🇧🇩 ICT Industry in Bangladesh (38 Viewers)

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Information technology in Bangladesh

The information technology sector in Bangladesh had its beginnings in nuclear research during the 1960s. Over the next few decades, computer use increased at large Bangladeshi organizations, mostly with IBM mainframe computers. However, the sector only started to get substantial attention during the 1990s. Today the sector is still in a nascent stage, though it is showing potential for advancement. Nonetheless, Bangladesh IT/ITES industry has fared comparatively well by achieving US$1.3 billion export earnings in FY 2020-21 and holding US$1.4 billion equivalent market share in the local market contributing 0.76 per cent to the GDP creating more than 1 million employment opportunities so far amid Covid-19 havoc that suddenly shattered businesses last year. Consequently, riding on the successes of IT/ITES sector-supported export-led industries as well as pro-private sector and conducive policies pursued by Bangladesh Government, the country is now poised to become a Developing Country by 2026, as recommended by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UNCDP), besides, Bangladesh now seeks to transform itself into a knowledge-based and 4IR-driven cashless economy, aiming to become a developed country by 2041. The Bangladesh government has formulated a draft 'Made in Bangladesh– ICT Industry Strategy' aimed at turning Bangladesh into an ICT manufacturing hub, enhancing export of local products, attracting foreign investment and creating employment proposing to implement in three Notif-info terms— short term from 2021 to 2023, mid-term from 2021 to 2028 and long term from 2021 to 2031 for implementation of the 65 action plans.

History

The first computer in East Pakistan was an IBM mainframe 1620 series, installed in 1964 at the Dhaka center of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (later the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission). Computer use increased in the following years, especially after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971; more-advanced IT equipment began to be set up in different educational, research and financial institutions. In 1979, a computer centre, later renamed Department of Computer Science & Engineering, was established at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET); the centre has been playing a pivotal role in Bangladeshi IT education since its inception. Through the introduction of personal computers, the use of computers witnessed a rapid increase in the late 1980s. In 1985, succeeding several individual initiatives, the first Bengali script in computers was invented, paving the way for more intense computer activities. In 1995, use of the Internet began and locally made software started to be exported.

In 1983, the Ministry of Science and Technology established a National Computer Committee to create the required policies. The committee was also responsible to carry out programs to expand and promote the efficacious use of the sector. In 1988, the committee was replaced by the National Computer Board. In 1990, the ministry reformed the board and reconstituted it as the Bangladesh Computer Council to monitor computer- and IT-related works in the country.

ICT industry

The ICT industry is a relatively new sector in the country's economy. Though it is yet to make tangible contributions in the national economy, it is an important growth industry. The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) was established in 1997 as the national trade body for software and IT service industry. Starting with only 17 member companies, by 2009 membership had grown to 326. In a study among Asian countries by Japan International Cooperation Agency in 2007–08, Bangladesh was ranked first in software and IT services competitiveness and third in competencies, after India and China. The World Bank, in a study conducted in 2008, projected triple digit growth for Bangladesh in IT services and software exports. Bangladesh was also listed as one of the top 30 Countries for Offshore Services in 2010–2011 by Gartner. The Internet penetration has also grown to 21.27 percent in 2012, up from 3.2 percent three years prior.

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector of the country has maintained 57.21 percent export growth on an average over the last nine years since 2009. In the fiscal year (FY) 2016–17, Bangladesh ICT sector registered export earnings worth US$0.8 billion from the global market and US$1.54 billion from the domestic market span – thereby making around one percent contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP). The ICT sector has created around three hundred thousand job opportunities so far. ICT exports of the country are also projected to reach US$5 billion by 2025.

As the Internet usage increases, the government expects the IT sector to add 7.28 percent to GDP growth by 2021.

 

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[Bilal9]

The fastest-growing countries for software development, according to GitHub​

New data shows a rising tide of coders in Bangladesh and Nigeria.​

Waldo Swiegers/Bloomberg/Getty Images
By RUSSELL BRANDOM
5 FEBRUARY 2024

• GitHub has released new data tracking developer accounts by country.
• Year over year, the data shows Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Pakistan had the fastest-growing developer population.

For developers around the world, a busy GitHub profile is one of the best ways to land a programming job. The platform is one of the largest hubs for software development globally, split between public repositories (or repos) used for open-source collaboration and closed repos open only to project participants.

But while GitHub has long been used to assess individual programmers, the platform’s data also shows the developer contributions of every country on Earth, painting an interesting picture of which nations are rising the fastest. GitHub releases the data quarterly as part of a project it calls the Innovation Graph, with the most recent batch of data released on January 18.

