[🇧🇩] ICT Industry in Bangladesh

[Saif]

IT exports decline in July-March

Bangladesh’s IT exports declined in July-March of the current financial year, highlighting the country’s struggle to gain a foothold in the global information and communications technology sector.

www.thedailystar.net

IT exports decline in July-March

Bangladesh's IT exports declined in July-March of the current financial year, highlighting the country's struggle to gain a foothold in the global information and communications technology sector.

According to data from the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), earnings of IT firms dropped 2.33 percent to $407.07 million in the first nine months of 2023-24. In the same period a year prior, shipments stood at $416.79 million.

Software exports dropped by 25 percent to $28.6 million and computer consultancy services plummeted 45 percent to $14 million. Earnings from IT-enabled services, however, increased by 4.64 percent to $361.30 million.

If the current IT export trend persists, the sector might see a drop in shipments for the second year in a row. In 2022-23, overseas sales from the industry fell for the first time in five years.

Earnings of IT firms dropped 2.33 percent to $407.07 million in the first nine months of 2023-24

Industry people said the fact that the country has failed to produce big IT firms is an ominous sign for the government's export diversification efforts. Garment accounts for about 85 percent of Bangladesh's earnings from the external sector.

"The negative growth of software services gives a bad signal," said Fahim Mashroor, a former president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS).

The export fall in July-March came although exporters are benefiting from a higher dollar rate, which has gained by 35 percent against the taka in the past two years. One explanation might be that exporters are not bringing in proceeds since the local currency is expected to weaken further amid the persistently lower level of foreign currency reserves.

"Although Bangladesh's software exports are declining, other countries like Pakistan have been displaying higher growth for the past few years," Mashroor added.

Pakistan's IT exports increased 25 percent year-on-year to $2.93 billion in July-May of FY24 although the country is far behind Bangladesh in various economic and social indicators.

Syed Almas Kabir, another former BASIS president, said big changes in global IT outsourcing have contributed to the negative growth in the sector.

He explained the IT services Bangladesh exports require low skills but they are now being replaced by automation and artificial intelligence (AI).

"For example, we used to export large volumes in the 2D graphics and manual data entry segments, both of which can now be handled through robotic automation and AI. These factors have primarily contributed to the downturn in ICT exports," Kabir said.

"Global companies now want to outsource high-level tasks. Therefore, unless we can build a workforce capable of handling such tasks, we will continue to lose contracts. Our workforce needs to learn sophisticated tasks such as 3D animation, blockchain, data analysis, and AI.

"Unless these changes are made, exports will continue to decline."

The IT entrepreneur added if broadband is not extended to remote areas and the curriculum is not updated, the export earnings would not receive a boost.

The grim scenario of Bangladesh's IT exports comes despite the government spending thousands of crores of taka on IT infrastructure and skill development projects over the past decade and a half.

Asked if these initiatives have created skilled manpower capable of competing globally, Kabir said: "Unfortunately, not."

He said there are good intentions at the top level of the government to make Bangladesh an ICT powerhouse, but failures have occurred in implementation.

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আইটি রপ্তানিতে কেবলই পেছাচ্ছে বাংলাদেশ

রপ্তানি উন্নয়ন ব্যুরোর (ইপিবি) তথ্য অনুসারে, ২০২৩-২৪ অর্থবছরের প্রথম নয় মাসে দেশের তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোর আয় দুই দশমিক ৩৩ শতাংশ কমে হয়েছে ৪০ কোটি ৭০ লাখ ৭০ হাজার ৭০ হাজার ডলার। আগের বছরের তা ছিল ৪১ কোটি ৬৭ লাখ ৯০ হাজার ডলার।

bangla.thedailystar.net

আইটি রপ্তানিতে কেবলই পেছাচ্ছে বাংলাদেশ

রপ্তানি উন্নয়ন ব্যুরোর (ইপিবি) তথ্য অনুসারে, ২০২৩-২৪ অর্থবছরের প্রথম নয় মাসে দেশের তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোর আয় দুই দশমিক ৩৩ শতাংশ কমে হয়েছে ৪০ কোটি ৭০ লাখ ৭০ হাজার ৭০ হাজার ডলার। আগের বছরের তা ছিল ৪১ কোটি ৬৭ লাখ ৯০ হাজার ডলার।

চলতি অর্থবছরের জুলাই-মার্চে দেশের আইটি পণ্যের রপ্তানি কমেছে প্রায় আড়াই শতাংশ। এ থেকে স্পষ্টত বোঝা যায় যে, বৈশ্বিক তথ্য-প্রযুক্তি খাতে প্রতিযোগিতায় টিকে থাকতে ধুঁকছে বাংলাদেশ।

রপ্তানি উন্নয়ন ব্যুরোর (ইপিবি) তথ্য অনুসারে, ২০২৩-২৪ অর্থবছরের প্রথম নয় মাসে দেশের তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোর আয় দুই দশমিক ৩৩ শতাংশ কমে হয়েছে ৪০ কোটি ৭০ লাখ ৭০ হাজার ৭০ হাজার ডলার। আগের বছরের তা ছিল ৪১ কোটি ৬৭ লাখ ৯০ হাজার ডলার।

সফটওয়্যার রপ্তানি ২৫ শতাংশ কমে দুই কোটি ৮৬ লাখ ডলার ও কম্পিউটার কনসালটেন্সি সেবা ৪৫ শতাংশ কমে এক কোটি ৪০ লাখ ডলারে দাঁড়িয়েছে। তবে আইটি সেবা থেকে আয় চার দশমিক ৬৪ শতাংশ বেড়ে ৩৬১ দশমিক ৩০ মিলিয়ন ডলারে দাঁড়িয়েছে।

আইটি পণ্য রপ্তানির বর্তমান ধারা অব্যাহত থাকলে এ খাতে টানা দ্বিতীয় বছরের মতো রপ্তানি কমতে পারে। ২০২২-২৩ অর্থবছরে পাঁচ বছরের মধ্যে প্রথমবারের মতো এ খাত থেকে রপ্তানি কমে যায়।

সংশ্লিষ্টরা বলছেন, বাংলাদেশ বড় বড় আইটি প্রতিষ্ঠান তৈরিতে ব্যর্থ হওয়ায় তা সরকারের রপ্তানি বহুমুখীকরণ প্রচেষ্টার জন্য অশনিসংকেত। দেশের আয়ের প্রায় ৮৫ শতাংশই আসে অন্য খাত থেকে।

বাংলাদেশ অ্যাসোসিয়েশন অব সফটওয়্যার অ্যান্ড ইনফরমেশন সার্ভিসেসের (বেসিস) সাবেক সভাপতি ফাহিম মাশরুর দ্য ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, 'সফটওয়্যার সেবায় নেতিবাচক পরিস্থিতি খারাপ সংকেত।'

ডলারের বেশি দাম হওয়ায় রপ্তানিকারকরা লাভবান হচ্ছেন। গত দুই বছরে ডলারের দাম ৩৫ শতাংশ বেড়েছে। রিজার্ভ ক্রমাগত কমতে থাকায় টাকা আরও দুর্বল হতে পারে এমন আশঙ্কায় রপ্তানিকারকদের অনেকে তাদের আয় দেশে আনছেন না।

তিনি আরও বলেন, 'যদিও দেশের সফটওয়্যার রপ্তানি কমছে। তবে পাকিস্তানের মতো অন্যান্য দেশ গত কয়েক বছর ধরে এই খাতে উচ্চ প্রবৃদ্ধি ধরে রাখছে।'

আর্থ-সামাজিক সূচকে বাংলাদেশের তুলনায় অনেক পিছিয়ে থাকলেও ২০২৩-২৪ অর্থবছরের জুলাই থেকে মে মাস পর্যন্ত পাকিস্তানের আইটি পণ্য রপ্তানি বছরে ২৫ শতাংশ বেড়ে দুই দশমিক ৯৩ বিলিয়ন ডলার হয়েছে।

বেসিসের অপর সাবেক সভাপতি সৈয়দ আলমাস কবীর ডেইলি স্টারকে বলেন, 'বৈশ্বিক আইটি আউটসোর্সিংয়ে বড় ধরনের পরিবর্তন এ খাতে নেতিবাচক পরিস্থিতি সৃষ্টি করেছে।'

তার ভাষ্য, দেশের আইটি সেবা রপ্তানিতে কম দক্ষতার কর্মী দরকার হলেও এখন এই খাতে অটোমেশন ও কৃত্রিম বুদ্ধিমত্তার (এআই) জয়জয়কার।

'ভারতে আছে শতাধিক রপ্তানিমুখী প্রতিষ্ঠান। সেখানে ৫০ হাজারের বেশি ইঞ্জিনিয়ার কাজ করছেন। যেহেতু বাংলাদেশি প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলো আকারে ছোট, তাই তারা বড় কাজ পায় না। ফলে তাদের আয় কম।'

'যেমন, আমরা টুডি গ্রাফিক্স ও ম্যানুয়াল ডেটা এন্ট্রি প্রচুর রপ্তানি করতাম। এসব এখন রোবোটিক অটোমেশন ও এআই এর মাধ্যমে করা যায়। এটি আইসিটি রপ্তানি মন্দায় ভূমিকা রেখেছে।'

'বৈশ্বিক প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলো এখন উচ্চ পর্যায়ের কাজে আউটসোর্সিং করতে চায়। যতক্ষণ না আমরা এ ধরনের কাজ করতে সক্ষম কর্মী তৈরি করতে পারছি ততক্ষণ আমরা কাজ হারাতে থাকব। আমাদের কর্মীদের থ্রিডি অ্যানিমেশন, ব্লকচেইন, ডেটা অ্যানালাইসিস ও এআইয়ের মতো অত্যাধুনিক কাজ শিখতে হবে।'

'এসব না বদলালে রপ্তানি কমতেই থাকবে,' বলেও মত দেন তিনি।

এই আইটি উদ্যোক্তা মনে করেন, ব্রডব্যান্ড যদি দেশের প্রত্যন্ত অঞ্চলে প্রসার ঘটানো না যায় এবং পাঠ্যক্রম আপডেট না করা হয় তবে আইটি খাতে রপ্তানি আয় বাড়বে না।

গত দেড় দশক ধরে সরকার আইটি অবকাঠামো ও দক্ষতা উন্নয়ন প্রকল্পে কয়েক হাজার কোটি টাকা খরচ করলেও আইটি রপ্তানিতে এমন ভয়াবহ চিত্র দেখা যাচ্ছে।

এসব উদ্যোগ বিশ্বব্যাপী প্রতিযোগিতায় টিকে থাকার মতো দক্ষ জনশক্তি তৈরি করেছে কিনা জানতে চাইলে কবীর বলেন, 'দুর্ভাগ্যজনক যে, তা হয়নি।'

তার মতে, 'বাংলাদেশকে আইসিটি পাওয়ার হাউস হিসেবে গড়ে তুলতে সরকারের শীর্ষ পর্যায়ে সদিচ্ছা থাকলেও তা বাস্তবায়নে ব্যর্থতা দেখা গেছে।'

তিনি আরও বলেন, 'ধরুন, ১০০ তরুণ আইসিটির কোনো বিষয়ে তিন মাসের কোর্সে অংশ নিয়েছেন। তারা কতটা শিখেছেন তা মূল্যায়ন করতে তৃতীয় পক্ষের অডিট দরকার। কিন্তু, আমরা সেরকম কিছু দেখছি না।'

'যেহেতু সরকার আইসিটি খাতের উন্নয়নে প্রচুর খরচ করছে, তা ফলপ্রসূ হচ্ছে কিনা ও সঠিক উপায়ে টাকা খরচ হচ্ছে কিনা এ নিয়ে মূল্যায়ন অত্যন্ত গুরুত্বপূর্ণ।'

সফটওয়্যার প্রতিষ্ঠান ড্রিম৭১ বাংলাদেশ লিমিটেডের ব্যবস্থাপনা পরিচালক রাশাদ কবির আইটি পণ্য রপ্তানিতে এমন মন্দাকে অস্বাভাবিক বলে মনে করেন না।

তিনি বলেন, 'এটা প্রায় এক বছর আগে এমনটি ধারণা করা হয়েছিল। এর প্রাথমিক কারণ বিশ্বব্যাপী অর্থনৈতিক মন্দা ও দীর্ঘ সময় ধরে চলা উচ্চ মূল্যস্ফীতি।'

২০২২ ও ২০২৩ সালে আইটি খাতে কর্মীর সংখ্যা উল্লেখযোগ্য হারে কমেছে। ২০২৪ সালে বিশ্বব্যাপী প্রযুক্তি খাতে ছাঁটাই চলছে। এটি এই ইঙ্গিত দেয় যে প্রযুক্তি প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোর ব্যবসা ভালো চলছে না।

যেহেতু দেশের আইটি প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলোর প্রধান রপ্তানি আউটসোর্সিং, তাই আয় কমেছে।

দেশি আইটি প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলো মূলত স্টার্টআপগুলোর সঙ্গে কাজ করে। কারণ তাদের সস্তায় আউটসোর্সিংয়ের প্রতি ঝোঁক বেশি। বিশ্বব্যাপী অর্থনৈতিক মন্দার কারণে স্টার্টআপগুলো তহবিল পেতে সমস্যায় পড়ছে। ফলে, তারা নতুন প্রযুক্তি পণ্যের আপগ্রেড বা প্রসার বন্ধ করে দিয়েছে।

কৃত্রিম বুদ্ধিমত্তা, ডেটা সায়েন্স ও ব্লকচেইনের মতো উন্নত প্রযুক্তির ক্ষেত্রে দক্ষ মানবসম্পদের অভাব আইটি পণ্য রপ্তানি কমার আরেক কারণ।

'বিশ্বব্যাপী আইটি পণ্যের চাহিদা প্রচলিত প্রযুক্তি থেকে উন্নত প্রযুক্তিতে বদলে যাচ্ছে,' উল্লেখ করে রাশাদ কবির বলেন, 'নানা কারণে বাংলাদেশ আধুনিক প্রযুক্তির জন্য যথেষ্ট দক্ষ মানবসম্পদ তৈরি করতে পারছে না। আমরা সম্ভাবনাময় বাজার ও ব্যবসার সুযোগ হারাচ্ছি।'

সংশ্লিষ্টদের মতে, ২০২৫ সালের মধ্যে পাঁচ বিলিয়ন ডলারের তথ্যপ্রযুক্তি পণ্য রপ্তানির যে লক্ষ্যমাত্রা বাংলাদেশ নিয়েছে তা অর্জন নাও হতে পারে।

ফাহিম মাশরুরের মত, 'রপ্তানি কম হওয়ার আরেক কারণ—দেশের বেশির ভাগ রপ্তানিমুখী আইটি প্রতিষ্ঠানই আকারে ছোট।'

তিনি বলেন, 'দেশে ৫০টিরও কম রপ্তানিমুখী আইটি প্রতিষ্ঠান আছে যাদের প্রতিটির কর্মীর সংখ্যা অন্তত ১০০। এক হাজারের বেশি কর্মীর কোনো প্রতিষ্ঠান নেই।'

'ভারতে আছে শতাধিক রপ্তানিমুখী প্রতিষ্ঠান। সেখানে ৫০ হাজারের বেশি ইঞ্জিনিয়ার কাজ করছেন। যেহেতু বাংলাদেশি প্রতিষ্ঠানগুলো আকারে ছোট, তাই তারা বড় কাজ পায় না। ফলে তাদের আয় কম।'

'আমরা যদি পাঁচ বিলিয়ন ডলারের লক্ষ্যমাত্রা অর্জন করতে চাই, তাহলে ন্যূনতম ১০০ প্রতিষ্ঠান থাকতে হবে। সেখানে এক হাজারের বেশি প্রকৌশলী কাজ করবে,' যোগ করেন তিনি।​

 

[Saif]

Ecommerce a path to progress for SMEs in Bangladesh

In general, e-commerce is the exchange of goods and services, and the transmission of funds and data over internet. It is governed by technology and digital platforms, including websites, mobile apps and social media, which make buying and selling more feasible.

www.thedailystar.net

Ecommerce a path to progress for SMEs in Bangladesh

In general, e-commerce is the exchange of goods and services, and the transmission of funds and data over internet. It is governed by technology and digital platforms, including websites, mobile apps and social media, which make buying and selling more feasible.

Nowadays ecommerce has become a pathfinder for businesses worldwide, including small enterprises in Bangladesh. As Bangladesh evolves technologically, it's critical for small businesses to adapt ecommerce for sustainable growth and progress.

Traditional brick-and-mortar enterprises are restricted by geographical limitations, but ecommerce allows these businesses to reach customers across the country and even globally. This increased reach converts into more prospective customers and higher sales.

In addition, setting up and preserving an online store is often more economical than running a physical store. Overheads such as rent, utilities, and staff wages are significantly condensed. Moreover, digital marketing is generally more affordable and target-oriented than traditional marketing approaches.

In today's world, buyers value convenience over many other concerns. Ecommerce offers access to shop anytime and anywhere, making it stress-free for customers. This convenience can always lead to improved customer loyalty and repeat business.

Ecommerce platforms provide valuable insights about customer behaviour, preferences, and trends through data analytics. This data can help entrepreneurs make seamless decisions, tailor offerings, and improve customer satisfaction.

As businesses grow, scaling up an online store is easier than expanding a physical store. With ecommerce, we can add new products, move into new markets, and handle higher volumes of transactions with minimal capital expenditure.

Interestingly, the ecommerce industry has a significant dependency on logistical support, and this support plays a critical role in ensuring customer satisfaction and business competence. Logistical services include transportation from manufacturer to warehouse, warehousing and order fulfilment, and delivery to end customers.

Customers anticipate fast and dependable delivery services. A true smart logistics system optimises delivery routes and manages inventory competently avoiding over-stocking, offers real-time tracking and timely updates, and ensures products reach customers on time and hassle-free returns.

Smart logistics also leverage technology to reduce transportation and storage costs. By using data analytics, enterprises can optimise inventory levels, reduce wastage, and simplify operations. By optimising routes and merging shipments, smart logistics reduce carbon footprints and help us align with Sustainable Development Goals.

An efficient smart logistics system is flexible to changes in demand and can scale up operations during peak times. This adaptability ensures we handle growth and fluctuations without compromising service quality.

