Digital Bangladesh

"Digital Bangladesh" means an ICT based modern country where there will be adequate power supply,
well-networked infrastructure, use of internet, use of open-source software, e-banking, e-commerce
and e-governance. Of late the phrase "Digital Bangladesh" has been much talked about especially during
the election campaign of the political parties targeting the ninth parliamentary election.

Origin of Digital Vision: On the eve of the election, Bangladesh Awami League, one of the major political
parties, first declared vision 2021with the aim to turn Bangladesh into a digital country by the next
decade. More than a month ago, the Bangladesh Computer Council also organized a computer fair with
the theme "Digital Bangladesh". It refers to an e-state where all its activities of governance, commerce,
education, agriculture etc will be powered by computer and internet. Different analyses of the electoral
results have revealed that the young generation who consist of more than one third of the voters had
indeed brought this overwhelming victory for AL. With many other reasons, implicitly it can be inferred
that voters of this generation while exercising their franchise considered party manifestos seriously.
Presumably the visionary approach of AL's manifesto, entitled 'a charter for change' might have allured
the young voters much, especially it's 'Vision 2021' which envisions 'Digital Bangladesh'.

Meaning of Digital Bangladesh: To cherish such a dream is easy, but it is too much difficult to materialize
this dream. Land phone, mobile, computer, laptop, e-magazine and diary, e-book reader and many more
tools of information technology will be available in every nook and corner of the country. People will no
more have to stand in queue to collect tickets, results etc or to deposit and withdraw money or to buy
and sell things. Broadly speaking, a digital society ensures an ICT driven knowledge-based society where
information will be readily available online and where all possible tasks of the government, semi-
government and also private spheres will be processed using the modern technology. So, "Digital
Bangladesh" must guarantee efficient and effective use of modem ICT in all spheres of the society with a
view to establishing good governance.

Why Digital Bangladesh: Due to globalization, Bangladesh has already been connected with the outside
world. Yet In the field of ICT, our only grand success lies in Mobile telecommunication which has brought
an abrupt change in telecommunication scenario of the country. However, in the other spheres of ICT,
our achievement is very insignificant and we are still far away from transforming ourselves into a
knowledge-based society. Building strong ICT infrastructure is the pre-requisite for making Bangladesh a
digital one. For this, we need to focus on the following relevant issues:

(a) Power deficit: Latest statistics reveal that Bangladesh faces a power deficit of up to 2000 MW against
a demand of 5000 MW daily. It may be noted that for proper ICT development an uninterrupted power
supply is a must.

(b) Network infrastructure: Outside Dhaka, at present a few computer network infrastructures have
been developed so far. Apart from some educational institutes outside Dhaka, observation finds that
most of the LAN setups are Dhaka centric. This observation reveals the reality of the digital gap even
within the country.
(c) Use of internet: For the ICT development internet users of the country must be increased. In this case
our position is the worst one among the South Asian countries. Latest statistics (2007) revealed that
internet penetration in our country is only 0.3 whereas in Pakistan and India it is 7.3% and 5.3%
respectively.

(d) Use of open source software: Many countries (e.g. France and Malaysia) have started to use open
source software in ICT development projects for cost effectiveness. Unfortunately in our ICT
development domain, the culture of using open source has not yet been introduced.

(e) English-literacy rate: From different sources, it has been learnt that, English literacy rate in
Bangladesh is less than one percent. In the arena of ICT English has become lingua-Franca.
Unfortunately, in this case our position is the worst in the sub-continent. For making a digital
Bangladesh by 2021, the government must address the above issues effectively and efficiently in
transparent manners. Moreover, the journey towards a digital country needs the incorporation of the
technologically solvent innovative young generation. If the leaders of our country objectively guide this
generation, they can change the nation radically.

(f) Better agricultural production: The farmers will use all types of modern motorized tools instead of
traditional equipments and their hand-driven tools to cultivate their lands. They will have to get ample
online help about producing more and more crops.

(g) Modern treatment: Patients will have to get telemedicine and tele-surgery facilities with the use of
audio and video conferencing based net. Besides, 24-hour online help will radically change the
traditional medical services.

(h) E-learning and e-commerce: All the educational and commercial institutions will come under a good
network system and the details of these institutions and their activities will be available on websites. E-
paper, digitised pen, e-book, pen drive and screen-touch tools will replace the traditional tools for many
different reasons.