For some countries, the data shows a surprising jump in the number of active developers over just the past year. In the three months leading up to September 2023, 945,696 Bangladeshi developers made code contributions to public GitHub repos. Over the same period in 2022, only 568,145 developers in the country made contributions, making for a year-over-year jump of nearly two-thirds. It’s the largest proportional increase for any country in the world.

Like any data set, it comes with limitations: This data only measures public repos, which make up less than half the overall activity on the platform. But GitHub’s own analysts told Rest of World the split is fairly consistent across countries, and private activity tends to rise and fall with public activity.
Even GitHub itself is only a fraction of the software development happening in a given country. But the data shows a rising tide of programming in countries long ignored by much of the Western tech industry.


To find the fastest-growing countries, Rest of World compared developer figures from the most recent three-month period (covering September through December 2023) to the same period the previous year. We also disqualified countries with fewer than 500,000 active developer accounts in the most recent quarter, removing outliers like Vatican City or the Mariana Islands that put up big percentages with only negligible gains in absolute terms.

It’s a different view from the absolute figures published by GitHub, which show the U.S. in the lead with 20.2 million developers, followed by India (13.3 million), China (6.9 million), and Brazil (5.4 million). These are the high-GDP nations that typically dominate the tech industry, and the figures dwarf smaller countries like Bangladesh and Nigeria, both of which represent fewer than 1 million accounts.

The harder question is what it means for countries to suddenly see a surge of GitHub contributors. A surging population of public contributors might suggest a rising tech sector, with more developers resulting in more contributions. But it might also represent a decline in actual work, as developers turn to unpaid work on public repos after paid work disappears.

Mike Linksvayer, GitHub’s vice president of developer policy, told Rest of World it was hard to say what the numbers meant for tech workers in a given country. “Is more public developer activity a leading or trailing indicator for other kinds of development?” he said, reframing the question. “It might be leading for some and trailing for others.”

Still, the countries highlighted by GitHub’s data show many other signs of growing pools of tech talent. In Bangladesh, a steady rise in GDP has also seen millions of young people gaining access to digital tools for the first time, fueling the country’s IT sector and boosting companies like bKash that can build infrastructure for the transition. As one ed-tech founder told Rest of World, “We’ve got 180 million people and 90 million people below the age of 25.”

In Nigeria, high-flying startups like Opay, Jumia, and Flutterwave have produced their own wave of software development projects, funded by both venture capital interest and government investment. In that context, it’s no surprise that platforms like GitHub would see a surge of Nigerian developers.
“The potential is amazing,” a local investor told Rest of World in December. “We have young people that can be trained. We have real problems that can be addressed using digital technology innovation.”

 

[Bilal9]

Grameenphone launches 'Super Core' data center in Bangladesh​

12 months after construction commenced

February 07, 2024 By Georgia Butler

Bangladeshi telco Grameenphone has launched its first 'Super Core' data center in Sylhet, Bangladesh.

– Getty Images

The Grameenphone (GP) data center is described as a Tier III standard facility (though not listed as Uptime certified), and has an IT capacity of 4MW.

Construction started in January 2023 on the Super Core Data Center which is a joint effort between GP and ZTE. It was officially launched on January 30, 2024.

The facility is supposedly the largest owned by a mobile network operator in the country.

Yasir Azman, CEO of GP, said: "This facility not only confirms our pledge to lead the way in technological innovations but also demonstrates our devotion to putting our customers first in every aspect of our work, guaranteeing a future of technological progress and reliability in delivering a superior customer experience."

"The SCDC is like the body's heart. It needs to be safe and healthy to support the business," said ZTE managing director of engineering service Ma Liang.

"The data center uses the best and most innovative technology in the industry. It has multiple levels of protection to ensure its reliability. It will also be the first private sector Telco Data Center in Bangladesh to meet the Uptime Tier-III standard which follows the principles of saving energy and reducing emissions with a smart energy management system that makes it efficient and eco-friendly."

The data center uses NOVEC gas for auto fire suppression, and a monitoring system with intrusion detection capabilities to ensure security at the site.

GP is a joint venture between Norwegian telco Telenor and Grameen Telecom Corporation. Telenor owns a 55.8 percent share of the company, which has been operating in Bangladesh for 25 years. The company currently holds around a 46.3 percent revenue market share in the country, with 79 million subscribers as of 2022.

According to Data Center Journal, Bangladesh has 16 data centers in its capital city Dhaka.