Building a balanced ecosystem between ecommerce and smart logistics is essential for exploiting the benefits of both. First, adopting accurate technology is the foundation of a successful ecommerce and logistics strategy.

Entrepreneurs should invest in a robust ecommerce platform that integrates with a user-friendly smart logistics management system. This combination ensures seamless operations from order placement to delivery. Ecommerce should also focus on partnering with local logistics providers who understand the regional market and can offer tailored solutions.

The business operation team should have the necessary skills and knowledge to manage ecommerce and logistics operations. Regular training on new technologies, customer service, and logistics management can enhance overall performance. Continuously monitoring the ecommerce and logistics processes is the key to success. Performance indicators to measure success and identify areas for improvement should be ongoing.

For the sake of small businesses, embracing ecommerce with smart logistics is not just a choice but a necessity for sustainable growth. An effective synergy between ecommerce and smart logistics can pave the way for stable, scalable, and prosperous business ventures in the digital age.

The author is a banker.​

 

[Saif]

"Bangladesh-Malaysia IT connect portal" initiative to boost tech ties, investment

The Board of Directors of the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) led by its President Shabbir A Khan had a courtesy call on to Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, the state minister of the ministry of post, telecommunication, and information technology, to discuss potential technologi

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

"Bangladesh-Malaysia IT connect portal" initiative to boost tech ties, investment
FE ONLINE DESK
Published :
Jul 03, 2024 22:09
Updated :
Jul 03, 2024 22:10

The Board of Directors of the Bangladesh-Malaysia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BMCCI) led by its President Shabbir A Khan had a courtesy call on to Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, the state minister of the ministry of post, telecommunication, and information technology, to discuss potential technological collaboration and investment opportunities between Bangladesh and Malaysia.

President Shabbir A Khan briefed the state minister about their recent visit to Malaysia. During the visit, the BMCCI delegation had the privilege of engaging in dialogues on various bilateral issues with prominent figures including the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Officials of Malaysia Digital Economic Corporation (MDEC).The discussions centered around the need for a mutually beneficial partnership in the areas of technology transfer and skill development.

BMCCI President also informed the state minister about the participation of BMCCI delegation in the prestigious SEMICON SOUTHEAST ASIA 2024 exhibition comprising leading industrial personalities and technical experts, who attended the event and engaged with the Malaysian semiconductor industry. The BMCCI delegation also visited the Malaysian Institute of Microelectronic Systems (MIMOS), the national R&D center of Malaysia, to gain insights into their research and development capabilities and skill development programmes. The delegation was highly impressed by the state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories at MIMOS and recognised the potential for joint training programmes, knowledge-sharing platforms, and collaborative projects between Malaysia and Bangladesh to enhance the semiconductor ecosystem.

Mr Shabbir A Khan stated that the development of a robust semiconductor ecosystem is a crucial element in Bangladesh's quest to achieve the "Smart Bangladesh" vision by the Prime Minister. He added that Bangladesh has strength in the upstream design and engineering aspects of the semiconductor industry, while Malaysia's capabilities lie in the downstream manufacturing and packaging domains.

The state minister commended the efforts of the BMCCI in bridging the technological potential between Bangladesh and Malaysia. He expressed his support for shared investment growth, where both countries can simultaneously benefit, and emphasised the need to draw the attention of Malaysian investors to consider Bangladesh as an attractive investment destination.

The state minister expressed his eagerness to leverage these capabilities between the two countries. The state minister assured the BMCCI that his ministry would extend its full support to further develop the semiconductor ecosystem in Bangladesh. He expressed his willingness to explore joint training programmes, research collaborations, and other knowledge-sharing initiatives between Bangladeshi and Malaysian institutions to build a robust talent pool of engineers and drive technological advancements in this sector.

The state minister shared his plan to establish a "Bangladesh IT connect portal-Malaysia" to facilitate direct communication between businesses and potential investors. He emphasised the importance of this platform in promoting investment opportunities and strengthening the technological collaboration between the two countries. The state minister stated that the portal will serve as a one-stop-shop for investors, providing comprehensive information on investment policies, tax incentives, and available infrastructure in Bangladesh. It will also enable seamless networking and matchmaking between Bangladeshi and Malaysian companies. The state minister also stated that BMCCI will be the Bangladesh Contact Point for this "Bangladesh IT connect portal-Malaysia" initiative, underscoring the chamber's pivotal role in fostering technological collaboration and investment between the two countries.

The BMCCI expressed its full support in the development and promotion of this IT connection portal. The chamber pledged to leverage its extensive network of members and stakeholders to ensure the portal's success and drive active engagement between the business communities of Bangladesh and Malaysia. The BMCCI president assured the state minister that the chamber will work closely with the relevant government agencies to provide all necessary assistance in establishing and maintaining the portal as a robust platform for accelerating technological cooperation and investment flows between the two countries.​

 

[Saif]

Building hi-tech parks in districts: progress only 14% in 7 years

Development initiatives in Bangladesh normally take longer than usual to come to fruition. However, the project to set up a dozen hi-tech parks at the district level is moving at such a glacial pace that it may hold the government from attaining its vision of building a smart nation and readying...

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Building hi-tech parks in districts: progress only 14% in 7 years

Development initiatives in Bangladesh normally take longer than usual to come to fruition. However, the project to set up a dozen hi-tech parks at the district level is moving at such a glacial pace that it may hold the government from attaining its vision of building a smart nation and readying the workforce for the digitalised world.

The government initiated the project in April 2017 to construct 12 hi-tech parks in as many districts to create a skilled workforce and job opportunities to tap the potential in the information technology sector at home and abroad.

Seven years later, the project has achieved 14.34 percent physical progress, according to a monitoring report of the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED).

The project authority spent 12.57 percent of the budget as of February this year.

Hi-tech parks, also known as technology parks, are designated areas that provide infrastructure, resources, and support to technology-based businesses.

Of the Tk 1,796.40 crore that would be required to implement the "Establishing IT Park/Hi-Tech Park at District Level (12 Districts)" project, Tk 1,544 crore is coming in the form of a line of credit from India while Bangladesh will bear the rest.

The parks will be built in Khulna, Barishal, Rangpur, Natore, Chattogram, Cumilla, Cox's Bazar, Mymensingh, Jamalpur, Gopalganj, Dhaka, and Sylhet.

The project was scheduled to be implemented from July 2017 to June 2020, according to a document from the ICT division. When it missed the deadline, the government revised the project and extended the time to June 2021 without increasing the cost.

Later, the budget size was increased to Tk 1,846 crore, and the deadline was set at June 2024.

Now, the project is sending a proposal to seek time until 2027, AKAM Fazlul Hoque, director of the project, told The Daily Star. It is also going to request to raise the project expenditure to Tk 2,000 crore.

WHY IS THE DELAY?

According to the IMED report, the project failed to realise the financial and actual work plans in most components.

The project's activities were halted for 17 months owing to insufficient allocations from the government to pay customs duty and VAT in the fiscal year of 2018-2019 and because of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021.

The time taken for land acquisition significantly exceeded expectations, preventing the project from being finished within the stipulated timeframe, it said.

The physical progress of MA Wazed Miah Knowledge Park in Rangpur stood at 19 percent in February.

The hi-tech park in Natore's progress rate was 31 percent while it was 32 percent for that in Mymensingh, 23.60 percent for Jamalpur, 25.10 percent for Khulna, 22.30 percent for Barishal, 13.20 percent for Gopalganj, 31 percent for Dhaka's Keraniganj, 2.10 percent for Cumilla, 1 percent for Chattogram, 1 percent for Cox's Bazar's Ramu, and 4.10 percent for Sylhet's hi-tech park.

The construction work of the parks in Cumilla, Chattogram, Ramu, and Sylhet started in 2023, according to the report.

Fazlul Hoque, however, said that the IMED's information is based on old data.

The physical progress stood at 33.92 percent as of June this year, and the financial progress was 33.92 percent, he said.

The IMED also found some faults during field inspections. For example, low-quality sand was used at the Keraniganj Knowledge Park's construction work. The presence of oversized stones was also found in the sand.

It was specified that steel shuttering had to be used in the construction work, but wood has been found on the site.

No respite from project delays

"The project is not an isolated case when it comes to cost and time overruns," said noted economist Mustafa K Mujeri on Tuesday.

Delays have become a regular phenomenon as there is a lack of accountability regarding implementation of projects on time, he said.

He questioned how the real economic returns would be ensured if a three-year project achieves only 14 percent progress in seven years.

"The country will never reap the expected benefits if we don't come out of the worst culture of project implementation. Without a change in this culture, the enormous annual development programme will not bring any fruitful outcome for the nation."

"This will also cause a waste of public money."

Mujeri, also the executive director of the Institute for Inclusive Finance and Development, said this type of escalation happens when the project authorities are unable to carry out feasibility studies properly.

Fazlul Hoque said he assumed the current role as an additional responsibility in late 2020. Before that, three project directors were changed.

The initial tenders were non-responsive, leading to re-tendering and four years of no progress, he said.

Since only Indian firms were allowed to participate in the bidding as per the conditions of the line of credit, the project came to a standstill due to the pandemic since prospective bidders could not visit Bangladesh to take part in the tender process.

Half of the project was awarded to a bidder in 2022, with work starting in November 2022.

The project, financed at a 1 percent interest rate while 65 percent of materials are expected to come from India, was supposed to have customs duty VAT covered by the government as per the agreement, he said.

"However, we are not getting the funds to pay the VAT, and this has been a factor for the slow progress."​

 

[Saif]

Nagad signs deal with Huawei

Nagad and Huawei Technologies will work together to transform people’s digital transaction experience.....

www.newagebd.net

Nagad signs deal with Huawei
Staff Correspondent 09 July, 2024, 13:52

Nagad founder and CEO Tanvir A Mishuk and president of Huawei South Asia Region and CEO of Huawei Bangladesh Pan Junfeng shake hands after signing an agreement between Nagad Ltd and Huawei Technologies in presence of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina as she attends 'Summit on Trade, Business and Investment Opportunities Between Bangladesh and China' as part of her China visit alongside several ministers and senior officials of Bangladesh and China at the Shangri-La Hotel in Beijing on Tuesday. | Focus Bangla photo

Nagad and Huawei Technologies will work together to transform people's digital transaction experience.

To this end, the two parties have signed an agreement, which will provide world-class smart transaction experiences to the country's people through Nagad, said a press release.

In the presence of Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina, the agreement between Nagad Ltd and Huawei Technologies was signed at the Shangri-La Hotel in Beijing on Tuesday.

Following this agreement, Nagad Digital Bank and Nagad's existing mobile financial services will be integrated with cutting-edge global technologies. As a result, customers of the country's first digital bank will enjoy international-standard transaction services anytime, anywhere.

On behalf of Nagad, its founder and CEO Tanvir A Mishuk signed the agreement. The event was also attended by finance minister Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, foreign minister Hasan Mahmud, PM's private industry and investment adviser Salman F Rahman, state minister for posts, telecommunications, and information technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak and chairman of Nagad Digital Bank Muhammad Farid Khan.

Pan Junfeng, president of Huawei South Asia Region and CEO of Huawei Bangladesh, signed the agreement on behalf of Huawei Technologies.

Several ministers and senior officials of the Chinese government were also present at the event.

At this time, Li Fei, vice-minister of commerce of the People's Republic of China, highly praised Nagad's remarkable contribution to Bangladesh's economic growth and financial inclusion.

Speaking about the agreement, Farid Khan, chairman of Nagad Digital Bank, said, 'Nagad MFS has brought about a major revolution in Bangladesh's financial sector over the past five years. Now is the time to take it to a global standard. Nagad and Huawei will jointly work to achieve this for Bangladesh. Nagad Digital Bank will play a unique role in this, which will significantly contribute to building a smart Bangladesh.'

'To ensure the technological development required for a 100 per cent cashless society, we have signed this agreement with the world-renowned company Huawei Technologies. Through this, our MFS and digital bank customers in Bangladesh will enjoy world-class services causing digital transactions to become more comfortable and affordable,' he also said.

Marking the golden jubilee of diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and China next year, prime minister Sheikh Hasina began her China visit on 8 July.

During this visit, several notable agreements and memorandums of understanding are being signed between the two countries.

Eight years ago, when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Dhaka, Bangladesh and China elevated their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership from trade and economic cooperation.

Later, during prime minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to China in 2019, China was termed as a comprehensive strategic cooperative partner in Bangladesh's development.

In the continuity of cooperation between the two countries, this agreement between Nagad and Huawei is significant even in the global context of digital transactions. As a result of this agreement, new financial services and products will be introduced for customers in Bangladesh, which will play a role in transforming the trend of the country's digital transactions in the future.

Inaugurated by prime minister Sheikh Hasina five years ago, Nagad has recently obtained the license for the country's first digital bank.

Within a short time, it has become the country's largest MFS operator with 9 crore customers and its daily transactions hit BDT 1,800 crore. Besides, Nagad has been recognised as the fastest unicorn by the government.​

 

[Saif]

Trade digitalisation is the way forward

At a recently organised roundtable by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh, titled 'Digitalising International Trade in Bangladesh' speakers came up with arguments why Bangladesh should be moving towards digitising its trade operations to seriously boost exports. The event brought

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Trade digitalisation is the way forward
SYED MANSUR HASHIM
Published :
Jul 09, 2024 21:37
Updated :
Jul 09, 2024 21:37

At a recently organised roundtable by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh, titled 'Digitalising International Trade in Bangladesh' speakers came up with arguments why Bangladesh should be moving towards digitising its trade operations to seriously boost exports. The event brought together policymakers, business leaders, UN representatives and experts who agreed that eliminating the various (and tedious) process of paperwork could dramatically help expedite trade.

A significant portion of outbound trade is based on shipping. Roughly, 40 per cent of the containerised trade is still based on 'bill of lading' process that is a cause of much delay. According to a UN expert, "Bangladesh could earn $0.6 billion more annually, as the electronic bills of lading could unlock $30-40 billion in global trade volume if these processes went digital."

From what has been shared in the event, it is understood that digitising laborious manual processes can help reduce trade costs significantly, to the tune of 11-23 per cent and also help increase exports by around $600 million per annum.

Digitalisation has been a major stated policy thrust of the present government over the last few terms. However, there has been and continue to be push-back by various agencies which fear a loss of control and the streamlining of these processes (through adoption of new technology) would possibly impede the illicit earning of certain quarters. There is no nice way of saying this, but that is a fact of life in our country, especially given the spate of high-profile graft cases that have been made public over the last few months. But then, it also everything to do with ushering in greater trade efficiency and sustainability. The business community has for years been clamouring for change that not only would help ease up on the cost of doing business in this country, but help expedite lead times leading to more trade.

As pointed out by ICCB president, the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI), which is a part of a global effort in Singapore that is supported by trade and financial entities, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), remains a prime example of a system that works for the betterment of trade. According to Mr. Rahman, the introduction of bills of lading result in swift transactions, cost efficiency and reduce risks of fraud. Indeed, the advantages of using electronic form of bill of lading has been supported by internationally recognised studies and it is time for Bangladesh to enter into this regime.

As stated before, digitalisation of services remains a top policy priority. Since cost of doing business in the country has not fared well in various international indices, it is high time the government started taking serious steps towards a cashless and digital system. Naturally these call for serious reforms. However, before leaping on to the slated 'digital bandwagon', a host of issues need to be addressed, particularly, cybersecurity. Despite serious efforts to develop ICT resources in-country, the issue of cybersecurity remains a soft underbelly in the country. State entities including those storing sensitive repositories of data have seen their fair share of hacking and security breaches. These are loopholes in the system that need to be plugged.

The first step has been taken and now the hard task begins. Enacting laws, amending rules, addressing reforms highlighted in the national logistics policy, etc. all have to be taken into cognizance and these processes need to be expedited. The good thing is that international bilateral agencies and foreign governments are willing to work with their counterparts in Bangladesh - at the business and state level. One can only hope that the momentum for change is sustained because the country needs to move beyond recent debacles and boost trade as a matter of national priority.​

 

[Saif]

Digital trade: Bangladesh could earn $0.6b more in exports

Imagine you are a cargo owner in 1450. You hand over your goods to a ship and receive a bill of lading -- a paper document detailing your shipment. Fast forward to 2024: despite a dramatically changed world, the bill of lading process remains reliant on physical paperwork, used in roughly 40 per c

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Digital trade: Bangladesh could earn $0.6b more in exports
Says UN expert at ICC Bangladesh roundtable
FE REPORT
Published :
Jul 08, 2024 10:31
Updated :
Jul 08, 2024 10:42

Salman Fazlur Rahman, MP (centre), Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, participated as the chief guest in the ICC Roundtable on 'Digitalizing International Trade in Bangladesh' held in Dhaka on Sunday. Also seen in the picture, among others, are ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman, Vice Presidents A K Azad, MP, and Naser Ezaz Bijoy; ADB Country Director Edimon Ginting; UN-ESCAP Director Dr. Rupa Chanda; ITFC Regional Head Iftekhar Alam; ICC-DSI MD Pamela Mar; ICCB Executive Board Member Kutubuddin Ahmed; Banking Commission Chair Muhammad A. (Rumee) Ali and Secretary General Ataur Rahman
Salman Fazlur Rahman, MP (centre), Private Industry and Investment Adviser to the Prime Minister, participated as the chief guest in the ICC Roundtable on 'Digitalizing International Trade in Bangladesh' held in Dhaka on Sunday. Also seen in the picture, among others, are ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman, Vice Presidents A K Azad, MP, and Naser Ezaz Bijoy; ADB Country Director Edimon Ginting; UN-ESCAP Director Dr. Rupa Chanda; ITFC Regional Head Iftekhar Alam; ICC-DSI MD Pamela Mar; ICCB Executive Board Member Kutubuddin Ahmed; Banking Commission Chair Muhammad A. (Rumee) Ali and Secretary General Ataur Rahman

Imagine you are a cargo owner in 1450. You hand over your goods to a ship and receive a bill of lading -- a paper document detailing your shipment.

Fast forward to 2024: despite a dramatically changed world, the bill of lading process remains reliant on physical paperwork, used in roughly 40 per cent of containerised trade.

According to a UN expert, Bangladesh could earn $0.6 billion more annually, as the electronic bills of lading could unlock $30-40 billion in global trade volume if these processes went digital.