How to materialise the vision: The government of the Bangladesh Awami League is very firm to ensure
100% net students enrolment at primary level within 2021. Supply of pure drinking water for the entire
population will be ensured within 2011. Bangladesh will gain self-sufficiency in food within 2012. Each
and every house of Bangladesh will be brought under hygienic sanitation in 2013. Moreover, within this
same year Bangladesh will generate 7000 megawatt of electricity which will be further increased to
8000 megawatt in 2015. And in 2021, 20000 megawatt of electricity will be generated. In 2013, degree
level education will be made tuition-free especially for women. Unemployment rate will be reduced to
l5% from 40% at present. Labour in agriculture will come down to 30% from 48% at present. Labour in
industry will be increased to 25% from 16% at present; in service 45% from 36% at present. Poverty rate
will be reduced to 15% from 45% at present. Bangladesh will be known as a country of educated people
with skills in information technology. 85% of the population will have standard nutritional food. The
poorer section of the people will have at least 2122 calories of food. All types of contagious diseases will
be eliminated; longevity of life expectancy will increase up to 70 years. Infant mortality will come down
to 15 from 54 per thousand at present. Maternal death rate will come down to 1.5% from 3.8%. Use of
birth control methods will be increased to 80%.

Conclusion: Time has come for Bangladesh to develop her information technology and to turn her
"Digital Bangladesh". We need to bear in mind that to be away from enriched information technology
means to live like a frog living in a well. We should look at the advanced countries of the world so that
we can get modern ways and strategies from them to bring about a revolution for our ICT based society.
Like Mahathir Muhammad's Malaysia, we have to have our all-out efforts to materialise our desired
Vision-2021 for our betterment and own existence.

4G network service launched

A new chapter of “digital Bangladesh” began through the introduction of fourth-generation (4G)
mobile internet in the country on Monday 19th February 2018.

Mobile phone operators started offering the fastest internet services immediately after receiving
the 4G/LTE licence in the evening from the telecom regulator at a ceremony, reports BSS.

Posts, telecommunications and information technology minister Mustafa Jabbar handed over the
licenses to state-owned Teletalk, Banglalink, Grameenphone and Robi.

Private operators - Grameenphone, Robi, and Banglalink - started offering the mobile broadband
to their customers in the capital with some other major cities immediately. However, Teletalk
may take a few days to launch the 4G service.

Prime minister’s ICT adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy greeted the mobile phone operators on the
auspicious occasion by sending a message.

Soon after getting the licence, market leader Grameenphone’s chief executive officer Michael
Foley announced the launch of 4G service through facebook live in selected areas of Dhaka city
and Chittagong, marking the beginning of its nationwide rollout of 4G services.

“Indeed this is a proud moment for us all in Bangladesh and a big milestone to the realization of
Digital Bangladesh,” said Foley after the launch.

Robi and Banglalink also launched 4G services in some parts of the country as well from the
event. Managing Director and CEO of Robi Mahtab Uddin Ahmed said they have covered 179
sites in different cities with the fastest internet service.

“4G will be available in the shortest possible time although eco-system is not ready for it set,” he
said. Robi announced 4G service will be available in all the district headquarters from today.
“This is a great day for us as we step into a new era of digital connectivity,” said Erik Aas, CEO
of Banglalink after the launch of the service. The third largest operator announced the launch of
4G services in Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna, and Sylhet covering over 200 sites.

After launching the 4G service, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission

(BTRC) chairman Shahjahan Mahmood said they will enact a directive on quality of service
guideline where minimum speed for this service will be declared as 7 Mbps and it will go for
tough on ensuring quality.

Mustafa Jabbar said mobile phone will be centre of providing government’s service which was
adopted during the formulation of digital Bangladesh campaign, and the move gets momentum
through the launching of 4G.

For enjoying this service customers mobile gadget needs to be 4G enabled and before that they
also need to replace their SIM with a 4G enabled one. However iPhone users may have to wait
for some days to enjoy the service, as Apple is yet to make “carrier setting update” for their
device for Bangladesh.

Earlier, before launching this service BTRC has arranged an auction where Grameenphone and
Banglalink bought spectrum while Robi and Teletalk have decided to launch this fastest data
service using their existing spectrum.

Mobile number portability

Mobile number portability (MNP) enables mobile telephone users to retain their mobile telephone
numbers when changing from one mobile network carrier to another.

What is MNP (Mobile Number Portability)?

MNP or mobile number portability, allows you to switch your mobile phone operator from one
mobile phone network provider to another mobile phone provider and keep your existing
mobile phone number... Yes, you can keep your existing mobile phone number. The process is
termed MNP or mobile number portability. It's quick and very easy to do - follow the
instructions above for full details on how to transfer (port) your mobile phone number to a new
mobile phone network provider.

MNP (mobile number portability) will incur a charge of Tk 30.

MNP will be available in Bangladesh from April 2018.