Despite a fairly minimal colocation market in the country, there are local players such as Felicity IDC and Red.Digital, while the government operates an Uptime Tier IV-certified data center in the capital.

In February 2023, Indian data center firm Yotta Infrastructure announced plans to invest 20 billion Bangladeshi Taka ($190.5m) in developing a hyperscale data center park in Dhaka in the next four to six years. In September, Saudi firm DataVolt announced it was planning a campus in the country just outside the capital city for which it would invest around $100m.

 

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Video on Felicity Data Center

 

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Software and ITES provider urge for extension of tax exemption until 2031

Software and IT Enabled Service (ITES) providers yesterday urged the government to extend the income tax exemption applicable to them by six years until 2031 in order to help the nation achieve its vision for a Smart Bangladesh by 2041.

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Software and ITES provider urge for extension of tax exemption until 2031​

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for telecom and ICT, and Russell T Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services, pose for photographs with ICT industry people at an event celebrating the 25th anniversary of the trade body in the capital yesterday. Photo: collected

Software and IT Enabled Service (ITES) providers yesterday urged the government to extend the income tax exemption applicable to them by six years until 2031 in order to help the nation achieve its vision for a Smart Bangladesh by 2041.

At present, the government offers tax breaks to software and ITES sector entrepreneurs.​

​

But the privilege is going to expire on June 30 this year, Russell T Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), said during the national trade body's 25th-anniversary ceremony held at GreenVill Outdoors in Dhaka.

BASIS began its journey in 1998 with just 18 members. Today, it has nearly 2,500 members who play a role in the development of local software and IT services, expansion of access to international markets, and promotion of digital development.

Ahmed added that BASIS had made great strides towards social and economic development through technology-based innovation, making greater use of the benefits of the digital economy.

"ICT is the nucleus of the Smart Bangladesh vision. From agriculture, manufacturing, trading to education, all these sectors will have to implement ICT solutions to become smart within 2041," he said.

Ahmed said the current income tax exemption has been instrumental in propelling Bangladesh towards its digital aspirations.

"Exemption until 2031 would significantly facilitate the journey towards a Smart Bangladesh. Furthermore, offering tax incentives and streamlining the enlistment process for prominent IT enterprises in order to lure recent graduates would further incentivise growth and innovation in the sector," he said.

"The competitive edge of the ICT sector, unlike other industries, relies solely on human resources possessing global and future-oriented ICT skills," he stressed.

The BASIS president also said the establishment of an R&D and innovation fund is vital to transitioning from a knowledge process outsourcing (KPO) and business process outsourcing (BPO) model to a product and service-oriented ICT model.

He also suggested a BASIS-led cross-country comparative study financed by government grants to assess the demand for ICT skills, and effective restructuring of the computer science education system.

"Re-evaluate and augment national ICT competencies administered by the National Skills Development Authority to align with dynamic industry requirements," Ahmed said.

BASIS said it was also targeting training initiatives, internship support, and dedicated grant funds to facilitate the transition of participants into industry-ready professionals.

Additionally, he sought the institution of a supplementary wage policy to incentivise greater female engagement in the ICT sector, alongside recommending the establishment of a dedicated grant fund to support micro and small ICT firms in recruiting fresh graduates.

"Through collaborative efforts and strategic initiatives, the nation is poised to embrace the boundless opportunities that lie ahead, ensuring a bright and prosperous future for generations to come," he said.

He said Bangladesh is embarking on a transformative journey and that the roadmap towards a Smart Bangladesh by 2041 encompasses multifaceted strategies to propel growth in the IT sector.

For example, the global export market for software and ITES is growing and is projected to register $600 billion by the end of the year. If only 3.4 percent can be captured by readying our human resources and private sector, then Bangladesh can earn more than $20 billion within a few years to come. This can be observed as a milestone achievement, especially when we are facing a crunch in our forex reserve.

Addressing this potential, to ensure our comprehensive growth in exports, the BASIS president suggested a framework termed "3 by 3".

"This approach involves conducting research to identify target markets and products, promoting products through marketing and sales efforts, and cultivating a skilled workforce to seize growth opportunities," he said.​

 

[Saif]

OpenAI valued at $80 billion after deal, NYT reports

OpenAI has completed a deal that values the AI company at $80 billion or more

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OpenAI valued at $80 billion after deal, NYT reports​

Microsoft-backed OpenAI has completed a deal that values the artificial intelligence company at $80 billion or more, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing people with knowledge of the deal.

The company would sell existing shares in a so-called tender offer led by venture firm Thrive Capital, the report,said.