"Digital trade is crucial not only for Bangladesh but also for global trade efficiency and sustainability," said Rupa Chanda, director at UNESCAP. "The country could reduce trade costs by 11-12 per cent and gain an additional $0.6 billion in exports by embracing digital trade processes."

She made the remarks at a programme on 'Digitalizing International Trade in Bangladesh', organised by the International Chambers of Commerce (ICC) Bangladesh in Dhaka on Sunday.

ICC Bangladesh President Mahbubur Rahman chaired the programme. He said that digitalisation enhances efficiency, reduces costs and broadens market access.

At the roundtable, Mr Rahman introduced the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI) -- a global effort based in Singapore supported by trade and finance entities including the Asian Development Bank and the World Trade Organization.

He said every year, ocean carriers issue about 45 million bills of lading. Many international shipping documents still need to be standardised and mostly paper-based, needing physical exchanges.

In contrast, electronic bills of lading offer swift transactions, cost efficiency and carry less risks of fraud.

Citing a McKinsey study, the ICCB president said that 100 per cent adoption of electronic bills of lading could unlock $30-$40 billion in global trade by reducing trade friction.

He said this shift could also save 28,000 trees annually and cut carbon emissions.

Bangladesh ratified the UNESCAP Framework Agreement on Facilitation of Cross-Border Paperless Trade in 2020.

The roundtable on Sunday marked the first step in introducing the Digital Standards Initiative (DSI), with plans to draft rules and regulations aligned with global digitalization trends by 2027.

At the programme, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Private Industry and Investment Salman Fazlur Rahman said one of the most important components of digitalisation is interoperability.

Highlighting Bangladesh's success in creating an enabling atmosphere for digitalisation, the adviser said Bangladesh is making rapid progress in establishing a digital and cashless Bangladesh.

However successful international digital trade depends on other countries too, he added.

"International trade is not only dependent on Bangladesh but also dependent on the counterparts who also have to make various reforms," he said, adding that there are also some challenges arising from developed countries.

"Now we are seeing more and more protectionism, especially from the United States, even we are seeing that in Europe," he said.

Mr Rahman added that with the rise of technologies, there are growing concerns with cyber defence.

He said artificial intelligence is now evolving faster with exponential growth in its IQ level.

Regarding the export data mismatch among the National Board of Revenue (NBR), the Bangladesh Bank (BB) and the Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), he said the EPB has double-counted the value of merchandise sent abroad from the export processing zones (EPZs).

"The mistake which EPB made was double-counting the export from the export processing zones," he said.

Edimon Ginting, country director, Bangladesh Resident Mission, Asian Development Bank said effective digitalisation of trade will increase growth and create jobs by expanding access to global trade networks for developing economies.

He said there are two key impediments that we need to jointly work on and address. Those include a need for common standards and protocols that will enable effective interoperability among the players in supply chains, from exporters to logistics, customs, warehousing/logistics, finance, etc and the need to enhance legislation supporting the use and enforceability of key documents in trade.

To tackle these two important challenges, ADB, the Government of Singapore, and the International Chamber of Commerce founded the Digital Standards Initiative, he said.

DSI is working on addressing these challenges and helping promote a globally harmonised digital trade environment.

In order to address the lack of recognition of electronic versions of key trade documents such as bills of lading, the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) developed The Model Law on Electronic Transferable Records (MLETR), he informed.

He also said the adoption of MLETR would serve the purpose of further improving domestic legal frameworks and facilitating cross-border trade.

While presenting the keynote, Pamela Mar, managing director, Digital Standard Initiative (DSI), International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) said this is a pivotal moment for Bangladesh as it graduates LDC, expands its international trade profile, and sets targets to become a digital economy.

Digital trade builds on Bangladesh's export manufacturing success while preparing it to compete in the future of trade, she said.

The DSI and our entire network including ICC Bangladesh, stand ready to support the country to make the digital trade transition successful, she added.

Iftekhar Alam, Regional Head for South & South East Asia at the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC), spoke about the ongoing efforts to streamline trade, particularly for major cotton-importing countries like Bangladesh.

Muhammad A (Rumee) Ali, Chairman of ICC Bangladesh Banking Commission, delivered the welcome address, emphasising the critical role of digitalisation in modernising trade infrastructure.

Lawmaker A K Azad, also the vice president of ICC Bangladesh, concluded the event by emphasising the importance of digitalisation for reducing operational costs and enhancing trade efficiency as Bangladesh aims to become a middle-income country by 2026.

Zaidi Sattar, chairman, Policy Research Institute, Mohammad Navid Safiullah, additional decretary, Ministry of Commerce, Mursheda Zaman, joint secretary, Ministry of Commerce, Md Sarwar Hossain, director (Foreign Exchange Policy Department) of Bangladesh Bank, Raich Uddin Khan, first secretary (Customs Automation) National Board of Revenue, Kutubuddin Ahmed, member, ICC Bangladesh Executive Board, Naser Ezaz Bijoy, vice-president, ICC Bangladesh and chief executive officer, Standard Chartered Bank, Md Saiful Islam, former president, MCCI, Muhammad Zahangir Alam, CFO, Square Pharmaceuticals Ltd also spoke, among others.​

 

[Saif]

Consider human emotions while developing cybersecurity measures

Excessive worry about cyber threats can lead to "security fatigue."

www.thedailystar.net

Consider human emotions while developing cybersecurity measures

VISUAL: FREEPIK

In the increasingly digital world, cybersecurity has become a critical concern for individuals, businesses, and governments alike. While much of the focus is often on technological solutions—there is another crucial aspect that often goes underappreciated: the human emotions involved in cybersecurity.

Fear and anxiety significantly impact cybersecurity. The fear of data breaches, identity theft, and cyberattacks can drive individuals and organisations to adopt more stringent security measures. For instance, after the high-profile Equifax data breach, which exposed the personal information of over 147 million people, there was a significant increase in the number of people signing up for credit monitoring services and identity theft protection. This breach highlighted the vulnerability of even large organisations and instilled fear among consumers about the safety of their personal information.

However, fear and anxiety can also have negative effects. Excessive worry about cyber threats can lead to "security fatigue," where individuals become overwhelmed and desensitised to the constant barrage of warnings and advisories. A study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) found that people experiencing security fatigue may neglect basic security practices, such as updating passwords or installing software patches, thereby increasing vulnerability to attacks.

Trust is another pivotal emotion in the cybersecurity landscape. Users must trust that their systems are secure, that the websites they visit are safe, and that their personal information is protected. Unfortunately, trust can be easily exploited by cybercriminals through social engineering tactics such as phishing attacks. During the Covid pandemic, there was a significant increase in phishing attacks where cybercriminals posed as health organisations. These attacks exploited the public's trust in these institutions, tricking individuals into revealing sensitive information or downloading malicious software.
The 2013 Target data breach, where hackers gained access to the retailer's network by exploiting the trust placed in a third-party contractor, underscores how trust in third-party vendors can become a vulnerability if not properly managed.

The stress associated with maintaining cybersecurity can also influence behaviour. Professionals working in cybersecurity roles often face high levels of stress due to the constant threat of attacks and the pressure to protect sensitive information. For instance, the cybersecurity teams at hospitals during ransomware attacks, such as the one on Universal Health Services, experienced immense stress as they worked to secure patient data and restore critical systems while under attack. This stress can lead to burnout, reducing the effectiveness of cybersecurity teams and increasing the likelihood of human error.

For end-users, stress from dealing with complex security protocols and the ever-evolving nature of cyber threats can result in poor security habits. A common example is users resorting to simple, easy-to-remember passwords across multiple accounts, despite knowing the risks, to reduce the cognitive load associated with managing complex security requirements. This behaviour was evident in the aftermath of the Yahoo data breach, where many users admitted to reusing passwords across different sites to simplify their online security management.

Complex security measures often lead to frustration and anger. Managing passwords, dealing with frequent updates, and navigating authentication requirements can be exasperating. The Yahoo data breach underscores the importance of robust security practices, but user frustration can lead to non-compliance, undermining cybersecurity efforts. A survey by the University of California, Berkeley found that many users are frustrated by the complexity and frequency of password changes required by their employers, leading to shortcuts such as writing down passwords or using easily guessable passwords.

Confusion and helplessness often accompany cyber incidents. The rapid evolution of cyber threats and the complexity of security technologies can leave us feeling overwhelmed and powerless. In times of crisis, such as a ransomware attack or data breach, individuals and organisations may struggle to understand what steps to take. Developing clear response plans, conducting regular drills, and seeking assistance from cybersecurity experts can help alleviate confusion and empower us to respond effectively to cyber incidents.

Relief and satisfaction follow successful cybersecurity measures. Implementing robust security protocols, thwarting cyber threats, and safeguarding digital assets bring a sense of accomplishment and peace of mind. Knowing that our sensitive information is protected against malicious actors provides a sense of relief.

However, success in thwarting cyber threats can breed overconfidence and complacency. Believing that we are immune to cyberattacks can lead to lax security practices and vulnerability to future threats. Similarly, organisations may become complacent after implementing security measures, failing to adapt to evolving cyber threats. By staying informed about emerging cyber threats, conducting regular security assessments, and updating security protocols, we can guard against overconfidence and complacency.

Another issue that surfaces after cybersecurity breaches aspect is guilt and shame. Individuals may blame themselves for falling victim to phishing scams or neglecting security best practices. Organisations may feel ashamed of security lapses that compromise customer data or tarnish their reputation. Instead of dwelling on mistakes, they should focus on lessons learned, steps for improvement, open communication and collaboration to foster a culture of shared responsibility in cybersecurity.

To enhance cybersecurity by addressing emotional factors, individuals should be empowered with user-friendly cybersecurity education and practical knowledge. Building of trust by fostering transparency and reliability in digital services, prioritsing employee well-being and stress management to enhance cybersecurity resilience are also crucial along with simplifying security measures to reduce frustration and encouraging compliance.

In Bangladesh's digital journey, understanding and addressing cybersecurity emotions are paramount. By recognising the fears, frustrations, and triumphs inherent in digital defence, we can develop more effective strategies for safeguarding our digital assets. Through education, empathy, and collaboration, we can navigate the complexities of the digital landscape with resilience and confidence.

BM Zahid ul Haque is an experienced CISO and cyber digital transformation strategist.​

 

[Saif]

Smart Bangladesh, unsmart cybersecurity measures

In the recent case, the entire profile of an individual could be obtained from the Telegram channel by just providing two inputs: the NID number and the date of birth.

www.thedailystar.net

Smart Bangladesh, unsmart cybersecurity measures

For Smart Bangladesh, we need smart cybersecurity measures. VISUAL: STAR

With consistently poor data security and the resultant surge in cyberattacks in recent years, Bangladesh faces major cybersecurity challenges. The latest case of cybersecurity vulnerability was the leakage of sensitive personal data of individuals who have the smart National Identity (NID) cards on a Telegram channel. While the NID database contains personal information of more than 12 crore voters, 5.5 crore of them have Smart NID cards. The custodian of the NID system, the Election Commission (EC), has tried to wash its hands off the issue saying that the data breach occurred through one or some of the 174 institutions and organisations that have access to the NID server. But the fact remains that the EC is sharing sensitive personal data of citizens with various bodies that are not capable of ensuring their web security and integrity, resulting in this leakage.

Earlier in June this year, US-based online publisher of start-up and technology industry news TechCrunch revealed that the personal data of more than five crore Bangladeshi citizens had been exfiltrated and exposed from the website of the Office of the Registrar General, Birth and Death Registration (BDRIS). The exposed data included full names of the victims, their phone numbers, email addresses and NID numbers.

In the recent case, the entire profile of an individual could be obtained from the Telegram channel by just providing two inputs: the NID number and the date of birth.

The Telegram channel leakage raises questions about the integrity of the EC, which provides sensitive personal data of individuals to organisations with little ability to keep them secure. The BDRIS issue should have been a good enough red flag for the NID data custodian to limit access to information for high-risk organisations, like they have done after the Telegram issue surfaced.

What is even more concerning is that, despite identifying BDRIS as a source of data pilferage, no punishable action has yet been recommended against them by the investigating body, and the ICT Division closed the loop saying, "It is not acceptable that personal information of five million people was open to all. However, we cannot deny the claim either."

In other countries, such cases are not treated lightly, and responsible organisations are at least made accountable for their failure with penalties. For instance, the Integrated Health Information System of Singapore, in 2019, was fined $750,000 (around Tk 8 crore) for the incident of pilferage of personal data of its patients. Penalising organisations for such a breach is not about playing the blame game; rather, it is a negative reinforcement, holding them accountable for their negligence and making sure that they are more careful in the future. A simple slap on the wrist – as in the case of BDRIS – only goes to show how lightly this issue is being treated by the authorities here.

The problem with these data breaches means sensitive personal data of the citizens are now exposed – once data is leaked, even if it is taken down from public domain later, it is likely to remain with those nefarious bodies that have downloaded them – and this makes them even more vulnerable to crimes such as identity theft. Personal data could easily be manipulated by criminal groups to carry out fraudulent and criminal activities. What guarantee is there that your and my complete personal profiles are not lying at the disposal of some criminal gang – may be even in a far away, obscure location – for them to exploit and use at their will? And with the general election almost knocking at the door, what guarantee is there that criminals would not leverage these leaked data to manipulate the election results via identity theft?

We are moving towards Vision 2041 at a fast pace to become "Smart Bangladesh." As we move towards this grand vision, launch digital banking to bring the masses under the formal financial umbrella, increasingly leverage Internet of Things (IoT) for easier data exchange and to make life better, bridge the digital divide through digital innovation and sustainable solutions, and embrace 4IR, we are no longer in a position where we can wash our hands off responsibility by pointing fingers at others.

In the Telegram case, it was the EC's responsibility to make sure that only organisations with high security measures could access the personal data of citizens at its disposal, especially in the aftermath of the BDRIS incident. Leakage and exfiltration essentially pose a threat to national security, especially as we are digitalising more and more critical and sensitive services.

The Bangladesh Government's Computer Incident Response Team (BGD e-GOV CIRT), along with the cybercrime investigation team under the police's Counter-Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit and other agencies involved with combating cyberthreats, should be empowered with enhanced knowledge and adequate tools so that they are better capable of averting such risks and threats going forward. Since we are prioritising a smart future, we must also put in place adequate digital infrastructure to keep us safe in the smart world.

Tasneem Tayeb is a columnist for The Daily Star.​

 

[Saif]

How the cyberspace is being manipulated

This is not the first time that government propaganda efforts have been exposed by Meta/Facebook.

www.thedailystar.net

How the cyberspace is being manipulated

VISUAL: SHAIKH SULTANA JAHAN BADHON

Evgeny Morozov, in his book The Net Delusion: How Not to Liberate The World (Penguin, 2012), defined "cyber-utopianism" as a naive idea that the internet favours the oppressed rather than the oppressor. Contrary to the beliefs of the cyber-utopians, Evgeny showed how the internet has become a useful tool for authoritarian governments for propaganda, censorship, and surveillance—the three main pillars of Orwellian authoritarian control.

In the age of internet and digital technology, these three pillars of authoritarianism have become so interconnected that efforts to undermine one pillar might ruin the efforts to do something about the other two. For example, in order to avoid the control of the traditional censorship, if the people flock to social networking sites, they may fall prey to surveillance and propaganda. The more trust users put in social networks, the easier it is to use the networks to promote carefully disguised government messages and boost the propaganda apparatus.

Bangladeshi netizens are not outside this mechanism, which has become evident from the latest Adversarial Threat Report prepared by Meta, the parent company of Facebook. In its first quarterly report of 2024 published in May, Meta has announced the removal of 50 Facebook accounts and 98 pages with 3.4 million followers which are linked to Bangladesh's ruling Awami League, citing violations of its policy against Coordinated Inauthentic Behaviour (CIB).

According to Meta, CIB refers to coordinated efforts to manipulate public debate for a strategic goal, in which fake accounts are central to the operation. In each case, people coordinate with one another and use fake accounts to mislead others about who they are and what they are doing.

In the chapter titled "Bangladesh-based Network" and appendix, Meta's report exposed the fake accounts which posed as fictitious new entities or existing news organisations in Bangladesh. Some pages used the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) in their name and posted anti-BNP content. Many of these pages had a corresponding presence across several platforms, including YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), TikTok, and Telegram, in addition to their own websites.

According to Meta, the network posted primarily in Bengali and also in English about news and current events in Bangladesh, including elections, criticism of the BNP, allegations of BNP's corruption and its role in pre-election violence, as well as supporting commentary about the incumbent government, the ruling party and its role in the technological development of Bangladesh.

Meta found this activity as a result of its internal investigation into spammy inauthentic amplification activity in the region. Although the people behind it attempted to conceal their identity and coordination, Meta's investigation found links to individuals associated with the Awami League and the Centre for Research and Information, a non-profit organisation in Bangladesh associated with Awami League.

In the appendix of the report, Meta also gives a list of websites, X accounts, Telegram and YouTube channels, TikTok accounts, and names of fictitious news outlets which are used to spread misinformation with political purpose. According to Meta, the network worked to a regular shift pattern, posting between 07:00 and 21:00 GMT (1pm to 3am Bangladesh time), with a peak between 13:00 and 18:00 GMT (7pm to 12am Bangladesh time), and notably fewer posts on Fridays.

This is not the first time that government propaganda efforts have been exposed by Meta/Facebook. Earlier in December 2018, Facebook published a report titled "Taking Down Coordinated Inauthentic Behavior in Bangladesh'' where it announced removal of nine Facebook pages and six Facebook accounts for engaging in coordinated inauthentic behaviour. Facebook mentioned that after getting a tip from Graphika, a threat intelligence company that it worked with, it discovered that these pages were designed to look like independent news outlets and posted pro-government and anti-opposition content. Facebook directly linked these propaganda activities to individuals associated with the government at that time.

The irony is that on the one hand, the government has enacted cyber security laws in the name of preventing rumours and propaganda, and is asking for support from global technology companies like Facebook, Google, and TikTok to prevent rumours, block user accounts and pages, remove content. On the other hand, the ruling party and its research wing themselves have engaged in organised disinformation campaign against the opposition parties using fake accounts.

According to the latest Google transparency report, the Bangladesh government made 591 content removal requests to Google in the last six months of 2023, of which 310 or 52 percent were related to government criticism and 175 or 30 percent were related to defamation. According to Meta's latest transparency report, from July to December 2023, the Bangladesh government sought information about 2,164 users or accounts. Meta has provided information in 67.81 percent of the cases. In the same period, the government made 3,459 content restriction requests to Meta, of which 2,049 were Facebook posts and 1,357 were Facebook comments.

