle shows the profiles and rectangle
Pages
shows the pages of SNS.
V. A CASE STUDY
Every Divisions
Pages
Server,
Database,
Lets assume, Ministry of Finance sanctions one billion
Maintenance taka for providing infrastructure of primary education and give
SNS Every Districts it to Ministry of Education. Both of the ministries will share
Pages this information with the citizen through their SNS page. Then
when it will go to the divisional region, each division shares
their information about this on their page. Following this rule,
Every Wards the very root level of institution will also provide their
Pages information. Citizens who subscribed these pages can
comment on this action and can also opine in discussion
forum. The anti-corruption commission and political parties
Every Upazillas
keep close eyes on these events and can take necessary steps
Pages according to public opinion. By following this, citizens can
know the information of an act to the very high to the very
root level and transparency can be maintained easily. These
Every Unions processes are just like a tree, where the transparency between
Pages each child node and parent node can ensure the transparency
of the whole system and information can reach to very root
citizens and ensure a strong democratic environment where
Every Government everybody can access information they want, can opine and
Organizations thus participate e-democracy being a e-citizen.
Pages
Ministry of
Different Finance
government e-
services Pages
Ministry of
Every registered Different Pages Education
Political Partys that government
Pages wants to launch

Division of Division of Division of

Fig. 3. Block diagram of the basic structure of proposed SNS. Dhaka Khulna Chittagong

Registered political parties will also get a page for their

own purpose including election campaign. At the time of
launching, the pages must contain some necessary Jamalpur Jessore Rangamati Bandarban
information, such as in case of a ministry, it consists of name District District District District
and profiles of responsible figures of the structure of the
ministry including the minister and bureaucrats. It also Fig. 4. Flow of information tree.
provides important contacts so that anybody can access them

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VI. ANALYSIS OF THE PROPOSED MODEL
Proposed model is fully related with the technology of
SNS which may be handled and maintained by ICT
(Information & Communication Technology) ministry.
Bangladesh as developing country it will be very expensive
for the infrastructures and maintenance cost. In the sense of
corruption people behind this project who will maintain this
will have to be honest persons. Issues of inadequate ICT
infrastructures, unwillingness of government officials, power
shortage, inefficient panning, Lack of awareness, absence of
central powerful ICT wing, lower literacy rate, inadequate
human resource, absence of effective legal framework, natural
disasters, limited connectivity with high cost and low
reliability, lack of reliable maintenance, lack of regulatory
framework are the main impediments of implement the model
[8]. These are some lacking of implementing SNS for
Bangladesh, but it is possible if corruption can be handled by
Anti-Corruption Commission of Bangladesh. Most of the
educated and conscious people of Bangladesh are connected
via most popular SNS Facebook. They posted their opinions
and feelings in Bangla texts on different national issues using
available Bangla keyboard via their computers, laptop, mobile
phones etc. Investigating recent years activities in Facebook,
Bangladeshi users raised their voices via Facebook and still
now they are discussing, criticizing, checking, talking,
surveying, and sharing different national issues. Statistics
(October 29, 2012) shows that Bangladesh is the 48th country
in the world basis of the number of Facebook users [13].
There are 3.29 million Facebook users where internet users are
8,054,190 in Bangladesh in the end of 2012 [13]. Figure 5
shows the Facebook users in Bangladesh according to age
[14]. So internet users and educated people are increasing in
Bangladesh.
s
Fig. 5. Facebook users in Bangladesh according to age
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From figure 5 it is seen that maximum users are 18-24
years. And perspectives of Bangladesh, in the age 18-24
maximum are students of Bangladesh [14]. Students are the
future of the country but many of the students of Bangladesh
spend many times in Facebook for entertainment but they are
also conscious about their country. This time can be utilized
besides entertainment if proposed model is implemented in
Bangladesh. Student politics should not have to be banned
rather it will be limited to online for developing purpose like
checking out atrocity of government or other political parties
etc. For election maximum time people dont know about the
nominee who is bad or good for country. Even sometimes we
have to vote without knowing him properly but e-governance
can give them a profile where nominee can submit electoral
affidavit or his information about him by which we can get a
good knowledge about him though people never see him in
front of them. And ICT and Anti-Corruption Commission will
check the information that public representative has given to
SNS is right or wrong. Using this people can get connected
with each other and make unity among them for any
development of Bangladesh and social media can coverage of
activities of this SNS. Authors have made a survey among
around 1100 Facebook users where 82% are students of
different universities of Bangladesh 1% are students of MSc
and Ph.D. in abroad and rest of them are job holders. The
survey contains three questions about this model. Questions
are in the TABLE 1. We created a form of these three
questions in Google docs. Then, we shared the questions in
Facebook publicly for mass participation.
TABLE 1. QUESTION USED IN SURVEY
Question NO. Questions
1. All of the developing information of Bangladesh
that government is working on which is your right
to know, if you get that in SNS will it be helpful
for you? Yes or No?
2. Discussion, criticizing, suggestions, making
decisions on Government works is your rights as a
citizen of democratic country. For this reason if
government take step to develop any SNS then do
you want to connect with that? Yes or No?
3. People will more eager to discuss on national
issues in Government SNS than existing SNS like
Facebook or Twitter. Yes or No?
Figure 6 shows the survey result that 98.31% wants
information about the development workings of government,
and the vital thing is 89.83% people wants to connect with the
proposed SNS for Bangladesh government but on the basis of
popularity and entertainment 37.29% people thinks that people
will not eager to discussing on national issues in proposed
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SNS. But the majority thinks that people will be eager to
discuss on national issues in proposed SNS.
Fig. 6. Surveying among Facebook users basis of three questions about
proposed model
VII. CONCLUSIONS
Although, the objectives and intensions of e-governance is
good and it ensures involvement of the citizen with nation but
due to some environmental, financial, economic and moral
limitations it is causing inconvenience and citizens do not get
the proper ramification. This paper proposed an overview of a
model that will ensure the G2C and reduction of corruption in
Bangladesh. Transparency of a democratic government is the
main propaganda in proposed model but the fate of e-
governance is fully depended on officials and public
representative of Bangladesh. Citizens of Bangladesh
becoming more educated and conscious and our survey clearly
shows that they want to involve with the government activities
directly by electronic services of government. In this era of
technology Bangladesh as a developing country will have to
cope with e-governance where our proposed model will help
to build a better democratic country by ensuring transparency
and reducing corruption.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors are thankful to those who have participated on
the survey related to this paper and special regards goes to Dr.
Faijul Amin for his thoughtful advices.
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