Under the deal, employees will be able to cash out their shares of the company rather than a traditional funding round which would raise money for the business, the report added.

OpenAI did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.

It agreed to a similar deal early last year. The venture-capital firms Thrive Capital, Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz and K2 Global agreed to buy OpenAI shares in a tender offer, valuing the company at around $29 billion, the report said.

The launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT in late 2022 has kicked off buzz around AI, prompting companies to explore ways to harness the power of the technology.

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has also been reportedly in talks to raise funds for a chip venture as he looks to boost the world's chip building capacity to drive new AI-related tools.​

 

[Saif]

New AI-video tool by maker of ChatGPT worries media creators

A new artificial intelligence tool that promises to create short videos from simple text commands has raised concerns along with questions from artists and media...

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New AI-video tool by maker of ChatGPT worries media creators​

Agence France-Presse . Paris | Published: 23:12, Feb 17,2024

In this photo illustration, Open AI’s newly released text-to-video ‘Sora’ tool is advertised on their website on a monitor in Washington, DC, on Friday. — AFP photo

A new artificial intelligence tool that promises to create short videos from simple text commands has raised concerns along with questions from artists and media professionals.

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT and image generator DALL-E, said Thursday it was testing a text-to-video model called ‘Sora’ that can allow users to create realistic videos with simple prompts.

The San Francisco-based startup says Sora can ‘generate complex scenes with multiple characters, specific types of motion, and accurate details of the subject and background,’ but admits it still has limitations, such as possibly ‘mixing up left and right.’
Here are early reactions from industries that could be affected by the new generative artificial intelligence (AI) tool:
Examples of Sora-created clips on OpenAI’s website range widely in style and subject, from seemingly real drone footage above a crowded market to an animated bunny-like creature bouncing through a forest.

Thomas Bellenger, founder and art director of Cutback Productions, has been carefully watching the evolution of generative AI image generation.

‘There were those who felt that it was an unstoppable groundswell that was progressing at an astonishing rate, and those who just didn’t want to see it,’ said Bellenger, whose France-based company has created large scale visual effects for such touring musicians as Stromae and Justice.

He said the development of generative AI has ‘created a lot of debate internally’ at the company and ‘a lot of sometimes visceral reactions’.

Bellenger noted that Sora has yet to be released, so its capabilities have yet to be tested by the public.

‘What is certain is that no one expected such a technological leap forward in just a few weeks,’ Bellenger said. ‘It’s unheard of.’
He said whatever the future holds, they will ‘find ways to create differently’.

Video game creators are equally likely to be impacted by the new invention, with reaction among the sector divided between those open to embracing a new tool and those fearing it might replace them.

French video game giant Ubisoft hailed the OpenAI announcement as a ‘quantum leap forward’ with the potential to let players and development teams express their imaginations.

‘We’ve been exploring this potential for a long time,’ a Ubisoft spokesperson told AFP.

Alain Puget, chief of Nantes-based studio Alkemi, said he will not replace any artists with AI tools, which ‘only reproduce things done by humans’.

Nevertheless, Puget noted, this ‘visually impressive’ tool could be used by small studios to produce more professionally rendered images.

While video ‘cut scenes’ that play out occasionally to advance game storylines are different from player-controlled action, Puget expects tools like Sora to eventually be able to replace ‘the way we do things.’

Basile Simon, a former journalist and current Stanford University researcher, thinks there has been ‘a terrifying leap forward in the last year’ when it comes to generative AI allowing realistic-looking fabrications to be rapidly produced.

He dreads the idea of how such tools will be abused during elections and fears the public will ‘no longer know what to believe’.

Julien Pain of French TV channel FranceInfo’s fact-checking programme ‘Vrai ou Faux’ (True or False) says he’s also worried about abuse of AI tools.

‘Until now, it was easy enough to spot fake images, for example by noticing the repetitive faces in the background,’ Pain said.
‘What this new software does seems to be on another level.’

While OpenAI and US tech titans may promote safety tools, such as industry-wide watermarks that reveal AI-created imagery, ‘what about tomorrow’s competitors in China and Russia?’ he posited.

The Fred & Farid agency, which has collaborated with the Longchamp and Budweiser brands and where a studio dedicated to AI was opened in early January, anticipates that ‘80 per cent of brand content will be generated by artificial intelligence’.

‘Creative genius’ will no longer be limited by production skills thanks to generative AI tools, one enthusiast contended.

Stephanie Laporte, chief executive and founder of the OTTA advertising and influencer agency, believes the technology will ‘force the industry to evolve’.