However, government control over the flow of information is not limited to removing or blocking content. Of course, similar to banning books or newspapers, governments block websites and apps to varying degrees depending on the situation and regime of internet-based communication. But this is not the only way to control the internet. Apart from creating various barriers to the flow of information that is dangerous for the government, there are many other ways to control people's thoughts. Some examples of these mechanisms are keeping people busy with various unimportant issues, publicising government statements or positions as neutral opinions or news, and controlling the content of discussions on social media through hired individuals and organisations, etc.

This type of activities can also be undertaken using traditional media, but by exploiting the various features of the internet and digital technologies, these activities can be implemented on a wider basis much more easily, effectively, and at a lower cost than traditional media.

With new forms of authoritarian and surveillance capitalism developing around the internet and digital technologies, it is important to hold both the government and technology companies accountable to the citizens to ensure privacy and freedom of expression. Just as unaccountable authority is harmful in the real world, it is equally dangerous in the virtual world of the internet—especially when the real and the virtual become one.

Kallol Mustafa is an engineer and writer who focuses on power, energy, environment and development economics.​

 

[Saif]

ICT sector: Different figures over actual export revenue

the government organisations that keep track of the export income said the sector’s income is not even USD 1 billion

en.prothomalo.com

ICT sector: Different figures over actual export revenue
Suhadha AfrinDhaka
Updated: 15 Jul 2024, 12: 35

US dollarFile photo

ICT sector export incomeRepresentational image

As per the government version the country's export income in information and communication technology (ICT) sector has reached USD 2 billion while the businessmen of the sector maintain that the amount can at best be USD 1.5 billion.

However, the government organisations that keep track of the export income said the sector's income is not even USD 1 billion.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, the state minister for post, telecommunication and ICT has been maintaining the export income in the sector to be around USD 2 billion.

He also expects the amount will reach USD 5 billion in the next five years.

Asked about the information of ICT sector's export income, Palak on Sunday told Prothom Alo that this estimation is based on data from Bangladesh Bank, and information of hardware and freelancing sectors.

Besides, some companies in the Chattogram Export Processing Zone (EPZ) export electronic items.

Some stakeholders of the sector say that the amount would actually be USD 1 billion more, the state minister said adding there are some unofficial exports in the sector.

Palak also states that he gives the estimation of USD 2 billion taking responsibility.

Bangladesh Bank and Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) mainly serve the information of export of goods and services. Service sector makes more exports in the ICT sector.

There is no specific data on the number of freelancers in the ICT sector. A top freelancer of the country, on condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo that none can correctly tell the export amount in the sector. The number of Bangladeshis freelancers registered with various freelancing platforms will be around Tk 600,000 to Tk 700,000. But the actual number of freelancers is around 150,000.

According to the Bangladesh Bank, the amount of export in telecommunication, computer and information service was USD 531.8 million between July-April in the fiscal year of 2023-24. This is 5.2 per cent less than the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

Meanwhile, ICT services exports were USD 477 million from July to March of the same fiscal year, according to EPB data.

This amount is USD 6.43 million less than the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.

According to World Bank data, the ICT sector accounts for 10 per cent of all services exported from Bangladesh in 2023. In the case of India it is 48.2 per cent, 36.2 per cent in Pakistan and 16.9 per cent in Sri Lanka.

Stakeholders say that 80 per cent of the country's ICT sector exports are service-based. And the export of this service is half of one billion dollars. In total, ICT sector exports will be less than a billion dollars.

The exports have been declining for two years. As a result, there are questions as to whether the export target of five billion dollars is achievable in the current situation.

Rasel T Ahmed, president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), thinks that the export of the ICT sector will be about USD 1.5 billion dollars.

He told Prothom Alo that many information of this sector is not added up.

ICT is considered as the most promising sector after the apparel industry but there has been no progress in the last two years, Ahmed said adding expected growth could not be achieved.

The dream of five billion dollar exports will not be achieved this way, he noted, rather proper planning is required for it.
There is no specific data on the number of freelancers in the ICT sector. A top freelancer of the country, on condition of anonymity, told Prothom Alo that none can correctly tell the export amount in the sector. The number of Bangladeshis freelancers registered with various freelancing platforms will be around Tk 600,000 to Tk 700,000. But the actual number of freelancers is around 150,000.

Persons connected with BASIS said the export amount of freelancers in the country can be between USD 200 and 250 million. However, the president of Bangladesh Freelancer Development Society (BFDS) Tanjiba Rahman told Prothom Alo that the amount would be USD 300.

She also thinks that the export of the ICT sector will be USD 2 billion. Apart from services, the ICT sector has various other products. The World Bank does not have any data on Bangladesh's exports of ICT products after 2015.

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) gives a list of products that are considered as ICT products. The list includes products such as computer and peripheral equipment, communication equipment, consumer electronic equipment (sound recording, microphone, camera, television camera, headphone, video game equipment, radio broadcasting equipment), electric components and semiconductor media etc.

There is no separate information available for ICT products in Bangladesh's export sector. However, Bangladesh Bank's 2022-23 financial year export earnings report mentions engineering products' export amount would be USD 585.85 million. According to the EPB data, the amount would be USD 479.96 million between July and May in 2023-24 fiscal year.

EPB's list of engineering products includes iron steel, copper ware, stainless steel ware, engineering equipment, electric products, bicycle and other products. None of Bangladesh's engineering products except for electric equipment fall under the category of UNCTAD's definition of ICT products. However, if the total export of engineering products and ICT services sector is calculated, it is more than a billion dollars.

He added that different activities are taking place in the ICT sector in scattered ways but the impact of these are not so visible. The government has to set the target and set up at least 150 big companies.​

 

[Saif]

Internet blackout: Freelancers in trouble

Internet blackout lands freelancers in trouble.

www.thedailystar.net

Internet blackout: Freelancers in trouble

Internet blackout lands freelancers in trouble. Photo: Orchid Chakma

With the complete shutdown of internet services across Bangladesh for the past five days, life on the digital frontier had come to a grinding halt. Mobile internet access was restricted on July 16 amidst country-wide protests against quota reinstatement in government jobs. Following escalating street violence, a complete internet blackout was suddenly imposed on July 18, with no prior warning. Now, the country's freelancers, whose income depends heavily on internet access, are facing significant financial difficulties.

Timely communication is paramount in online freelancing platforms like Fiverr and Upwork. Freelancers typically rely on the platforms' embedded messaging systems to communicate with clients. Unfortunately, the internet shutdown rendered communication entirely impossible.

Shaikh Abdullah, a Dhaka-based motion designer and video editor working for international clients, shared his experience. "I was negotiating a $500 project with a client," he explained. "The internet abruptly cut out during our discussions, with no prior announcement. After four days of complete inactivity, if the client reports my profile as inactive, it will significantly reduce my profile visibility and overall click-through rate. This, in turn, will lead to a loss of potential clients and ultimately, a decrease in my income."

The global freelancing marketplace operates at a fast pace, with clients and workers adhering to strict deadlines for project orders and deliveries. Failure to deliver on time often results in negative client feedback, which can significantly impact a freelancer's earnings if enough negative ratings accumulate.

Sudiptta Apu, a graphic designer and freelancer based in Khulna, expressed similar concerns. "I had eight ongoing projects worth over $1,000 that are now on hold due to the internet blackout. It's highly likely that clients will seek alternative service providers, as most require urgent and ongoing work."

"For my regular clients outside of online marketplaces, I attempted communication through international calls to India and the USA," Sudiptta added. "However, network issues made proper communication impossible. I fear losing most of my regular clients as well."

The internet shutdown also prevented many freelancers from delivering completed projects. Sohag Islam, a UI/UX designer based in Dhaka and founder of the IT firm Designera, recounted his experience. "I had two deliveries scheduled – one for $1200 and another for $660. Just an hour before the final delivery to the client, I lost internet connectivity. Communication with all my regular clients is completely cut off. The internet shutdown has resulted in a minimum loss of $3,000 for me."

Sohag further stated that he works remotely for a US-based firm, but the internet blackout hampered communication with them as well.

However, broadband internet connections were restored on a limited scale yesterday after 5 days of complete countrywide blackout. Md Emdadul Hoque, president of the Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), said earlier today that approximately 40% of broadband connections across the country have been restored, with most lines expected to be operational by the end of the day.​

 

[Saif]

4 ways to stay online during an internet outage

Mobile data internet services across Bangladesh is reportedly experiencing a widespread outage, as per reports.

www.thedailystar.net

4 ways to stay online during an internet outage

Mobile data internet in various parts of the country are experiencing outage. Image: Tech & Startup

Mobile data internet services across Bangladesh is reportedly experiencing a widespread outage, as per reports. The disruption, assumed to have begun around 10:30 am on July 18, is in continuation for the third consecutive day.

The disruption has particularly affected social media platforms such as Facebook and Messenger. Upon testing, netizens have been unable to send messages through Messenger or access the updated feed of Facebook since today morning. The same restriction has been noticed in platforms like X (formerly Twitter) as well, though tests have shown that, at the time of writing, YouTube has been accessible through normal means.

In light of these events, in any cases of emergency, the following methods can be tried to stay connected to the internet:

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

VPNs are widely used to access blocked content or websites. They function by routing the user's connection through a remote server, masking the local IP address and making it appear as though the user is accessing the internet from another location. However, some countries, including Russia and Egypt, employ network management technologies to block VPN traffic. Experts recommend having at least two VPNs to increase the likelihood of bypassing restrictions. Additionally, changing the domain name server (DNS) may be effective in some situations.

It is important to note that while VPNs can help bypass censorship, they do not provide privacy protection during browsing.

Mesh Networks

Mesh network applications like Briar and Bridgefy are particularly useful in dense gatherings such as protests. These apps allow messages to hop between devices using Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, creating a network independent of internet connectivity.

However, mesh networks have limitations, primarily their limited geographical range, which typically restricts communication to nearby devices. Research from the University of London identified vulnerabilities in Bridgefy, such as spoofing attacks, which could compromise the security of these networks.

International SIM Cards

In border regions, it may be possible to connect to networks from neighbouring countries where internet access remains unaffected. Using an international SIM card can help maintain connectivity. This approach has proven effective in Myanmar, where journalists and human rights workers use Thai SIM cards to stay connected, communicate with international colleagues, and facilitate mobile money transfers.

Sideloading Apps

Governments might attempt to restrict access to certain platforms by removing them from app stores. On Android devices, users can sideload apps, downloading them directly to the device without relying on official app stores. This method, however, carries risks, as sideloaded apps are not vetted and may contain malware.​

 

[Saif]

IT cos fear foreign clients may turn their back on them

Internet blackout came as a severe blow to the IT companies that fear long-term setbacks on business if foreign clients consider them unreliable and move to other countries, say Vietnam, for uninterrupted services. To avoid clients get irked by any disruption, some big companies have even sent a s

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

IT cos fear foreign clients may turn their back on them
MOHAMMAD MUFAZZEL
Published :
Jul 28, 2024 08:56
Updated :
Jul 28, 2024 09:35

Internet blackout came as a severe blow to the IT companies that fear long-term setbacks on business if foreign clients consider them unreliable and move to other countries, say Vietnam, for uninterrupted services.

To avoid clients get irked by any disruption, some big companies have even sent a small team of their workforce to any neighbouring country, for example Nepal and Singapore, to ensure continuation of their services.

Meanwhile, telecom operators said their daily revenue from data services was slashed by 35 per cent and that the industry incurred a loss of around Tk 5 billion between July 16 and July 26. Many service centres were also vandalized during the mayhem centring on protests against the quota system in government jobs, adding to the loss.

Local IT companies have experienced a boom in business opportunities in recent years as they have seen more and more overseas clients seeking to outsource back-office operations, customer care, image processing, graphics design, data entry, data analysis etc. That gave rise to optimistic projections about export growth of IT-enabled products and services.

The sector constitutes 1.25 per cent of the GDP (gross domestic product) and its export earnings were reportedly above $1.8 billion in the last fiscal year.

Shameem Ahsan, managing director of listed IT company eGeneration, said the shutdown of the Internet put the country in reverse order regarding the expansion of the global footprint of the IT sector.

"Companies, which provide outsourced services, lost a large number of foreign clients who failed to communicate with them," he said.

Losses in revenue amounted to Tk 5 billion in the five days to Thursday last week, according to the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS). The decline in income from the local segment is yet to be determined.

About 5 per cent of 2,500 IT companies sent small teams abroad in a desperate attempt to keep services to foreign clients unhindered during the Internet blackout.

"Foreign clients have alternatives to get the services. So, they will not wait for a service provider to get back to them," said BASIS President Russell T Ahmed.

Though Internet connections have been restored, Mr Ahmed said the companies were yet to return to operations fully because of the low speed.

Mr. Ahsan said his small company eGeneration itself lost revenue worth around Tk 15 million in the last one week. "It would take time to regain the confidence of foreign clients who seek services from Bangladeshi companies."

Mobile operators also endured losses for data services being snapped. A significant amount of revenue is generated from services to corporate companies and SME sectors.

The impact of the disruptions can be illustrated by the experiences that any of the service recipients were subjected to.

A senior official of Square Pharmaceuticals says the drug maker usually receives around 30,000 invoices from buyers across the country. The buyers send invoices to the company's depots situated in different districts through mobile Internet. Now they need to go to the depots and physically submit the invoices.

As a result, the number of invoices received per day has almost halved.

The companies that stored data through cloud computing have encountered greater problems.

App-based operations of mobile operators have also remained suspended. Company secretary of Robi Axiata Mohammed Shahedul Alam said telecom operators earn good revenue from the use of YouTube and Facebook.

"Our new customer acquisition also remained halted during the period of the unrest," Mr. Alam said.

Telecom operators, however, hope to recover part of the loss from the increase in voice services.

The recovery will depend on the facilities to be provided by the government, added Mr. Alam.​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh suffered over 50,000 cyberattacks in 10 days during quota protests: State Minister

Hackers have carried out more than 50,000 cyberattacks in several rounds in the past 10 days to take control of important government websites during the quota reform protests, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak has said. The hackers particularly targeted eight government websites to cause d

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh suffered over 50,000 cyberattacks in 10 days during quota protests: State Minister
bdnews24.com
Published :
Jul 30, 2024 20:06
Updated :
Jul 30, 2024 20:06

Hackers have carried out more than 50,000 cyberattacks in several rounds in the past 10 days to take control of important government websites during the quota reform protests, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak has said.

The hackers particularly targeted eight government websites to cause damage, but no website was completely hacked and there was no incident of stealing data from any website, he said after an emergency meeting on cyber security at Bangladesh Computer Council in Dhaka on Tuesday.

They used Domain Name System or DNS and diverted users to other pages containing messages from the hackers claiming to hack the website, according to him.

Asked if the cyberattacks increased because of the protests, the state minister said: "Cyberattacks are carried out all the time as the hackers try to hack websites of organisations under national security. They attack banks and financial institutions to steal money.

"But it's true that cyberattacks have increased during the protests."

He also claimed there was no government instruction to slow the internet down after the resumption of services following a total blackout during the protests.

He said the use of virtual private network, or VPN, to bypass security measures that have been in place to block social media has slowed down the internet all over the country.

VPN use has increased by 5,000 percent in this period, Palak said, citing technical people.​

 

[Saif]

IT firms suffer low productivity amid slow internet

Although broadband and mobile internet is again available in the country, most software, IT service and business process outsourcing (BPO) companies are experiencing significant productivity losses due to insufficient internet speeds.

www.thedailystar.net

IT firms suffer low productivity amid slow internet

Although broadband and mobile internet is again available in the country, most software, IT service and business process outsourcing (BPO) companies are experiencing significant productivity losses due to insufficient internet speeds.

The IT firms said they are grappling with speeds far below their operational needs, even though they are willing to pay a premium for better service.

This shortfall is causing a significant decrease in productivity and an uptick in operational costs.

According to industry people, productivity has been lost by about 50 percent since the return of the internet. They said with an initial internet blackout for a few days and the current low speed internet, dissatisfaction among foreign clients is increasing as reliable internet speeds are critical for constant communication.

This instability threatens ongoing contracts and heightens the risk of losing future business as clients demand seamless and uninterrupted connectivity for efficient operations, they said.

"Clients are not happy with such internet speeds," said Zayed Uddin Ahmed, CEO of ASL BPO, which provides back office and live support to clients globally.

"They are constantly asking when everything will be back to normal in our country," he added.

He said his office staff are struggling to complete assigned tasks in due time, which was severely hampering productivity.

Russell T Ahmed, president of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), said the IT firms are facing difficulty in sending and downloading files due to the low speed internet.

In the wake of student protests over reforming the quota system in public jobs and violence centring it, the government shut down mobile internet for over 10 days and broadband for 5 days in July.

The broadband internet service was restored on July 24 and mobile internet service on July 28. However, strict restrictions on social media and filtering mechanisms enforced by the government have led to a slowdown of the internet, according to people involved with the proceedings.

Fahim Mashroor, former president of the BASIS, said irrespective of their focus, be it export or local markets, the companies are being hit hard for the slow internet.

"In today's environment, cloud-based development is paramount, requiring robust bandwidth to function efficiently," he said.

"However, nearly all IT firms are grappling with speeds far below their operational needs, even when we are ready to pay a premium for better service," he added.

"We are afraid that export of software and IT services, which have already been under pressure over the last two years, may fall 20-30 percent this year because of this shutdown and slow bandwidth issue," he added.

"The internet speed is absolutely in no way close to what is required for doing any professional work and our development work and day to day activities are being greatly hampered," said Rashad Kabir, managing director of software company Dream71 Bangladesh.

"Nowadays, we cannot use WhatsApp, an important medium for communication, using mobile internet," he said.

"Even though we could use VPN (virtual private network) or broadband internet, file sharing is not possible and as a result, we are facing embarrassing situations with our foreign clients," Kabir added.

"Above all, there are more than 15 lakh people who use Facebook for their e-commerce business," he said.

