THE PANEL OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON...

THE PANEL OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON SCIENCE THE PANEL OF THE UNITED NATIONS COMMISSION ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENTAND TECHNOLOGY FOR DEVELOPMENT66--8 8 NovemberNovember 2006 2006 Paris, FranceParis, France

«« PromotingPromoting thethe building building ofof a a peoplepeople--centredcentred, , developmentdevelopment--orientedorientedandand inclusive information inclusive information societysociety, , withwith a a viewview to to enhancingenhancing digital digital

opportunitiesopportunities for for allall peoplepeople »»

DISCLAMER: DISCLAMER: TheThe viewsviews presentedpresented herehere are are thethe participantsparticipants’’ andand do do notnotnecessarilynecessarily reflectreflect thethe viewsviews andand position position ofof thethe UnitedUnited Nations or Nations or thetheU n i t e dU n i t e d N a t i o n s N a t i o n s C o n f e r e n c eC o n f e r e n c e o n o n T r a d eT r a d e a n da n d D e v e l o p m e n tD e v e l o p m e n t

Position Paper of BangladeshPosition Paper of Bangladesh

For the Panel of UNCSTDFor the Panel of UNCSTD

ononPromoting the building of a peoplePromoting the building of a people--centered, centered,

developmentdevelopment--orientedorientedand inclusive information societyand inclusive information society

by by Mesbah Mesbah ulul AlamAlam

Joint SecretaryJoint SecretaryM/O Science & ICT, BangladeshM/O Science & ICT, Bangladesh

IntroductionIntroduction

BangladeshBangladesh, being the highest population , being the highest population dense country in the world, has placed dense country in the world, has placed poverty alleviationpoverty alleviation on top of its development on top of its development agendaagenda and adopted ICT as one of the and adopted ICT as one of the priority tool to fight hungerpriority tool to fight hunger, malnutrition, , malnutrition, illiteracy, discrimination against women, illiteracy, discrimination against women, children, aged and disabled. children, aged and disabled.

The need to The need to invest in ICT infrastructure and invest in ICT infrastructure and especially ICT human resourcesespecially ICT human resources is is paramount.paramount.

ICT developments in BangladeshICT developments in Bangladesh

•• Thrust sectorThrust sector•• CountryCountry’’s ICT Policy aims at building an s ICT Policy aims at building an

ICTICT--driven nationdriven nation comprising of comprising of knowledgeknowledge--based societybased society

•• The government emphasizes greatly on the The government emphasizes greatly on the implementation of the National ICT policyimplementation of the National ICT policyfor achieving the MDGs and WSIS Plan of for achieving the MDGs and WSIS Plan of ActionAction

•• ICT/Internet ICT/Internet access facilities to the grass access facilities to the grass root level people root level people

ICT developments in BangladeshICT developments in Bangladesh

•• Computer EducationComputer Education

•• The telecom sector is encouraged for The telecom sector is encouraged for private investmentprivate investment

•• Bangladesh Telecommunication Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has been establishedbeen established

ICT development initiatives ICT development initiatives

•• The Government of Bangladesh has attached due The Government of Bangladesh has attached due attention to introduce attention to introduce ee--governancegovernance to make the to make the government more accessible/transparentgovernment more accessible/transparent

•• All public universities are conducting All public universities are conducting undergraduate/post graduate courses in ICTundergraduate/post graduate courses in ICT and and government is allocating more funds to these government is allocating more funds to these institutionsinstitutions

•• In order to encourage startup companies in In order to encourage startup companies in software/ITES development and export, the software/ITES development and export, the government has set up an government has set up an ICT Incubation CentreICT Incubation Centre in in the heart of Dhaka Citythe heart of Dhaka City

Some experiences of BangladeshSome experiences of Bangladesh--

I. Role of governments and all stakeholders I. Role of governments and all stakeholders in the promotion of ICTs for developmentin the promotion of ICTs for development

•• Comprehensive Comprehensive ICT PolicyICT Policy in Octoberin October 2002 2002

•• The civil society has also come forward by initiating some The civil society has also come forward by initiating some projects that aim to use ICTs for development goals projects that aim to use ICTs for development goals

•• The The mediamedia is taking on a particularly important role in is taking on a particularly important role in promoting ICTs to general citizens promoting ICTs to general citizens

•• The The international agenciesinternational agencies, such as World Bank, ADB, SDC, , such as World Bank, ADB, SDC, UNDP, ESCAP, SEDF, CIDA, USAID, JICA, KOICA, are UNDP, ESCAP, SEDF, CIDA, USAID, JICA, KOICA, are particularly active in the area of particularly active in the area of promoting and financing promoting and financing projectsprojects that are aimed towards the effective use of ICTs that are aimed towards the effective use of ICTs for development for development


II. Information and Communication II. Information and Communication InfrastructureInfrastructure

•• PeoplePeople’’s s access to telephonesaccess to telephones has improved has improved significantly over the past few years with a significantly over the past few years with a number of mobile phone service providers number of mobile phone service providers operating even at remote corners of the countryoperating even at remote corners of the country

•• To enhance To enhance teletele--density and density and teletele--access in the access in the country the government has country the government has liberalized telecom liberalized telecom sectorsector for private sector participation for private sector participation

•• A number of private operators are providing A number of private operators are providing broadband Internet servicesbroadband Internet services in the city areasin the city areas