She also anticipates ad companies with lean budgets will resort to AI tools to save money on workers.

A possible exception, she believes, is the luxury segment, where brands are ‘very sensitive to authenticity’ and ‘will probably use AI sparingly’.​

 

[Saif]

Interconnected safeguards: ESG-cyber security synergy

In 2024, the ever-evolving digital landscape is accompanied by a dynamic shift in the threat landscape. The cyber security domain is poised for a substantial transformation, anticipating a surge in the complexity of cyber threats. In the contemporary digital economy, businesses are confronted with

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Interconnected safeguards: ESG-cyber security synergy​

​

MOHAMMAD ASHRAFUL ISLAM KHAN
Published :​

Feb 17, 2024 10:14

Updated :​

Feb 17, 2024 10:14

In 2024, the ever-evolving digital landscape is accompanied by a dynamic shift in the threat landscape. The cyber security domain is poised for a substantial transformation, anticipating a surge in the complexity of cyber threats. In the contemporary digital economy, businesses are confronted with the challenge of harmonizing their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) objectives while ensuring robust cyber security and privacy measures. These concerns have prominently featured on global risk maps for several years. Although the environmental aspects of the ESG agenda have garnered considerable attention, other facets such as cyber security and privacy have not received that much emphasis. This is alarming, given the escalating frequency of cyber threats, impacting business operations, continuity, and reputations.


ESG policies are often perceived primarily as addressing climate change and the social responsibilities of a company. These policies establish ethical practices to protect not only the business itself but also its network of partners and customers, as well as the broader global environment. In this regard, ESG shares common ground with other risk management practices within a company, aiming to mitigate risks for stakeholders and communicate the strategies employed to achieve this. It is imperative for companies to recognize cyber security as an integral component of ESG. Cyber risk stands out as the most immediate and financially impactful sustainability risk that organizations confront today. Those neglecting to implement effective governance in cyber security, incorporating appropriate tools and metrics, will find themselves less resilient and sustainable. Such lapses not only affect the organizations directly but also have repercussions on the interconnected network of entities they rely on, ultimately influencing the stability of companies, communities, and governments.

In 2024, the global business landscape is witnessing a significant shift as enterprises increasingly embrace ESG criteria not merely for regulatory compliance or risk management, but as a pivotal opportunity to reshape their business models. This transformation is underpinned by a profound recognition of the imperative to account for an array of complex external risks that may arise simultaneously. As businesses globally align themselves with ESG principles, the importance of robust cyber security measures cannot be overstated. With the digital realm becoming integral to ESG implementations, ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive data is paramount. Cyber security acts as the linchpin safeguarding the integrity of ESG data, protecting against potential breaches that could compromise not only financial information but also critical ESG-related data.

Bangladesh, while relatively new to the ESG arena, stands at a crucial juncture to accelerate its growth by intertwining its ESG efforts with a robust focus on cyber security. As businesses in Bangladesh embark on this transformative journey, it is imperative to recognise that cyber threats are evolving in sophistication and magnitude. A proactive cyber security strategy will not only fortify the integrity of ESG disclosures but also enhance the overall resilience of businesses in the face of cyber challenges. By prioritizing cyber security in tandem with ESG implementations, Bangladesh can not only meet international standards but also foster a secure and sustainable business environment that will undoubtedly contribute to its long-term economic growth. Embracing these dual pillars of ESG and cyber security will position Bangladesh as a forward-looking player in the global business landscape, fostering trust and resilience in an era marked by unprecedented challenges and opportunities.

Traditionally, the integration of cyber security into ESG practices has not been a focal point. However, the landscape is evolving swiftly, catalyzed by high-profile data breaches, the rapid evolution of the digital economy, and the widespread adoption of remote work. Cyber security has become a crucial element of ESG practices, demanding attention from stakeholders such as investors, employees, customers, regulators, and supply chain partners. The paradigm shift requires a comprehensive integration of cyber security into ESG governance frameworks to effectively manage and mitigate the risks inherent in cyber threats.

In the context of Bangladesh, a nation emerging in the ESG arena, businesses should prioritize the incorporation of robust cyber security measures into their ESG strategies. This entails not only addressing current vulnerabilities but also future-proofing against evolving cyber threats. By doing so, businesses in Bangladesh can instill confidence among stakeholders, align with international ESG standards, and fortify their resilience in an increasingly digitized and interconnected world.