The daily income of these people is now being seriously hampered because of the shutdown of Facebook and slow internet connection, added Kabir, also a former director of the BASIS.​

 

[Saif]

Countrywide Hi-Tech Parks to be named district-wise

Countrywide Hi-Tech parks, software technology parks and IT training and incubation centres will be named after the district concerned

en.prothomalo.com

Countrywide Hi-Tech Parks to be named district-wise
BSS Dhaka
Published: 28 Aug 2024, 18: 36

Nahid Islam BSS

Countrywide Hi-Tech parks, software technology parks and IT training and incubation centres will be named after the district concerned.

Posts, telecommunications and information technology Adviser and president of the executive committee of Bangladesh hi-tech park authority Md Nahid Islam today took the decision at the 32rd meeting of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority at ICT Tower in city's Agargaon, said a ministry press release.

The adviser said that there are many complaints regarding the allotment and cancellation of Hi-Tech Park land and so, it is necessary to review whether there was any irregularity or corruption in the process.

"We didn't get the expected results as per the objective of establishing the nationwide Hi-Tech parks," he said, stressing the need for further review to assess the lacking - whether it was political reason or corruption or inefficiency responsible for not getting the desired outcomes.

He added, "Identifying these issues will make it easier to work ahead."

Nahid Islam stressed the need to study more about how foreign countries are working and how Bangladesh can advance the work within capacity.

Besides, the adviser suggested doing practical work without having too high expectations.

In the meeting, a proposal was placed to name the dormitories of Hi-Tech Parks after Shaheed Mugdha, Abu Sayeed and some other martyrs who were killed during the anti-discrimination student movement.

However, the Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Advisor didn't agree to it and said there is no need to hurry like the Awami League government, rather the memories of the martyrs have to be preserved in such a way that they last forever.

The meeting also decided to exempt the Property Management Company (PMC) of Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park located in Jessore district and appoint a new PMC in a short time through open tender process.

It also discussed about the payment of rent arrears of the tenants in Karwan Bazar's Janata Tower and whether the tower could be renovated by keeping them.

The meeting also discussed how to help those who will invest in the hi-tech park to get loans.​

 

[Bilal9]

Countrywide Hi-Tech Parks to be named district-wise

Countrywide Hi-Tech parks, software technology parks and IT training and incubation centres will be named after the district concerned

en.prothomalo.com

Countrywide Hi-Tech Parks to be named district-wise
BSS Dhaka
Published: 28 Aug 2024, 18: 36

View attachment 7921
Nahid Islam BSS

Countrywide Hi-Tech parks, software technology parks and IT training and incubation centres will be named after the district concerned.

Posts, telecommunications and information technology Adviser and president of the executive committee of Bangladesh hi-tech park authority Md Nahid Islam today took the decision at the 32rd meeting of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority at ICT Tower in city's Agargaon, said a ministry press release.

The adviser said that there are many complaints regarding the allotment and cancellation of Hi-Tech Park land and so, it is necessary to review whether there was any irregularity or corruption in the process.

"We didn't get the expected results as per the objective of establishing the nationwide Hi-Tech parks," he said, stressing the need for further review to assess the lacking - whether it was political reason or corruption or inefficiency responsible for not getting the desired outcomes.

He added, "Identifying these issues will make it easier to work ahead."

Nahid Islam stressed the need to study more about how foreign countries are working and how Bangladesh can advance the work within capacity.

Besides, the adviser suggested doing practical work without having too high expectations.

In the meeting, a proposal was placed to name the dormitories of Hi-Tech Parks after Shaheed Mugdha, Abu Sayeed and some other martyrs who were killed during the anti-discrimination student movement.

However, the Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Advisor didn't agree to it and said there is no need to hurry like the Awami League government, rather the memories of the martyrs have to be preserved in such a way that they last forever.

The meeting also decided to exempt the Property Management Company (PMC) of Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park located in Jessore district and appoint a new PMC in a short time through open tender process.

It also discussed about the payment of rent arrears of the tenants in Karwan Bazar's Janata Tower and whether the tower could be renovated by keeping them.

The meeting also discussed how to help those who will invest in the hi-tech park to get loans.​

Man - I am proud of these Gen. Z-ers. They are truly wise beyond their 25 or so years.

Future of Bangladesh looks to be in good hands so far.

 

[Saif]

Man - I am proud of these Gen. Z-ers. They are truly wise beyond their 25 or so years.

Future of Bangladesh looks to be in good hands so far.

They are patriots. Nobody can buy them to harm our national interest. More power to Gen. Z-ers.

 

[Saif]

Quantum computing revolution: Is Bangladesh preparing to seize the future?

In Bangladesh, efforts to address the quantum threat are underway, albeit in a scattered manner. However, compared to neighbouring countries like India and China, these efforts remain minimal. To effectively prepare for the quantum revolution, strong government initiatives are imperative.

en.prothomalo.com

Quantum computing revolution: Is Bangladesh preparing to seize the future?
Ashim Chakraborty
Published: 10 Sep 2024, 17: 16

In the realm of technological innovation, the emergence of quantum computing stands as a beacon of unprecedented potential. Much like the race to harness atomic energy during World War II, today's global powers are engaged in a race to unlock the full capabilities of quantum technology. At the forefront of this pursuit are the United States, Europe, and China, each vying for supremacy in a landscape defined by the principles of quantum mechanics.

Quantum computing, a field rooted in the enigmatic properties of quantum physics, represents a paradigm shift in computational power. Unlike classical computers that rely on binary bits, which can only exist in states of 0 or 1, quantum computers utilise quantum bits, or qubits. These qubits possess the remarkable ability of superposition, enabling them to exist in multiple states simultaneously. This fundamental distinction allows quantum computers to explore a vast array of possibilities in parallel, offering unprecedented speed and efficiency in problem-solving.

At the heart of the quantum revolution lies a series of key differentiators between traditional and quantum computing. Firstly, while classical computers operate on binary logic gates, quantum computers utilise quantum gates to manipulate qubits and exploit their quantum states. This unique approach to computation enables quantum algorithms, such as Shor's and Grover's algorithms, to solve certain problems exponentially faster than their classical counterparts.

Moreover, the phenomenon of quantum parallelism empowers quantum computers to explore multiple solutions simultaneously, making them particularly adept at solving optimisation problems and simulating complex quantum systems. However, with great power comes great responsibility, and the rise of quantum computing also presents a formidable challenge: the quantum threat.

The quantum threat looms large on the horizon, posing significant risks to cybersecurity and data protection. As quantum computers continue to advance, their ability to crack encryption algorithms could render many existing cryptographic methods obsolete. The potential ramifications are far-reaching, with sensitive data, critical infrastructure, and national security at stake. According to experts, the timeline for quantum computers to break public key cryptography is alarming, with forecasts suggesting it could occur within the next 15 years.

In response to this imminent threat, organisations must proactively prepare for the era of quantum computing. Initiatives such as NIST's development of quantum-safe encryption methods signal a concerted effort to stay ahead of the curve. Additionally, President Biden's endorsement of post-quantum cryptography underscores the urgency for government agencies to fortify their cybersecurity infrastructure.

Businesses and governments must act urgently to bridge the gap between perception and reality, ensuring that they are adequately equipped to navigate the complexities of the quantum age and safeguard against potential security risks.

While the quantum threat poses significant challenges, it also presents opportunities for innovation and collaboration. By embracing quantum-safe encryption methods and cultivating agile cybersecurity practices, organisations can mitigate risks and safeguard sensitive data. Moreover, as quantum technology continues to mature, it holds the potential to revolutionise various sectors, including finance, healthcare, and defense. Countries like Bangladesh also can have a huge benefit out of it especially in agriculture and healthcare industries.

In the face of this rapidly evolving landscape, global investment in quantum computing has surged, with companies and governments alike recognising its transformative potential. From Fortune 500 corporations to emerging startups, stakeholders are racing to capitalise on the promise of quantum technology. However, amidst this frenzy of activity, it is essential not to overlook the ethical and legal implications of quantum computing.

In Bangladesh, efforts to address the quantum threat are underway, albeit in a scattered manner. However, compared to neighbouring countries like India and China, these efforts remain minimal. To effectively prepare for the quantum revolution, strong government initiatives are imperative.

Therefore, substantial investment in research and development, fostering partnerships with industry leaders, and prioritising cybersecurity initiatives are essential steps for governments to take. Additionally, universities should consider incorporating courses on quantum computing and cryptography into their curricula to ensure a skilled workforce capable of navigating the challenges and opportunities presented by quantum technology.

In conclusion, the quantum computing revolution presents both unprecedented opportunities and significant challenges. Businesses and governments must act urgently to bridge the gap between perception and reality, ensuring that they are adequately equipped to navigate the complexities of the quantum age and safeguard against potential security risks. The time to prepare for the quantum future is now.

* Dr. Ashim Chakraborty, senior lecturer and researcher in AI and computing at Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge, UK​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh IT sector shows promising growth: report

Bangladesh has shown promising growth in its information technology (IT) sector, especially in software development and IT-enabled services, said a global report on...

www.newagebd.net

Bangladesh IT sector shows promising growth: report
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Geneva 13 September, 2024, 22:16

Bangladesh has shown promising growth in its information technology (IT) sector, especially in software development and IT-enabled services, said a global report on ‘Digital Trade for Development’.

Prepared by the staff of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), The World Bank, and the World Trade Organization (WTO), the report shows that the adoption of e-commerce in Bangladesh, especially business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce in the readymade garments industry, presents an opportunity for the trade development of developing economies.

As per the report, digital technologies have the potential to enhance e-commerce in least developed countries (LDCs) by connecting remote economies to global markets.

To enable more inclusive outcomes from digitalisation, it is important to enable economies trailing behind in terms of digital readiness to catch up.

By addressing challenges in transport and connectivity infrastructure, enhancing digital skills and strengthening regulatory frameworks, LDCs would become better positioned to tap into the vast network of e-commerce, expanding their market reach and increasing economic growth.

It, however, mentions that export opportunities for digitally delivered products could be better harnessed by economies traditionally at the margins of global trade.

Although distance remains a significant factor in overall trade costs, digital technologies reduce the relative importance of some factors of comparative advantage, such as geographical distance from markets and the quality of transport infrastructure.

Trade in digitally delivered products, such as e-books, music and computer software, can thrive with improved internet access, an enabling regulatory environment and digital payment infrastructure.

According to the report, certain traditional factors of comparative advantage in trade may become less significant in the digital realm.

While capital investments and labour costs remain relevant for digital trade, their importance (at least for certain types of skills) is somewhat diminished compared to offline trade.

The report informs that some economies are more prepared to seize opportunities and take on challenges associated with digital trade, highlighting the importance of digital infrastructure and skills.

In general, to engage in and benefit from digital trade, consumers and businesses must have access to fast, affordable and reliable digital infrastructure as well as the skills and capabilities to use digital technologies for productive activities.

High tariffs on imports of information and communication technology (ICT) equipment, restrictions on imports of enabling services and limited competition in telecommunications services can reduce affordability and slow down the adoption of these technologies.​

 

[Saif]

Looking into ICT division projects

Soon after coming into office, the interim government had made its intention to look into the development works undertaken by the previous administration clear. That there would be stocktaking across the board was expected and the present government has already formed various committees to look int

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Looking into ICT division projects
Published :
Sep 14, 2024 22:37
Updated :
Sep 14, 2024 22:37

Soon after coming into office, the interim government had made its intention to look into the development works undertaken by the previous administration clear. That there would be stocktaking across the board was expected and the present government has already formed various committees to look into projects belonging to different ministries and departments. In line with that decision, a committee has been formed to examine the Information & Communication Technology (ICT) programmes the erstwhile government had taken up under the aegis of 'Digital Bangladesh'. Over the years, domestic media has exposed various irregularities in ICT division. The same can be said of the various think tanks (both domestic and international) and policy critiques who have highlighted wrongdoings by this division and its subsidiaries over the course of the past 15 years. Since billions of Taka have been spent from the national exchequer in the name of "development" in the digital sphere, the formation of the committee is a welcome piece of news.

According to a report published in this paper last week, "The committee has already held its first meeting, which was attended by representatives from various key organisations, including the Hi-Tech Park Authority, a2i Project, and the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC). However, representatives from the Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Department (IMED) and the Central Procurement Technical Unit (CPTU), responsible for evaluating government procurement, were absent, as their respective officials are yet to be selected."

The mandate of this committee is straightforward. It will investigate potential instances of corruption and then the authorities will decide where to go from there. The committee's formation is also a departure from the past. There is a technical expert who is a member and one who can assess precisely what progress (or lack thereof) has been made in the 22 ongoing ICT projects running under the FY 2024-25. There have been questions about the manner in which public procurement was done, whether rules were adhered to in concluding public-private partnerships (PPP), reservations expressed on the quality of audits on completed projects, etc.

One major criticism had been the manner in which the construction of hi-tech parks around Bangladesh was done. Serious concerns had been expressed about the manner of site selection and about whether proper feasibility studies had been conducted prior to their construction. Ultimately, some were finished, but only a fraction of envisaged companies moved there. The idea of an "ICT hub" replete with infrastructure and digital services was questioned. Sadly, many things were totally left out of the equation. People expect a certain level of quality of living in terms of schooling for children, entertainment, ease of access (communication) and since these were not priority areas, these projects didn't achieve their primary goals - to become centers of attraction for foreign direct investment (FDI). Even many local companies didn't bother to relocate.

Similarly, there was much consternation about the way consultants were hired to spearhead the ICT division. Again, the question of procedural irregularities had been raised which were ignored by then-government. Indeed, this division had been the den of irregularities but one that got very large allocations of public money in every single budget since 2010. Although the committee has not set any timeline, yet is expected to work swiftly and efficiently in the national interest. Hence, it is all the more crucial that the committee go through the books minutely to uncover all financial and procedural irregularities. Unnecessary projects need to be shelved, corruption-riddled projects need to be identified and those responsible be held accountable. Ultimately, the ICT division has to be turned into a body where accountability and transparency in budgeting and operation is ensured.​

 

[Saif]

Beyond 'digital' and 'smart': Defining Bangladesh's ICT brand

Countries that prioritise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have each chosen distinct positions for themselves.

www.thedailystar.net

Beyond 'digital' and 'smart': Defining Bangladesh's ICT brand

Visual: Fatima Jahan Ena

In today's world, countries that prioritise Information and Communication Technology (ICT) have each chosen distinct positions for themselves. This positioning might be as innovators, manufacturers, providers of affordable labour, or champions of quality and luxury. These choices are not just about economic strategy; they shape the very identity of a nation in the global market.

Take China, for instance. Historically, it was known for making products "cheaper and better." Now, the country is shifting toward "affordable innovation," reflecting a maturing economy that still values cost-effectiveness but is also pushing the boundaries of technological advancement. Scandinavian countries, on the other hand, have positioned themselves as "inclusive talent hubs," inviting thousands of entrepreneurs from across the globe to work within their borders. Estonia's e-residency program is a prime example, allowing anyone in the world to establish and manage an EU-based company entirely online. Singapore's tech scene is driven by a philosophy of "if you make it, we are interested in it," staying alert to new ideas and ensuring they are available within and from Singapore. The US extends its age-old national motto, the "land of opportunity," to its tech sector, offering endless possibilities for innovation and growth. Japan is synonymous with "superior quality," German engineering stands for "robustness," and Switzerland epitomises "luxury."

Each of these countries tells a different story; each has a unique brand. Some have consciously chosen their angle, while for others, it has evolved organically. But every nation with a stake in ICT has a brand—except, perhaps, Bangladesh.

When the last government came to power, it sought to align itself with the global wave of technological advancement. Part of this was driven by a desire to create a new thrust sector, while part was motivated by the worldwide surge in technological innovation. In 2008, the then-Prime Minister coined the term "Digital Bangladesh." At its core, the philosophy aimed to ensure democracy, human rights, transparency, accountability, justice, and the efficient delivery of government services through the extensive use of technology.

In 2022, the government introduced the concept of "Smart Bangladesh." This time, the focus was on building a SMART country by 2041, with an emphasis on smart citizens, a smart economy, smart governance, and a smart society. However, from a neutral, apolitical perspective, both terms, though catchy, were somewhat ambiguous and did little to establish a clear national brand.

"Digital Bangladesh" and "Smart Bangladesh" did see some success. Access to the internet increased significantly, and the digital divide between metro areas, cities, and townships narrowed. Events like Digital World, SoftExpo, and SmartPhone Expo became regular occurrences, showcasing the industry's potential and progress. During this period, Bangladesh also saw a remarkable rise in freelancers. With over 10 lakh freelancers, the gig economy positively impacted self-employment, remittances, and overall economic empowerment. The start-up ecosystem flourished, entrepreneurship gained momentum, and venture capital became more accessible to young entrepreneurs.

While these initiatives contributed to some fragmented progress, they fell short of creating a clear and precise national brand. The "Smart Bangladesh" roadmap, in particular, was notably vague. The Smart Bangladesh Masterplan, available online, outlined a focus on artificial intelligence, machine learning, robotics, blockchain, nanotechnology, 3D printing, and other futuristic innovations. However, there was a clear disconnect between ambition and action. Most initiatives were centred around building infrastructure, whether civil constructions or technological. These expensive projects were not backed by any precise plan. For instance, Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park in Jessore is a high-end, expensive, and lavish establishment aimed at attracting foreign direct investment in software development and supporting local programmers; unfortunately, the goals never materialized.

Similar stories transpired for other software parks in Chattogram, Kaliakoir, Rajshahi, and beyond. The government declared 40 mega projects, aiming to increase the ICT sector's share of the national economy to at least 20 percent by 2041. Unfortunately, none of these initiatives managed to attract a notable volume of foreign investment.

Despite the attention garnered by "Digital Bangladesh" and "Smart Bangladesh," neither concept effectively communicated a coherent and purposeful brand for Bangladesh to the outside world.

Several glaring questions remain unanswered: what message do we want the world to hear? Do we want to position ourselves as a hub of trained human resources? Are we aiming to become a manufacturing powerhouse? Should we focus on innovation, bolstering our R&D capabilities? Or are we looking to build a long-term strategy around research and the accumulation of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)?

Frankly speaking, to this date, our ICT sector doesn't seem to know where it should be heading. We are not an investable brand, so the obvious question is, where do we go from here?

The answer is simple—onward and forward! We must move past the years of fruitless efforts and begin shaping our industry right away. This time, we need a clear focus and purpose.