ESG ratings have become indispensable in attracting global investors, particularly European institutional investors who mandate ESG compliance for investment decisions. In the past year, seven Bangladeshi companies earned coveted spots in Bloomberg's sustainability list, joining over 16,000 global corporations. Their inclusion in this prestigious list reflects their commendable performance in environmental, social, and governance domains. As these companies navigate the evolving landscape of ESG expectations, ensuring their overall progress involves not only sustaining their current achievements but also fortifying resilience against emerging challenges. Cyber threats, in particular, loom large in the digital era, necessitating a strategic focus on cyber security. To maintain and enhance their ESG standing, these Bangladeshi firms must proactively address cyber risks, safeguarding not only their data integrity but also reinforcing the holistic sustainability commitments that have garnered them international recognition.

The increasing prevalence of cyber risks poses a genuine threat to the essential systems underpinning global environmental initiatives. An attack on these systems could reverberate throughout the broader global infrastructure, prompting businesses to prioritize cyber security as a paramount concern when addressing environmental factors. Companies must carefully assess how a breach in these systems not only impacts their own operations but also holds the potential to disrupt worldwide infrastructure. Despite this imperative, the integration of cyber security into the ESG framework often remains an overlooked facet for many businesses. As cyber security transforms from an industry-specific challenge into a pervasive global social issue, it becomes integral to all pillars of ESG, mandating its inclusion as a fundamental component of comprehensive business strategy.

Taking a broader societal viewpoint, insufficiencies in cyberspace safeguards can result in significant macro-economic harm with far-reaching national strategic consequences. Beyond financial repercussions, these inadequacies encompass issues such as industrial espionage, the dampening of incentives for innovation and investment, and the infringement of data privacy. Moreover, the threats extend to critical functions that serve as the backbone of economic and national security, public health, and the safety and freedom of citizens. What is increasingly evident to investors is that the perils emanating from cyber security vulnerabilities transcend the immediate companies affected and permeate the entire societal framework supporting the economy and market valuations. Recognizing the interconnected nature of these risks is essential for investors to make informed decisions, as the ramifications extend beyond individual businesses to impact the broader fabric of our economic and social landscape.

ESG integration involves factoring in significant non-financial elements in investment analysis to enhance risk-adjusted returns while simultaneously addressing key socioeconomic and environmental issues. Illustratively, the dynamics surrounding carbon emissions and climate change exemplify how heightened awareness and market valuation of ESG risks can bring about tangible real-world effects. A prominent shift is evident in the mainstream adoption of incorporating greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions disclosures into investment processes by investors. Extending this principle to encompass cyber security, businesses now recognize the imperative to integrate robust cyber security measures into their ESG strategies. Just as with environmental factors, acknowledging and mitigating cyber risks not only safeguards the business but also aligns with broader societal interests, making it an integral facet of a comprehensive and forward-thinking investment approach.

ESG and cyber security are interconnected facets, representing two sides of the same coin. The seamless integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles is complemented by robust cyber security measures, forming a holistic approach to sustainable and secure business practices. By acknowledging the symbiotic relationship between ESG and cyber security, organisations can not only fortify their risk management strategies but also contribute to a more sustainable and secure global business landscape.

Mohammad Ashraful Islam Khan, previously Head of Supply Chain Advisory Services at KPMG Bangladesh, is a management consultant with expertise in operational optimization and supply chain management.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh’s first ever data centre ‘Meghna Cloud’ begins operation

Gennext Technologies Limited, a leading ICT company, has recently inaugurated the full-fledged operation of Bangladesh’s first cloud data centre - Meghna Cloud - at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City in Kaliakoir of Gazipur....

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Bangladesh’s first ever data centre ‘Meghna Cloud’ begins operation​

Staff Correspondent | Published: 00:38, Feb 13,2024

-- Press release photo.

Gennext Technologies Limited, a leading ICT company, has recently inaugurated the full-fledged operation of Bangladesh’s first cloud data centre - Meghna Cloud - at Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City in Kaliakoir of Gazipur.

The platform will provide cloud service infrastructure, including servers, storage and networking equipment, and associated software technology, said a press release on Monday.

Through this, it will be possible to provide services to both government and private entities, by keeping the country’s data within the domestic territory.

This move is expected to save a large amount of foreign currency the country spends annually for purchasing and using the cloud technology, the release said.

Within just one year, the cloud platform has been operationalised. On 29th December 2022, Gennext made a joint venture agreement with Bangladesh Data Centre Company Limited for Meghna Cloud.

Under the agreement Gennext will build, operate and maintain the Meghna Cloud as well as ensure sales and marketing of the cloud services to government and private sector together with BDCCL.

After visiting the Meghna Cloud data centre on February 8, state minister for posts, telecommunications and information technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said that this ‘Made in Bangladesh Cloud’ was an excellent example of strategic partnership between government and private sector.

Through this initiative, the country can save a huge amount of foreign currency and ensure more data security, he said.

During the visit, Gennext Technologies chairman Touhidul Islam Chaudhury and Gennext Technologies managing director Alavee Azfar Chaudhury briefed about the cloud centre’s operation to the state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and ICT secretary Md. Shamsul Arefin.

Gennext has used state-of-the art technologies to set up the cloud platform and developed a skilled workforce to operate it.
‘Meghna Cloud will support the Smart Bangladesh move forward. We are also setting up a research and development center for teachers and students of both government and private universities’, said Touhidul Islam Chaudhury, chairman of Gennext Technologies.

This initiative will provide training on cloud related technology to about 5,000 students every year, he added.

The company is planning to invest around USD 500 million within the next five years for this project, said Javed Opgenhaffen, vice chairman of Gennext Technologies.

‘We want to work with the government jointly to contribute to the overall development of the country. This cloud platform is expected to play a significant role to establish Smart Bangladesh,’ he said,

The data centre would help the government save foreign currency in purchasing and using cloud technology from other countries as Bangladesh would not require depending only on foreign data storage facilities, he added.

‘Meghna Cloud is hoping to create a security platform which would provide top-most data security to government and non-government organisations,’ said Alavee Azfar Chaudhury, managing director of Gennext Technologies.

In 2019, the government established the tier 4 National Data Centre, the largest in Bangladesh, at the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City. It is run by BDCCL.​

 

[Saif]

Three AI-based Bangla software launched on International Mother Language Day

Commemorating the International Mother Language Day, artificial intelligence-based Bangla language software ‘Bangla Text to Speech – Uchcharon’, ‘Bangla Speech to Text – Kotha’ and Bengali OCR ‘Borna’ were launched on Wednesday. A new Bangla font &ls

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Three AI-based Bangla software launched on International Mother Language Day​

UNB

Published :​

Feb 21, 2024 19:16

Updated :​

Feb 21, 2024 19:30

Commemorating the International Mother Language Day, artificial intelligence-based Bangla language software ‘Bangla Text to Speech – Uchcharon’, ‘Bangla Speech to Text – Kotha’ and Bengali OCR ‘Borna’ were launched on Wednesday.

A new Bangla font ‘Purno’ began its journey during the occasion.

State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak launched them on Wednesday.

He also launched e-SIM for Teltalk in the event held at the BCC Auditorium in Dhaka.

The ICT state minister said that the launch of the software is a historic event for Bangla and for the 35 crore Bangla-speaking people across the world.

He said that a new dimension has been added to the development of the Bangla language under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina using smart technology.

The state minister said that February 21 is a proud segment of the national history and also for the development of art, literature and culture.

Bengali text-to-speech “Uchcharon” is a TTS software. The technology used to convert text into spoken words by a machine is called TTS or text-to-speech applications. TTS can read text in documents, websites, and screen windows.

At the same time, it can read aloud to the visually impaired people. The software has both male and female voices. Currently, the software can be used from the address read.bangla.gov.bd.

“Katha” is Bengali voice typing software. Voice typing or “speech to text” is the technique of writing words into a computer. It can convert spoken Bengali words to text in standard clear and quiet environments.

The final version of the software can record Bengali major punctuation marks. The software can be used as a web application from the browser by entering the address voice.bangla.gov.bd.

Also, there is an opportunity to use this voice typing service through the Keyboard Android app developed by the project.

The name of Bengali OCR is “Barno”. OCR is used to convert un-editable text in computer documents into editable text. OCR is converting text in PDF or JPEG files to editable text. This character OCRT converts Bangla text into text similar to composed text.​

 

[Bilal9]

"Cypher", a new Tier 4 colocation data center (with 99.9995 uptime guarantee) has started services in Jessore. The organization (AXENTEC) is a spin-off of "Robi", which is a major cellphone services provider. This would be one of two dozen larger datacenters in operation in Bangladesh, and one of four or five Tier 4 datacenters in the country.

 

[Saif]

Are we ready to tackle digital inequality?