To begin with, we need to stop investing in expensive infrastructure projects that almost never achieve their intended results. We need to democratise innovation on all fronts. Separate funds should be allocated to public and private universities for research and innovation. Researchers, students, and entrepreneurs should be able to manage seed funding from their respective universities. The IPs generated using these funds should be shared by innovators and the universities; this way, universities would also have an incentive to promote and support new ideas and inventions.

Bangladesh must focus on ground-breaking innovations, cheaper and better than others. It's not just about doing the same thing that China does at a lower cost, but we should focus on making things that China and other competitive countries cannot make. Reduced costs will give us a competitive edge, helping us stay ahead of others, but they will also allow us to penetrate high-potential markets that remain unexplored due to their limited purchasing power, such as Africa, Central Asia, and Eastern Europe.

Generating original intellectual properties (IP) is a critical element. Moving forward, we can generate revenue through leasing our IPs, ensuring long-term sustainability and profitability for all stakeholders. Drawing interest from foreign investors will depend on many factors, but stability and continued innovation will play a significant role in attracting foreign funds to Bangladesh. Instead of blindly following mature and advanced companies, investment should be encouraged in early-stage start-ups, both by the government and private venture funds.

There is a heightened national spirit in every walk of life. Citizens and policymakers are actively investigating and introspecting. The time for transformation in the technology and ICT sector is now; it's a golden opportunity, one we never had before. It won't be easy, but with relentless pursuit of cost-effective innovation, we may be able to build a name, perhaps even a brand for ourselves—"Bangladesh, the leader in frugal innovation."

Sinha Ibna Humayun works in technology marketing and is a tech enthusiast.​

 

[Saif]

How to fix the legacy of internet shutdowns in Bangladesh

Given that fundamental rights are the default and restrictions are exceptions, internet shutdowns are, by nature, unlawful.

www.thedailystar.net

How to fix the legacy of internet shutdowns in Bangladesh

FILE VISUAL: EHSANUR RAZA RONNY

Bangladesh endured a series of unprecedented state-sanctioned internet shutdowns during the month-long student protests, starting with restrictions on social media, messaging services, and mobile internet, and culminating in a near-total blackout that lasted five days. Although connectivity was temporarily restored, the final shutdown coincided with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation and departure on August 5.

A recent investigation under the interim government revealed that two government agencies, the National Telecommunication Monitoring Centre (NTMC) and the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), issued shutdown orders during student protests, under the direction of former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, without any judicial or administrative approval. These top-down measures by the government to disconnect the internet is not new; the state has resorted to this brute force method of internet control on numerous occasions since 2009, with shutdowns occurring almost annually since 2015.

For over a decade, the UN Human Rights Council has condemned internet shutdowns and urged national governments to refrain from impeding internet access, reiterating that internet access is a human right and imploring governments to align domestic policies with international obligations on online freedom of expression. Although the Bangladesh Constitution does not explicitly mention internet access as a fundamental right, the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression can be interpreted as conferring a right to uninterrupted internet access as essential for exercising this freedom.

Yet, over the last fifteen years, this extra-legal measure has been a favoured tactic of the former government to consolidate power, contain civil unrest and dissents, censor information, and isolate the country from the global community.

It is critical to understand the systemic legitimacy of shutdowns in Bangladesh. Under Bangladesh's Constitution, reasonable restrictions on freedom of expression may be imposed on certain grounds, inadvertently giving authorities the latitude to interpret the constitutional provisions to enforce internet shutdowns if necessary, for instance, for state security, public order, or public morality. Moreover, the broadly defined provisions of section 97 of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001, coupled with vague and expansive licensing conditions, confers excessive discretion to authorities. This discretion has been abused to arbitrarily compel operators to restrict access, even though neither the regulatory agencies nor the overseeing ministries have a clear legal mandate to order such shutdowns.

Additionally, section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 grants authorities sweeping powers to issue internet shutdown orders based on subjective assessments of potential threats to public order. On a systemic level, the structuring of telecommunications infrastructure at the network access level—where operators are required by licensing conditions to maintain connections with and provide data access to intelligence services like the NTMC under strict conditions of secrecy—enables state agencies to monitor, intercept, and restrict internet traffic, bypassing procedural and legal safeguards, contributing to a pervasive lack of transparency and accountability.

Constitutional principles demand that laws affecting individual freedoms be reasonably certain and predictable. Where discretionary powers are conferred upon state actors, they must be exercised within predefined limits and in a manner that is fair, reasonable, predictable, non-capricious, non-discriminatory, and non-arbitrary. It is clear that these principles were not adhered to by the former government or the agencies directing the shutdowns.

Addressing the issue of internet shutdowns and responding to national and international calls for their outright ban requires a significant and time-consuming policy overhaul. However, the entrenched nature of existing practices, coupled with a lack of immediate political will and the need for consultation and consensus-building among stakeholders, makes achieving these reforms challenging in the short term. A poorly conceived framework could result in future governments enforcing shutdowns, either through statutory amendments, or invocation of constitutional allowances, effectively bypassing the ban.

It would be remiss to overlook the complicity of other stakeholders, including civil society, courts, regulatory agencies, and the telecommunication operators Assessing their roles is paramount not only due to the unconstitutional nature of shutdown orders but also to put into perspective the human cost and economic setbacks that resulted from the wilful blindness.

Both the High Court Division and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh have the authority to assess constitutionality of laws and administrative actions, and, historically, have been proactive in legal reforms through suo motu rulings, extraordinary jurisdictions, guidelines, and seminal decisions. Yet there has been no judicial intervention against a repressive measure like an internet shutdown that repeatedly violated fundamental rights.

Government instrumentalisation of the BTRC, an independent statutory agency, to enforce shutdown orders were often verbally communicated to the operators, with no paper trail, allowing plausible deniability. In absence of explicit authority over shutdown decisions, the BTRC relied on ambiguous statutory provisions and licensing conditions.

Further compounding the issue is the authorities' denial of involvement in internet shutdowns, exposing operators to legal risks under section 67 of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001, which criminalises unlawful obstructions to telecommunication and internet services. Considered thus, operators could have refused compliance and challenged legality of shutdown orders. It triggers the question on why the operators, especially subsidiaries of multinational corporations that are subject to international standards and scrutiny—collectively servicing around 96 percent of the country's mobile connections—maintained over-compliance with unlawful orders for over a decade.

Similarly, civil society organisations could have contested the legality of the restrictions under Article 102 of the constitution for infringing fundamental rights, particularly freedom of expression and right to equality and equal protection of law. Despite regular public interest litigations, no constitutional lawsuit has addressed these shutdowns till date.

The interim government has the opportunity to correct the course, and establish a forward-looking and future-proof legal framework to prevent internet shutdowns.

Both in principle and in practice, internet shutdowns should be de facto unlawful and unacceptable. A wholesale internet blackout has historically been used to impose collective punishment, censor speech and information, or suppress legitimate political protests. These measures have disproportionately impacted underrepresented communities, small businesses, and created an information vacuum.

While an outright ban on internet shutdowns would be the ideal solution, the necessary constitutional and legislative reforms makes it unlikely for an outright ban to be effectively implemented in the short term, and risks being overturned by future political regimes.

Considering the constraint of rule-making powers of the interim government, either a presidential ordinance or secondary legislation under the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulation Act, 2001 could provide a viable path forward.

Consistent with the recommendations by the UN Human Rights Council and Bangladesh's Constitution, and in absence of a systemic overhaul, a primary or secondary legislation addressing disabling or throttling of internet connection and online services should consider the following normative standards and procedural safeguards: i) the law should define measures constituting internet shutdowns and specifically prohibit such measures, unless the conditions of the statute are met; ii) the law should explicitly give a specific state agency the power to enforce shutdown, with clear guidelines and standards to prevent misuse of that power; iii) any restrictions must be necessary to achieve the goals listed in Article 39(2) of the constitution; iv) a restriction must be reasonable and the least invasive method possible, and adequately reasoned. Orders should be as narrow as possible in terms of how long they last, the areas they cover, and the services they affect; v) decisions should be well-documented, with clear reasons provided. Those affected, including individuals and operators, should be informed in advance, with an explanation of the legal reasons and details of the shutdown's scope and duration; vi) all information about the decisions should be published according to the Right to Information Act, 2009 and other legal requirements; vii) the actions should be approved in advance by a court or an independent body to prevent political, commercial and other improper influence; vii) there should be timely ways for those affected to challenge the actions in court or through other means, even after the shutdown ends, and hold the state apparatuses accountable.

Considering the extensive use of shutdowns during the recent student protests and probable arguments around necessity to prevent violence, it may be prudent to seek an advisory opinion of the apex court on the legality of shutdown orders. This could provide critical insights into structuring an enactment that ensures a rights-respecting and principled legal framework. Albeit a less preferable option, the writ jurisdiction of the High Court Division could also be invoked to achieve the same outcome.

Given that fundamental rights are the default and restrictions are exceptions, internet shutdowns are, by nature, unlawful. Even in scenarios where shutdowns may be warranted, it should be temporary and targeted, and the measures must meet these stringent legal standards, ensuring adherence to established rights-respecting frameworks.

Shahzeb Mahmood is the Head of Legal and Policy Research at Tech Global Institute.​

 

[Saif]

Why Bangladesh’s mobile data slower than Myanmar’s

Bangladesh has one of the slowest mobile data speeds in the region, lower than neighbouring Myanmar, with prices higher than neighbouring India and Pakistan or even developed nations like Italy and France.

www.thedailystar.net

Why Bangladesh’s mobile data slower than Myanmar’s

Bangladesh has one of the slowest mobile data speeds in the region, lower than neighbouring Myanmar, with prices higher than neighbouring India and Pakistan or even developed nations like Italy and France.

So why has the "Digital Bangladesh" initiative not yet delivered on its promises? Why is a country with so much potential lagging behind? In this article, we will analyse the root causes of these issues.

Digital struggles due to corruption: Corruption and inefficiency have derailed the Digital Bangladesh Vision, and if left unaddressed, they will continue to delay the country's progress in the digital era. Mismanagement of funds intended for crucial infrastructure projects and not efficient utilisation of SOF funds has stalled the growth of a true digital ecosystem, leaving Bangladesh behind in the digital race.

Imbalance in the internet value chain: Mobile network operators in the country do not own key layers of the internet value chain, such as submarine cables, international terrestrial cables, access to international internet gateways, the national telecommunications transmission network and towercos.

These critical layers are controlled by other entities. This imbalance in ownership adds costs and limits competition, further driving up data prices for consumers and restricting innovation.

Low tower fiberisation: Another key issue is that only 20 percent of the mobile towers are connected to fibre. Both 4G and 5G networks require a robust and well-developed fibre infrastructure to deliver high-speed data. Without significant fibre network expansion, the country will continue to struggle to provide reliable mobile data services.

Tower infrastructure challenges and impact on mobile service: The mobile phone industry faces significant challenges due to delays and inefficiencies in the installation of new towers. Slow site acquisition processes, legal disputes and bureaucratic hurdles have severely limited the rollout of essential infrastructure. The lack of proper tower coverage directly impacts data speeds and service reliability, further exacerbating the country's already slow mobile internet speeds.

DWDM technology barriers by BTRC: The BTRC has not permitted the use of Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing (DWDM) technology by mobile operators. DWDM allows multiple data streams to travel over the same fibre, increasing the efficiency and capacity of their existing networks. By not allowing mobile operators to adopt DWDM technology, the BTRC is creating an additional bottleneck in the country's digital infrastructure development.

Smartphone adoption and regulatory challenges: The slow pace of smartphone adoption remains a significant barrier to achieving Bangladesh's digital ambitions and a successful 5G rollout. To accelerate adoption, the BTRC should introduce regulations for network-locked handsets and offer accessible financing options.

Active infrastructure sharing: One solution to the infrastructure gap is active infrastructure sharing. This would allow telecom operators to share network components such as radio access network equipment and fibre backbones, reducing the costs of building individual networks and speeding up deployment.

The BTRC's eroded independence and political influence: Since a 2010 amendment, the BTRC has lost much of its regulatory independence. This shift, coupled with political interference and external pressures, has created an uneven playing field, favouring certain stakeholders and hindering industry growth. Restoring the BTRC's autonomy and removing political influences are essential for fair regulation and fostering competition in the telecom sector.

High data prices and slow internet speeds do not just inconvenience consumers, they limit access to education, hinder business and block opportunities in the global digital economy. By addressing these challenges, Bangladesh can improve its mobile data speeds and reduce costs, ensuring that its digital future is accessible to all. It is time for both the government and telecom regulator to step up, reduce inefficiencies, and work together to deliver fast and affordable mobile internet for all. Only then will Bangladesh truly embrace its bright future.

The author is a telecom policy analyst​

 

[Saif]

Bangladesh moves two notches up in broadband internet speed index

Bangladesh has made significant strides in its broadband internet speed, moving up two spots in the global rankings. The country rose from the 101st position in July to the 99th position in August, according to the Speedtest Global Index published by Ookla. There has also been a minor improvement

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Bangladesh moves two notches up in broadband internet speed index
FE Online Desk
Published :
Sep 23, 2024 22:59
Updated :
Sep 23, 2024 23:07

Bangladesh has made significant strides in its broadband internet speed, moving up two spots in the global rankings.

The country rose from the 101st position in July to the 99th position in August, according to the Speedtest Global Index published by Ookla.

There has also been a minor improvement in mobile internet speeds. However, this has not resulted in a change in the ranking.

Bangladesh retained its 89th place in the mobile internet speed index in August, the same as in July.​

 

[Saif]

‘Cybersecurity as vital as border security’: ICT Adviser Nahid

Cybersecurity must be prioritized at the same level as border security, emphasized Md. Nahid Islam, Adviser to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. During a meeting with officials from the Bangladesh Computer Council

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

‘Cybersecurity as vital as border security’: ICT Adviser Nahid
UNB
Published :
Sep 23, 2024 20:32
Updated :
Sep 23, 2024 20:32

Cybersecurity must be prioritized at the same level as border security, emphasized Md. Nahid Islam, Adviser to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. During a meeting with officials from the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), he stressed the urgent need to strengthen the country’s data centers to protect its critical digital infrastructure.

Speaking at the ICT Tower in Dhaka, Nahid Islam remarked, “Our digital infrastructure is as vital as our physical borders. The BCC must enhance its data centers’ capabilities to safeguard the nation’s cybersecurity.”

The meeting opened with a briefing on the ongoing activities of the BCC, which plays a crucial role in managing the country’s IT infrastructure and cybersecurity initiatives.

The adviser also underlined the government’s commitment to rooting out corruption. “Our primary goal is to build a corruption-free Bangladesh,” he said, urging BCC officials to remain committed to their work with integrity, following the council’s policies and principles. He called for dedication in ensuring transparency and accountability within the organization.

Addressing recent concerns, BCC officials informed the adviser that multiple committees had been formed to investigate various complaints within the organization. As part of these efforts, two officers have been placed on mandatory leave, and a technical committee has been set up to review all ongoing projects under the division. However, officials highlighted the challenges involved in project approvals, particularly in navigating complex regulatory requirements.

The adviser emphasized the importance of these investigation committees’ transparency and urged swift action against those responsible for any misconduct.

Present at the meeting were ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury and other senior officials of the Bangladesh Computer Council.​

 

[Saif]

Digitalisation: Billions spent yet Bangladesh lags behind in indices

According to sector insiders, there are a significant number of projects that yielded little benefit. Different infrastructures were built with ‘unrealistic’ promises, while domestic and foreign investments fell far short of expectations

en.prothomalo.com

Digitalisation: Billions spent yet Bangladesh lags behind in indices
Suhadha Afrin
Dhaka
Updated: 25 Sep 2024, 11: 30

The immediate past government, led by the Bangladesh Awami League (AL), spent billions of taka over 15 and a half years in the name of building a digital Bangladesh.

Despite the huge investments, the country lags behind in different indices, including digital services, use of technology in reducing corruption, human resource development, skill development, and ICT service exports.

The ICT division undertook 53 projects and 34 programmes at a cost of Tk 250 billion between 2009 and 2024, with 22 projects still underway. Besides, various ministries and departments took on projects regarding digitalisation. The posts and telecommunications division alone undertook such projects worth Tk 400 billion.

According to sector insiders, there are a significant number of projects that yielded little benefit. Different infrastructures were built with ‘unrealistic’ promises, while domestic and foreign investments fell far short of expectations. A huge sum of money was spent on training programmes, to get a little in return.

There are widespread allegations of cost overruns, nepotism, and corruption in the ICT division projects.

Insiders said former state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and his associates would turn their random ideas into projects. A total of 11 projects were named after Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his family members to ensure quick approval.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, son of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina and also her ICT adviser, was in sole control of the ICT and telecommunications sectors, despite his stay abroad.

In a Facebook post in December, 2022, Sajeeb Wazed Joy claimed that Bangladesh had made significant strides in the ICT sector during the last 13 years, with digital centres being set up even at remote villages.

There are many countries across the world that did not chant any slogans or made handsome investments are now ahead of Bangladesh in various indices. Bangladesh ranked 100th out of 193 countries in the United Nations (UN) e-government development index (EGDI) in 2024. Among its peers, India (97th), Sri Lanka (98th), and the Maldives (94th) are ahead of Bangladesh, while Pakistan (136th) lags behind.

The index was prepared on three parameters – online service, telecom infrastructure, and skilled human resource.

The international telecommunication union (ITU) released its ICT development index (IDI)-2024 in June, showing that only about 39 per cent of Bangladeshis use the internet. Bangladesh trails behind Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Vietnam, and Bhutan, though ahead of Pakistan. Data for India was not included in the index.

According to the digital progress and trends report-2023 of the World Bank, Bangladesh has the lowest smartphone user rate in South Asia at about 52 per cent. It also lags in internet speed, digital standard of life, artificial intelligence (AI) usage, and freelancing.

The adviser for ICT and telecommunications, Nahid Islam, said in an annual development programme (ADP) review meeting for the 2024–25 fiscal year that a total of Tk 650 billion was invested in the sector during the Awami League government. Still, Bangladesh is falling behind. The people could not avail the real facilities of digital Bangladesh, except for irregularities.

Digital Bangladesh: Vision and project

The Awami League announced its plan to build ‘Digital Bangladesh’ before the 9th parliamentary elections in 2008, and began various projects in this regard after assuming the state power.