The article seeks to explore the readiness of Bangladesh to rein the persisting digital inequalities.

www.thedailystar.net

Are we ready to tackle digital inequality?​

Photo: Star

The article seeks to explore the readiness of Bangladesh to rein the persisting digital inequalities. Therefore, it is of great importance to understand the meaning of digital inequalities, the spectrum of digital inequalities, and the extent or depth of such inequalities. All these would help us understand where to focus and how to address the challenges embedded within the digitization process to make Bangladesh Smart by 2041. More importantly, understanding digital inequality would help detect the underlying factors contributing to digital inequality and realize whether we are ready to rein digital inequality in Bangladesh. Today social and economic advancement of any country relies to a great extent on the country's access to modern information and communications technologies (ICTs) like computers, smartphones, and the internet, which play a pivotal role in improving the well-being of the citizens. However, this does not hold such promises for all segments of the population due to the persisting digital divide or digital inequality within a country and Bangladesh is not an exception to this case. While the digital divide focuses mainly on the differences in access to ICTs (i.e., the first-level digital divide), digital inequality refers to the differences in skills of the users (i.e., the second-level digital divide), implying that the high level of digital inequality is a challenging barrier to the digitization process, deployment of digitization process in organizations and businesses and adoption by citizens. Bangladesh dreams of realizing its Smart Bangladesh Vision by 2041 resolving the existing barriers in deployment and adoption through an inclusive manner. Realizing the dream by 2041 would require including the citizens who are lagging behind others in terms of the digitization process. More importantly, digital inclusion would help play a pivotal role in harnessing social and economic development. For the very first, the government of Bangladesh should consider the underlying reasons behind digital inequality for undertaking necessary plans and actions to address the root causes of digital inequality in Bangladesh.

Dr. Muhammad Shahadat Hossain Siddiquee is a Professor of the Department of Economics, University of Dhaka. He could be reached at shahadat.siddiquee@du.ac.bd

Let's start with a discussion on the digital divide between rural and urban areas of Bangladesh. The government data from Bangladesh Sample Vital Statistics shows that the prevalence of internet usage among the rural population is around 37 percent and it is around 54 percent among urban population, implying a gap of 17 percent. Similarly, it finds that such a gap also persists between males and females by around 13 percent. Moreover, a more acute gender gap in the digital divide also persists within rural and urban areas. These simple statistics imply that approximately half of the population is out of internet usage, which would be a great challenge for the government to bring them under the digital umbrella by 2031. Considering the facts, the government of Bangladesh should set up the visionary milestones of achieving access to the internet by all citizens of the country within 17 years (i.e., 3 percent annual growth of internet coverage with a greater focus on rural areas where digital connectivity such as WiFi or broadband connection is still in scarcity). This would help establish the balance in internet usage between rural and urban areas. However, internet access provisioning in remote villages in rural areas would not be as easy as it is expected. As digital inequality by gender is also a major concern, the expansion of digital facilities should inclusively prioritize women. In order to make the digitization process, the government has introduced "One Country, One Rate", but in reality, it differs charging higher prices in rural areas. The two underlying factors behind the low penetration of internet usage in rural areas include infrastructure and technological resources. However, socioeconomic ability and digital literacy among rural people are thought of as constraints in the digitization process. We can guess that internet access among rural people would move positively with the increase in their incomes. However, a huge investment from the government's end is necessary for provisioning digital literacy, especially among the rural youth so that they can employ themselves starting e-commerce, f-commerce, and outsourcing. In addition to these factors, the cost of internet access is around 6.5 times higher compared to the rest of the world, implying that reducing the cost of the internet might help expand the coverage by bringing internet access to more rural people within their affordability. However, the higher level of current inflation, which is around 10 percent in Bangladesh, would pose a serious challenge as the real income of the underserved rural population falls due to higher inflation.

Living in an era of technological change, led by digital revolution, gives rise to societal discontent if disruptions caused by technological change drive the income and wealth inequality in the country. However, the inclusive socio-economic outcomes resulting from such digital revolution point towards a society with more societal well-being, which requires matching of a country's policies and actions with technological changes favoring the people living in the left tail of the income and wealth distributions. It is evident from empirical evidence that the failure to match policies and actions with technological change may result in slower productivity growth, i.e., slower overall economic growth. Therefore, if Bangladesh wants to reap the benefits of digitization from the viewpoint of societal well-being and reduce digital inequality, it should prioritize rectifying the causes of digital inequality, match the timely policies with actions, and establish the shared dynamics between income distribution and productivity. Last but not least, the elements of digital inequalities include varied forms such as educational, infrastructural, social, economic, and usable design which would require a large volume of activities with huge investments. With a low revenue generation of the government of Bangladesh would pose a serious challenge to undertake necessary actions and this might delay in achieving the vision of a country with digital equality.​