Late Syed Abul Hossain, Mostafa Faruk Mohammed, and Abdul Latif Siddiqui headed the ICT division between 2011 and 2014. Later, Zunaid Ahmed Palak was appointed as state minister on 12 January, 2014, and he served in the position for the next 10 years.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, who has been subjected to numerous allegations of taking arbitrary projects, irregularities, and corruption, was arrested in a murder case after the downfall of the Awami League regime.

The AL introduced a fresh vision of ‘Smart Bangladesh’ in the manifesto for the last election on 7 January 2024. It gave rise to a question: Why was there a need for ‘Smart Bangladesh’ when the goals of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ had not been fully achieved?

While speaking to Prothom Alo in December, 2022, Zunaid Ahmed claimed that the government had been 100 per cent successful in creating Digital Bangladesh, with government services reaching at doorsteps and technology-based industries developing. The whole system was in operation virtually during the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, individuals concerned said internet usage has increased, and government services have gone digital. But these advances have not placed Bangladesh ahead of other countries in some crucial parameters.

M Manjur Mahmud, president of Datasoft Systems, said there were some good initiatives during the early years of the Awami League government, but the last 10 years saw rampant looting. “The previous government has only erected infrastructures. There were no consultations with the ICT sector stakeholders before undertaking any projects.”

Infrastructures

The Awami League government took an initiative to build hi-tech and software parks in different districts to attract domestic and foreign investments, and also set up incubation centres for skill development. Among the 92 proposed facilities, only three hi-tech parks, three software parks, and four incubation centres are now in operation, while some others are under construction. These projects have cost Tk 81.86 billion so far.

In reality, these facilities did not attract the expected investments, while many incubation centres are not even functioning well.

For example, the Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park in Jashore, built at a cost of Tk 3.05 billion, was inaugurated in 2017. Zunaid Ahmed Palak then told the media that the hi-tech park will be the silicon valley of Bangladesh. But the park has failed to meet the expectations, and its facilities are now being rented out for wedding ceremonies to cover costs.

M Rokonuzzaman, a professor of electrical and computer engineering department at North South University, said, “What did the nation receive from these state of the art buildings? The lenders too have responsibilities to these projects. The issue should come up if the lenders carried out assessments after execution of the projects. The consultants too should be asked what prompted the construction of this type of infrastructure.”

The Bangladesh computer council (BCC) implemented three projects from 2010 to December 2023 to provide high-speed broadband services at the union level, at a cost of Tk 37.56 billion. Another project – establishment of digital connectivity (EDC) – was undertaken at a cost of Tk 59.23 billion by the ICT division, to provide broadband connections at union and village levels.

There are questions over the impacts and benefits of these projects, as Bangladesh still lags in broadband usage.

Looting through training programmes

A total of Tk 20 billion has been spent on 11 projects and 15 programmes on training since 2009. Projects like freelancing training, language training, cyber training, and digital literacy training continued year after year.

There are allegations that individuals close to the government used to get contracts for training programmes. They pocketed the funds without providing any substantial training.

For example, the learning and earning development project, launched in 2014 with a budget of Tk 3.20 billion, has been criticised by the implementation monitoring and evaluation division for inadequate training, lack of skilled trainers, and poor equipment and internet facilities.

The project ended in 2023. The IMED in 2020 carried out a survey on 500 trainees and came to know from them that the training was not enough for them.

Apps don’t work

The ICT division had undertaken three programmes at different times from 2013 to 2017 for developing mobile games, apps and trainers, with an expenditure of around Tk 240 million. Then another project, worth Tk 3.3 billion, was taken up for the same tasks from 2016 until December this year. This is underway. Not a single one of the 600 apps developed under the programme could meet the expectations.

Multiple projects were taken up for the same work several times. For example, there is a 10-year-long project, iDEA, to support the startups. At the same time, mentioning the same goals and objectives as iDEA, another project of Tk 3.53 billion is ongoing under the Hi-Tech Park Authority. THe project is titled ‘Digital Entrepreneurship and Innovation Ecosystem Development’.

Farhana A Rahman, former vice-president of BASIS (Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services), an organisation of the information technology sector, told Prothom Alo that in most of the cases some partisan institutions and individuals have benefitted in the ICT sector in the last 15 years. The sector could not progress as expected.

She further said that it was told that the ICT sector would earn US $5 billion dollar as export income but not even 1 billion could be achieved.​

 

[Saif]

Rethinking Bangladesh’s hi-tech parks

Infrastructure delays, skill shortages, and regulatory inefficiencies have hindered the success of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.

www.thedailystar.net

Rethinking Bangladesh’s hi-tech parks

While the intent behind the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority is commendable, its success has been relatively limited.

VISUAL: ANWAR SOHEL

The Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) was established in 2010 with the ambitious goal of transforming the country into a global hub for information and communication technology (ICT). More than a decade later, the organisation's efforts to promote the technology sector's growth have largely fallen short of expectations. While the intent behind the initiative is commendable, its success has been relatively limited, and the expected impact has not fully materialised. Several factors have hindered its progress, and strategic interventions are necessary to unlock its full potential.

One of the primary issues hindering BHTPA's progress is the inadequate infrastructure in the hi-tech parks, it established. Many of these parks suffer from poor internet connectivity, irregular power supply, and a lack of basic amenities, making it challenging for technology companies to operate efficiently. This has deterred potential investors and entrepreneurs from setting up businesses in these parks.

While BHTPA has initiated several projects across the country to establish such parks and business incubation centres, many are plagued by delays in construction and infrastructure development. In some cases, bureaucratic red tape and inefficient project management have slowed down the execution of plans. The lack of timely completion has hindered the ability of tech companies to set up operations in these parks.

Streamlining the execution of infrastructure projects is critical to making the hi-tech parks operational. This can be achieved by improving project management, reducing bureaucratic inefficiencies, and ensuring that clear timelines are adhered to. Public-private partnerships (PPP) in infrastructure development could also help accelerate progress by tapping into private-sector efficiency and capital, although this must be done through a fair process.

The locations of the hi-tech parks are also not optimal. For example, the hi-tech park at Kaliakoir is too far away from Dhaka city with no civic amenities around. Typically, a township should be established surrounding hi-tech parks with shopping malls, movie theatres, children's parks, schools, markets, decent housing, etc. Alternatively, high-speed commuter trains or expressways must link the parks with the main city. Without these amenities, skilled tech professionals would not want to relocate themselves to a rural setting.

There was also a plan to develop an IT park in around 47 acres of land at the Korail slum in the capital. Although the site is a fully developed land, it is currently occupied by many slum dwellers. A resettlement programme for the displaced people was adopted as part of the development project to resettle them in an acceptable manner. However, political governments never attempted to implement this project because of the fear of losing a sizable vote bank. This tech park in the capital would surely be attractive to local and international IT companies.

Unfortunately, the IT industry, the biggest stakeholder in the hi-tech parks, was never consulted while selecting the areas or the districts for the parks. Decisions to establish the parks were mostly taken with the agenda to enhance the image of the local politicians. Some areas, selected for the parks, are unsuitable for IT business as skilled human resources are scarce in those regions. Sites near technological colleges and universities are most appropriate for these parks.

Another significant obstacle BHTPA faces is the shortage of skilled and experienced IT professionals in Bangladesh. While the country has a large pool of young talent, many lack advanced skills in areas such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, cybersecurity, data analytics, and other expertise required by tech companies. This skill gap has made it difficult for BHTPA to attract multinational companies to the hi-tech parks.

Though continuous upskilling of the tech professional is required for the ever-changing tech industry, a significant disconnect exists between academic institutions and this sector. There is little collaboration between Bangladeshi universities and research institutes and the industry in terms of research, internships, and project-based learning. This gap weakens the innovation ecosystem and is responsible for the disparity between the skills needed by the companies and the talent pool available. Skill development must be included in the curricula so that graduates have both knowledge and skill.

It is also important to invest in research and development within the hi-tech parks now, since without its own intellectual property, Bangladesh will struggle harder in the post-TRIPS (Agreement Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights) regime. BHTPA can create specialised research zones or labs focused on emerging technologies. Offering tax breaks or subsidies for companies that invest in R&D would also attract more companies to establish operations in the parks. This will drive long-term innovation and competitiveness.

One of the main objectives of the hi-tech parks is to attract both local and foreign investments to spur technological innovation. However, a limited venture capital ecosystem, risk-averse financial institutions, and low levels of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the tech sector have been obstacles. Many startups and entrepreneurs in Bangladesh struggle to secure seed funding or scale-up investment, which stifles innovation and entrepreneurship.

BHTPA could work with financial institutions to encourage the development of tech-focused venture capital funds and ease access to credit for technology-driven companies. Additionally, tax incentives for venture capital investments, grants, and seed funding for deserving startups could be provided to encourage investment in high-tech startups with potential and research-driven innovations that have commercial value.

Many tech firms and startups also face bureaucratic hurdles when seeking government approvals, licenses, and incentives. The slow processing of paperwork and inconsistent policy enforcement discourage companies from utilising the hi-tech parks. To address this issue, BHTPA needs to streamline its processes and make them more business-friendly. Moreover, some policies related to data privacy, intellectual property rights, and tech regulation are not well developed which undermines confidence in the long-term stability of operations.

Simplifying the process of acquiring business licenses, work permits, and other approvals for tech companies operating in hi-tech parks is essential. Introducing a "one-stop service" for tech firms to handle all regulatory processes would significantly reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks. Moreover, updating policies to align with international standards will help increase investor confidence.

Another challenge that BHTPA has grappled with is the lack of effective marketing and promotion of its hi-tech parks. Many potential investors and companies, both local and international, are unaware of the opportunities and incentives offered by BHTPA, resulting in a low occupancy rate in the parks. BHTPA should enhance its marketing and promotional efforts to increase awareness and attract more businesses. There is a need for a concerted effort to market Bangladesh as a viable destination for technology investment. BHTPA should work with trade bodies and embassies to create a global campaign that highlights the country's strengths, such as its young workforce, strategic location, and improving infrastructure. Showcasing successful case studies from existing tech firms operating in the parks would further enhance credibility.

Compared to regional competitors like India or Vietnam, Bangladesh has struggled to present itself as an attractive destination due to concerns about the inequitable political environment including nepotism and corruption, infrastructure readiness, and ease of doing business. The absence of a coordinated promotional campaign to promote Bangladesh as a tech investment hub adds to the problem.

The BHTPA was established with a vision to develop an ICT-driven ecosystem and contribute to the nation's economic growth by fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and job creation in the tech sector. However, without addressing key bottlenecks such as infrastructure delays, skill shortages, and regulatory inefficiencies, BHTPA's impact will remain limited. To overcome these challenges and achieve its goals, BHTPA needs to take a proactive approach otherwise its efforts to establish Bangladesh as a technology hub may continue to falter, and the country's potential in the ICT sector may remain untapped. In the long run, fostering innovation and nurturing entrepreneurship will be key to realising the country's vision for an ICT-driven economy.

Syed Almas Kabir is an entrepreneur and a policy advocate.​

 

[Saif]

Estonia keen to collaborate with Bangladesh in ICT sector

Estonia has expressed keen interest in collaborating with Bangladesh in the ICT sector, particularly in e-governance and cyber security.

en.prothomalo.com

Estonia keen to collaborate with Bangladesh in ICT sector
BSS
Dhaka
Published: 18 Oct 2024, 15: 38

Newly-appointed non-resident ambassador of Estonia to Bangladesh Marje Luup pays a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry in Dhaka on 17 October 2024. BSS

Estonia has expressed keen interest in collaborating with Bangladesh in the ICT sector, particularly in e-governance and cyber security.

It was revealed when newly-appointed non-resident Ambassador of Estonia to Bangladesh Marje Luup paid a maiden courtesy call on Foreign Affairs Adviser Md. Touhid Hossain at the foreign ministry here on Thursday, said a press release on Friday.

During the meeting, both sides also discussed the possibilities of arranging student exchange programmes in the Information Technology Sector.

Foreign Adviser congratulated Luup for her appointment as the Ambassador of Estonia to Bangladesh, and apprised her of the vision and ongoing reform initiatives taken by the Interim government of Bangladesh.

Both the Adviser and the Ambassador exchanged views on Bangladesh-Estonia bilateral relations and expressed willingness to deepen the existing bilateral cooperation further.​

 

[Saif]

The price of data services and the digital divide in Bangladesh

The cost of data services, both wireless and fixed, is a significant factor in the digital divide in Bangladesh.

www.thedailystar.net

The price of data services and the digital divide in Bangladesh
Graphical representation of internet connectivity issues for freelancers.

Illustration: Abir Hossain

The cost of data services, both wireless and fixed, is a significant factor in the digital divide in Bangladesh. As a low-income country, where a substantial portion of the population earns below the poverty line, high internet costs pose a barrier to accessing essential services like education, healthcare, and financial services. This high cost restricts millions of people from gaining affordable access to the digital economy, worsening social and economic inequalities.

How do we fare comparatively?

As per data analysis done by cable.co.uk in 2023 average cost of 1GB data in Bangladesh is $0.23; which is $0.28 in Indonesia, $0.41 in Thailand, and $0.29 in Vietnam. For Fixed Broadband the average rate is $13.53 per month, $28.05 per month, $22, and $8.72 per month respectively.

As per data from theGlobalEconomy.com, Gross Domestic Product Per Capita in 2023 was for Bangladesh $2,529, for Indonesia $4,940, Thailand $7,171, and Vietnam $4,346 (the World Bank, the global economy.com). This shows that Bangladesh faces a disproportionately higher burden of data costs comparing income level.

Some of the factors contributing to high prices and compromised quality

1. High spectrum pricing for mobile network operators

According to GSMA, consumers in Bangladesh spend around 6-7% of their monthly income on mobile data, far above the global affordability benchmark of 2%.

Bangladesh imposes high spectrum prices on mobile network operators (MNOs), which significantly raises operational costs. According to GSMA, spectrum pricing in Bangladesh is among the highest in the region. This forces operators to focus on recovering costs rather than investing in network upgrades.

2. Taxation and revenue sharing

Both MNOs and internet service providers (ISPs) in Bangladesh face a wide range of taxes and revenue-sharing mechanisms, which inflate the cost of data services. The tax burden for telecom providers includes:

Value-Added Tax (VAT): A 15% VAT is levied uniformly across telecom services, affecting both MNOs and ISPs.

Supplementary Duty (SD): An additional 10% SD is applied to mobile services.

Surcharge (SC): A 2% surcharge on total revenue of MNOs adds more financial strain.

In addition to these taxes, MNOs are required to share around 5.5% of their revenue with the government, while ISPs share about 3-5%. Additional revenue-sharing and tax arrangements apply to other layers of the telecom architecture, such as Gateways, Transmission, and Terrestrial layers. These cumulative costs ultimately increase the retail price of data, making it more expensive for consumers.

3. Inefficiencies in the IIG market

Bangladesh's telecom sector suffers from fragmentation due to too many licensed International Internet Gateway (IIG) operators. With around 40 IIGs, the market is highly inefficient, leading to higher latency and routing inefficiencies. This fragmentation discourages global Internet Content companies like YouTube and Meta to invest in Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) in the country. Countries like Vietnam and Thailand have fewer IIG operators and enjoy better-quality data services.

4. High wholesale transmission costs and NTTN market dominance

The Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN) market in Bangladesh is dominated by a few major players. The BTRC has made efforts to standardize NTTN tariffs, setting rates between Tk 200-300 per Mbps for basic capacity in metropolitan areas. However, these rates remain significantly higher than those in countries like Vietnam, where 1 Gbps (1,000 Mbps) of transmission capacity costs about $20 (Tk 2,400). In Thailand, the same service costs $30 (Tk 3,600), and in the Philippines, it's priced around $25 (Tk 3,000). The disparity is largely due to the competitive markets in these countries and their more efficient utilisation of public infrastructure.

(Sources: BTRC,ITU, ADB).

In contrast, Bangladesh's NTTN pricing structure is hindered by limited competition and the inefficient use of public assets. The government's licensing policies have prevented offering Info-Sarker infrastructure directly to access network providers, ISPs and MNOs, which could otherwise lower costs. Revisiting these policies and enhancing the use of public infrastructure is essential for reducing transmission costs and ultimately lowering consumer prices.

The path forward

Bangladesh has the potential to lower data prices and improve service quality through regulatory reforms. Lowering spectrum prices, revisiting the tax structure, and improving the efficiency of public infrastructure utilization are critical steps. Addressing the NTTN duopoly and relaxing licensing restrictions for ISPs could foster competition, which would in turn lower prices for consumers.

By reforming these key areas, Bangladesh could significantly narrow the digital divide and enhance the accessibility of digital services across the country.

Abu Nazam M Tanveer Hossain is a telecom policy expert.​

 

[Saif]

IT parks drained away hefty funds

The former ICT state minister, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, had boasted in 2016 that sprawling IT park in Kaliakoir would employ up to a million people over 10 years.

www.thedailystar.net

IT parks drained away hefty funds
15 projects involving Tk 8,500cr fraught with faulty planning, corruption and poor execution

The former ICT state minister, Zunaid Ahmed Palak, had boasted in 2016 that sprawling IT park in Kaliakoir would employ up to a million people over 10 years.

But eight years on and having spent about Tk 600 crore of public funds, the 355-acre Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City has managed to create employment for just 1,500 people. The industrial park remains largely desolate despite incentives like a seven-year tax holiday and duty-free facilities for raw material import.

This is not an isolated case. The Bangabandhu Hi-Tech Park in Sylhet was taken up in 2016 for Tk 324 crore with the ambitious goal of generating 50,000 jobs. Less than 100 people work there. Although long past the deadline, the park is yet to be fully operational.

Out of the 18 companies allotted spaces in the hi-tech park, less than five have started operations and several pulled out even before initiating their business activities.

Till date, Tk 1,473 crore was spent on three hi-tech parks, three software parks and four incubation centres by the Awami League government, which envisioned these establishments as ICT and business innovation hubs that would employ tens of thousands, generate billions of dollars and position Bangladesh as a leading digital nation.

But their returns have been negligible thanks to faulty planning, corruption, poor execution and a lack of supportive ecosystem, found an investigation by The Daily Star involving interviews with over a dozen individuals connected to these parks and an analysis of hundreds of pages of documents.

"Such projects in the name of development in general and with the rhetoric of Digital Bangladesh in particular under long years of authoritarian regime were converted as a licence for partisan political mileage, illicit income and unaccountable wastage of public money," said Iftekharuzzaman, executive director of Transparency International Bangladesh.

Take the case of the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech Park in Rajshahi, which was constructed between July 2016 and June 2024 for Tk 335.5 crore.

At best 500 people are employed across seven investor entities accounting for an investment of Tk 3 crore, said park officials.

Due to petty issues such as rainwater seeping into the buildings, a lack of generator services and other infrastructural challenges, the largest company, Fleet Bangladesh, recently left the park's incubation centre, said its founder Khairul Alam.

"They also promised tax breaks that have yet to be fulfilled," he said.

Over in Jashore, the Tk 253 crore Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park managed to attract negligible investment.

Despite the abysmally low returns, Palak continued to tout the ventures as successful initiatives, creating the ground for authorising more than 80 such parks all over the country.

He named all the projects after the deposed prime minister Hasina and her family members to expedite approval and shield them from criticism and scrutiny, according to Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) officials involved with the proceedings.

"Tagging such projects with the names of family members of the fallen head of the government provided added impunity to the multidimensional wastage of mainly borrowed funds, which has also left a huge burden on the people," said TIB chief Iftekharuzzaman, who also heads the interim government's Anti-Corruption Reform Commission.

The parks have been renamed after the district concerned following the fall of the Hasina government on August 5.

At present, another dozen establishments are on the way that would cost about Tk 7,000 crore of public money.

The projects were often undertaken on a whim and almost always without concerted planning.

In similar areas, multiple overlapping projects were approved, including training centres and incubation centres established within hi-tech parks themselves.

For instance, a Tk 66 crore IT training and incubation centre project was initiated in 2019 in Singra, Natore—Palak's constituency.

And yet, less than 30 kilometres away, or a half hour's drive away in Natore Sadar is a similar project, which is now operational.

Still, another project worth over Tk 150 crore was approved in Singra. The project includes infrastructure such as a mini-stadium and a cineplex, reportedly intended for Palak's political events, according to people aware of the proceedings.

Less than 50 miles from Natore Sadar, a Tk 355 crore hi-tech park is already under construction in Rajshahi.

In addition, there is a plan for another IT incubation centre within the Rajshahi Hi-Tech Park, and a separate project is under consideration in Charghat, Rajshahi.

Additional projects have been approved in Natore and Rajshahi's surrounding districts, including Sirajganj, Chapainawabganj, Naogaon, Pabna and Bogura.

In Sylhet, where Tk 336 crore was spent on a hi-tech park, an additional IT park project was approved for over Tk 65 crore. In the same hi-tech park, another Tk 150 crore has been allocated for an IT park.

In Chattogram district, four overlapping establishments have been proposed — an IT park costing Tk 65 crore, another park for Tk 150 crore, a software technology park within the city and the Sheikh Kamal IT Business Incubator Centre at the Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology for Tk 117 crore.

The lack of transparency in the tender evaluation process led to significant corruption within the projects, according to BHTPA officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

For instance, an audit into BHTPA by the Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General highlighted six significant irregularities detailing a financial loss of Tk 50.58 crore in fiscals 2019-20 and 2020-21.

Those involved in project design, planning, budgeting, approval and implementation including relevant officials as well as political masterminds must be brought to justice to set examples for the future, Iftekharuzzaman said.

"Officials involved in these projects would face action if found guilty — we are proceeding slowly but surely, and no one will be spared," Shish Haider Chowdhury, secretary to the ICT Division, told The Daily Star.

A committee has been formed to review these procurements.

He acknowledged that most of the projects were undertaken without proper planning.

The projects included large infrastructure in remote areas where there is no business case, he said.

"We are reducing several components of ongoing projects. For instance, if a building was initially planned for seven stories, but four stories are already completed, we are stopping it there. Even then, we remain uncertain if there will be a viable business case after trimming the projects," Chowdhury added.

To lessen further loss, such projects should be frozen until objectively reassessed and appropriately redesigned to ensure value for money, Iftekharuzzaman said.

GSM Jafarullah, the managing director of BHTPA from August 1 last year, had his contractual appointment scrapped on September 3 by the interim government. His successor AKM Amirul Islam could not be reached for comment.​

 

[Saif]

ICT innovation for Bangladesh

Bangladesh stands at the cusp of a historic transformation. With global technology advancing at breakneck speed, the nation has good opportunity to harness the power of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and transform its economic destiny. If Bangladesh acts swiftly and strategically, i

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

ICT innovation for Bangladesh
Shafi Chowdhury & Mizan Choudhury
Published :
Nov 05, 2024 21:21
Updated :
Nov 05, 2024 21:21

Bangladesh stands at the cusp of a historic transformation. With global technology advancing at breakneck speed, the nation has good opportunity to harness the power of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and transform its economic destiny. If Bangladesh acts swiftly and strategically, it can train millions of professionals, tackle its unemployment crisis, and establish itself as a global ICT hub.

The future is digital, and Bangladesh has the chance to lead it. A 20-year ICT vision, developed with bold foresight, aims to train 9 million skilled professionals by 2045. These trained professionals will not only fill the demands of the global ICT market but also fuel domestic growth, creating a new era of economic prosperity for the nation. It is a transformative plan that could redefine Bangladesh’s global standing. The time to act is now!

Challenge of Unemployment: Despite Bangladesh’s strong economic growth over the past decade, unemployment—especially among the youth—remains one of the country’s most pressing challenges. According to World Bank data, the unemployment rate sits around 4.2 per cent, but underemployment is a much larger issue, affecting millions of people, particularly the youth. Therefore, based on the unemployment rate of 4.2 per cent and the total labour force of 74.91 million, there are approximately 3.15 million unemployed people in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh’s workforce is expanding rapidly, with two million young people entering the job market each year. Many are struggling to find meaningful employment because the educational system is not fully aligned with the needs of a rapidly evolving global job market.

Most alarmingly, the youth unemployment rate is disproportionately high, with university graduates often unable to secure jobs that match their skills. This mismatch between education and the demands of the digital economy is creating a workforce that is underprepared and underutilised, at a time when global demand for skilled ICT professionals is soaring. According to World Bank, Bangladesh’s young population, approximately 27.96 per cent of the total population, presents a significant demographic dividend. This demographic asset can fuel economic growth and development.

This translates to a substantial number of young people who are entering the workforce or are poised to do so. Based on a total population of approximately 169.8 million, the number of young people aged 15- 29 would be around 47.7 million.

The Global ICT Job Boom: Around the world, digitalisation is rapidly reshaping industries. The global demand for ICT professionals is skyrocketing, fuelled by advancements in automation, AI, cyber-security, data science, cloud computing, and smart infrastructure. According to industry reports, 28.5 million new ICT jobs will be created globally by 2045 according to World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report or Gartner’s annual ICT industry reports. The need for skilled talent is immediate and will only grow as technology continues to evolve.

Building a Digital Workforce: By utilising its existing educational institutions—polytechnic institutes, colleges, and universities— the country can gradually scale its training capacity to meet global demand.

The plan is simple but powerful. Bangladesh can expand and modernise its education system, focusing on ICT fields like software development, cyber-security, AI, and cloud computing. Each year, more professionals will be trained and with an 80 per cent success rate, many will secure high-paying jobs in the global market, earning an average annual salary of $100,000. With $504 billion generated annually by 2045, the ICT sector could become a pillar of Bangladesh’s economy. This would represent an enormous leap in the country’s GDP and global economic stature.

By training and deploying its ICT workforce globally, the sector will become a major contributor to the country’s GDP growth. The projected economic impact is staggering, with the ICT sector potentially contributing 37.1 per cent of GDP by 2040. By 2040, the ICT sector could be at the core of Bangladesh’s economic engine, driving growth and creating opportunities for millions if proper steps are taken right now.

The Road Ahead: To realise this vision, Bangladesh must overcome several challenges and take some bold actions immediately.

• Invest in Polytechnic Institutes, Colleges, and Universities: These institutions will be the foundation of the country’s ICT revolution. Expanding their capacity and modernizing their facilities will allow Bangladesh to produce the world-class professionals the global market demands.

• Partner with the Private Sector: Collaborating with global tech companies, offering internships, and providing practical training will bridge the gap between education and employment. Public-private partnerships will ensure that students are job-ready when they graduate.

• Develop Global Certifications: By ensuring that students graduate with certifications such as AWS Certified Solutions Architect, CompTIA Security+, and Certified Ethical Hacker, Bangladesh will ensure its workforce is recognised and in demand worldwide.

• Enhance Digital Infrastructure: Investing in 4G and 5G networks, upgrading data centres, and ensuring uninterrupted power will create the backbone of Bangladesh’s digital economy. This infrastructure will support both domestic growth and international collaboration, attracting foreign investment and enabling local businesses to compete on a global scale.

The aforementioned 20-year vision can elevate Bangladesh to a new level of prosperity. Delay to act risks missing the chance to be a global leader in ICT. By seizing this moment, Bangladesh can not only overcome its unemployment challenges but also establish itself as a hub for global innovation, setting the stage for a new era of economic growth and leadership in the digital age.

Lt Col Md Shafi Chowdhury, PhD, psc is Co-Chairman/Founder and CEO of Alltex International Consultancies and Services (AICS). Mizan Chaudhury, (CCIE) is Co-Chairman/Founder and President of AICS. AICS has office in Dhaka and New York.

www. alltex-intl.com​

 

[Saif]

What future awaits the hi-tech parks?

Hold to account all involved in corruption, mismanagement

www.thedailystar.net

What future awaits the hi-tech parks?
Hold to account all involved in corruption, mismanagement

We are concerned about the future of the hi-tech parks that the ousted Awami League government planned to establish across the country with the goal of transforming Bangladesh into a global hub for information and communication technology. Reportedly, the government invested Tk 1,473 crore on three hi-tech parks, three software parks and four incubation centres, envisioning them as ICT and business innovation hubs that would create tens of thousands of jobs, generate billions of dollars, and position Bangladesh as a leading digital nation. However, an investigation by The Daily Star has found that due to faulty planning, corruption, poor execution and the lack of a supportive ecosystem, these projects have yielded negligible returns, falling far short of expectations.

Former State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak boasted in 2016 that the IT park in Kaliakoir would employ up to a million people over 10 years. Eight years later, after spending around Tk 600 crore, the 355-acre Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City has created only 1,500 jobs. The situation is similar at the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech Park in Sylhet, a project taken up at a cost of Tk 324 crore with the goal of generating 50,000 jobs. Today, fewer than 100 people are employed there. Despite the project being expected to be completed long ago, it is still not fully operational. Similarly, the Bangabandhu Hi-Tech Park in Rajshahi and the Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park in Jashore have failed to attract significant investment. In the former ICT state minister's constituency, several overlapping projects were also undertaken haphazardly and without proper planning.

Reportedly, despite extremely low returns, Palak continued to promote the ventures as successes, paving the way for the approval of over 80 similar parks across the country. Currently, another dozen projects are underway, with an estimated cost of around Tk 7,000 crore in public money.

The question is, what future awaits these costly hi-tech projects? Since all these initiatives were riddled with corruption, the interim government must conduct thorough investigations into them and hold accountable all involved in the design, planning, budgeting, approval and implementation of these projects. The government should also assess whether the completed projects have any potential for new job creation. With the country grappling with high unemployment, the ICT sector could provide valuable job opportunities for our youth if managed with efficiency and transparency.

However, the government should also make prudent decisions regarding the incomplete projects. Such ventures should be frozen to prevent further losses until they are objectively re-evaluated and properly redesigned to ensure value for money, as Dr Iftekharuzzaman, head of the interim government's Anti-Corruption Reform Commission, has suggested.​

 

[Saif]

Policy reforms urgent to boost ICT sector dev: experts

Experts on Saturday said that a lack of integrated planning and supportive policy reforms remained as a significant obstacle to the growth of Bangladesh’s information and communication technology sector and...

www.newagebd.net

Policy reforms urgent to boost ICT sector dev: experts
Staff Correspondent 09 November, 2024, 23:38

Experts on Saturday said that a lack of integrated planning and supportive policy reforms remained as a significant obstacle to the growth of Bangladesh’s information and communication technology sector and so urgent reforms were needed to turn this sector into one of the country’s leading industries.

Speaking at a seminar titled ‘Reform for ICT Industry Growth’, organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, experts from various sectors highlighted the need for cohesive strategies, infrastructure development and accessible financing to realise the sector’s potential.

Ashraf Ahmed, president of DCCI, emphasised the need for policy reform and workforce development to enable Bangladesh’s ICT sector to compete on the global market, which is valued at nearly $3 trillion, according to a press release.

‘Our IT industry, with nearly $2.5 billion in revenue, occupies a small segment only despite having one of the largest pools of IT-related workers in the world,’ he noted.

The DCCI president urged for short-term, mid-term and long-term strategies, calling for investments in skills development, logistics and education to address skill gaps and advance Bangladesh’s ICT capabilities.

The seminar underscored the challenges local ICT entrepreneurs faced, particularly in accessing low-cost finance.

Mir Shahrukh Islam, managing director of Bondtein Technologies Limited, shared that over 2,600 IT companies currently operated in Bangladesh, yet they struggled with stringent collateral requirements for financing.

‘ICT entrepreneurs are struggling to get easy access to low-cost finance due to a lack of friendly regulatory policies and stringent collateral requirements,’ Mir Shahrukh explained while presenting the keynote paper, adding that incentives for semiconductor industry could spur growth in this emerging sector.

Lutfey Siddiqi, chief adviser’s special envoy on international affairs, addressed the importance of streamlined policies and accurate data for effective planning.

Siddiqi noted, ‘The present government is working in a changed environment, which needs to be considered by all. If the existing policies are properly implemented, it will be easier to do business activities along with citizen services.’

Experts highlighted the need for an ICT-friendly academic curriculum and industry-academia collaboration to enhance graduates’ practical skills.

Bangladesh Bank executive director (ICT) Muhammad Zakir Hasan proposed forming a steering committee to oversee coordinated development across the ICT sector, emphasising that ‘integrated planning’ and ‘industry-academia coordination’ were vital to create skilled graduates.

The seminar concluded with recommendations to expand export incentives, update telecommunication policies and strengthen data privacy laws, as stakeholders urged collaborative efforts between public and private sectors.

DCCI senior vice-president Malik Talha Ismail Bari moderated the discussion, with other DCCI officials present in the seminar.​

 

[Saif]

Govt to introduce satellite internet to bridge up digital divide

The present government is on its way to introduce satellite internet as the telecom regulator has sought public opinion for finalization of the draft guidelines so the country could reap the sacrifice of martyrs in July-August mass uprising.

en.prothomalo.com

Govt to introduce satellite internet to bridge up digital divide
BSS
Dhaka
Published: 15 Nov 2024, 22: 00

The present government is on its way to introduce satellite internet as the telecom regulator has sought public opinion for finalization of the draft guidelines so the country could reap the sacrifice of martyrs in July-August mass uprising.

Officials familiar with the process said the move might unleash new opportunities for bridging digital divides alongside backhauling, disaster management and customer data utilization as it could pave the way for world leading companies like Elon Musk's Starlink and others to enter the Bangladesh market.

The telecom regulator -Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) - on 29 October uploaded the draft regulatory and licensing guidelines for NGSO Satellite Service Operator on its website, seeking opinion by 18 November to finalize the guidelines.

Meanwhile, the mobile phone operators and other stakeholders have welcomed the move of opening doors for satellite internet as it would revolutionize data services in the country. They said the initiative might unlock new opportunities for bridging digital divides.

The draft guidelines said that proprietorship, partnership and companies registered under “Registrar of Joint Stock Companies and Firms” under the Companies Act 1994 are eligible to apply for the license to build, own, maintain and operate NGSO Satellite systems and services in Bangladesh.

It also mentioned that 100 per cent FDI or Foreign Partnership or Joint Venture or investment from Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) is permitted to build, own, maintain and operate NGSO Satellite systems and services.

According to the draft guidelines, the license will be valid for five years.

It adds that the licensee is authorized to provide the following NGSO satellite services: broadband internet services, intranet services (domestic data communications), Internet of Things and machine-to-machine communication, earth station in motion service, earth exploration satellite service, remote sensing/meteorological services and any other services approved by the BTRC.

However, operators aren’t authorized to provide direct-to-home (DTH) services, broadcasting services, satellite IMT-based services or telecommunications services.

The application/processing fee has been set at Tk 500,000, with an acquisition fee of $10,000 and an annual fee of $50,000. Additionally, an annual station/terminal fee per terminal is set at $20.

The licensee will also have to share 5.5 per cent of its annual audited gross revenue with the BTRC. Another 1 per cent of the gross revenue must be paid as part of the "contribution to space industry development and management".

The licensee must establish at least one gateway system within Bangladesh before commencing services. However, the BTRC encouraged the licensee to establish additional gateways.

Any user terminal placed within Bangladesh's geographical boundary must be authenticated and served through this local gateway. All traffic from these terminals must be routed through this local gateway for services within Bangladesh, according to the draft.

The NGSO gateway shall connect to international internet gateways to handle international internet data traffic.

Talking to BSS, Shahed Alam, chief corporate and regulatory officer of Robi Axiata, said, “We welcome the initiative to introduce satellite internet in our country, recognizing its potential to revolutionize data services.”

He noted that this advancement could pave the way for new opportunities in areas such as backhauling, disaster management and customer data utilization.

Taimur Rahman, chief corporate and regulatory affairs officer at Banglalink, said, "The regulator’s initiative to conduct a public consultation before introducing this new service is commendable, which we appreciate.”

He continued, “We’re confident that this process will provide essential insights to help shape its future direction.”

Sharfuddin Ahmed Chowdhury, Head of Communications, Grameenphone, said, "Grameenphone welcomes any new technology that brings positive change to people's lives, society, the economy, and the country as a whole.”

However, the introduction of any new license should ensure non-discriminatory treatment that promotes market competitiveness among all players, including existing ones, across the entire value chain, he added.

Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), a platform of firms engaged in providing internet services to the customers, is also ready to welcome any new technologies. But, it emphasized to identify the necessity of this technology first before moving to it.

ISPAB President Md Emdadul Hoque told BSS that they always welcome new technologies if those are suitable for the country and industry as a whole.

“We’ve no objection to welcoming new technologies, but priority should be considered first whether the technology is suitable for the country and its people,” he said.​