III. Access to Information and III. Access to Information and KnowledgeKnowledge

•• Almost Almost all universitiesall universities in the country have access to the in the country have access to the Internet. The urbanInternet. The urban--based ones generally have based ones generally have Internet facilities being used by the studentsInternet facilities being used by the students

•• Cyber cafesCyber cafes are commonly available in all urban areas, are commonly available in all urban areas, which are being used mostly by the students. Some which are being used mostly by the students. Some subsub--urban areas also have cyber cafesurban areas also have cyber cafes

•• Most of the public libraries do not have Internet Most of the public libraries do not have Internet facilities yet, but facilities yet, but libraries of private universitieslibraries of private universitiesgenerally have access to Internetgenerally have access to Internet

•• ““Knowledge and research portalsKnowledge and research portals”” are being developed are being developed through civil society initiativesthrough civil society initiatives


IV. Capacity BuildingIV. Capacity Building•• Computer science as a subject has been introduced at Computer science as a subject has been introduced at

the the secondary/higher secondary schoolsecondary/higher secondary school level level •• Almost all public and private Almost all public and private universitiesuniversities pay particular pay particular

emphasis on training students in ICTemphasis on training students in ICT--related fields related fields •• Different Different public officespublic offices have taken up initiatives to have taken up initiatives to

provide ICT training to government officials and staff provide ICT training to government officials and staff •• The government is undertaking distribution of computers The government is undertaking distribution of computers

to secondary/higher secondary schools and ICT training to secondary/higher secondary schools and ICT training programme for teachers of those schools programme for teachers of those schools

•• Private ICT training institutesPrivate ICT training institutes have sprung up in large have sprung up in large numbers over the last few yearsnumbers over the last few years


IV. Capacity BuildingIV. Capacity Building

•• The Ministry of Science and ICT has introduced an The Ministry of Science and ICT has introduced an ICT ICT Internship ProgramInternship Program in cooperation with the private in cooperation with the private sector, to support the development of quality sector, to support the development of quality professionals for the ICT industry professionals for the ICT industry

•• The Ministry of Education has introduced The Ministry of Education has introduced ICT scholarshipICT scholarshipprogramme for the students of secondary to tertiary programme for the students of secondary to tertiary education education

•• Government and Banks are providing Government and Banks are providing low interest loanslow interest loansfor for purchasing computer and other ICT equipmentpurchasing computer and other ICT equipment


V. Building Confidence and Security in the V. Building Confidence and Security in the use of ICTsuse of ICTs

•• The The ICT ActICT Act has been enactedhas been enacted

•• Software Software copyrightcopyright has been enacted has been enacted

•• A standardized A standardized Unicode compliant Bangla Unicode compliant Bangla keyboardkeyboard has been developedhas been developed


VI. Enabling EnvironmentVI. Enabling Environment

•• The Bangladesh Telephone and Telegraph Board (BTTB) are The Bangladesh Telephone and Telegraph Board (BTTB) are managing the country domainmanaging the country domain

•• Legal framework for Legal framework for safeguarding use of ICTsafeguarding use of ICT has been has been included in the ICT Act included in the ICT Act

•• The The telecom sectortelecom sector has been has been liberalizedliberalized•• An independent telecommunication regulatory commission An independent telecommunication regulatory commission

has been established has been established •• The government has The government has exempted customs duties and VATexempted customs duties and VAT on on

computers, hardware and accessories, which has created a computers, hardware and accessories, which has created a significant boost to the ICT industry significant boost to the ICT industry

•• ISP/VSAT license fee, domestic and overseas telephone call ISP/VSAT license fee, domestic and overseas telephone call charge charge has been has been reduced significantlyreduced significantly

•• An equity fund has been established to provide support to An equity fund has been established to provide support to software and ITsoftware and IT--enabled services companiesenabled services companies


VII. ICT Applications: Benefits in All VII. ICT Applications: Benefits in All Aspects of LifeAspects of Life

•• Several G2C services have been computerized and are Several G2C services have been computerized and are providing online services such as providing online services such as railway ticketingrailway ticketing, , Hajj Hajj information serviceinformation service,, webweb--based based tender information systemtender information systemetcetc

•• Several B2C Several B2C ee--Commerce web sitesCommerce web sites have been established, have been established, with varying degrees of popularity with varying degrees of popularity

•• A few businessA few business--toto--business (B2B) business (B2B) ee--Commerce portalsCommerce portals have have been launched (for example for the garments industry) been launched (for example for the garments industry)


VIII. Cultural Diversity and Identity, VIII. Cultural Diversity and Identity, Linguistic Diversity and Local ContentLinguistic Diversity and Local Content

•• Several government and privately run Several government and privately run websites give online information about the websites give online information about the cultural heritage of Bangladesh. The website cultural heritage of Bangladesh. The website of Bangladesh National Museum is an of Bangladesh National Museum is an important example in this regardimportant example in this regard


IX. MediaIX. Media

•• ICT journalismICT journalism has become a career for a few has become a career for a few journalists.journalists.

•• The general mediaThe general media have begun to post have begun to post advertisements online.advertisements online.

•• The media has played an overall positive The media has played an overall positive role in role in

popularizing ICTpopularizing ICT


X. Ethical Dimensions of the X. Ethical Dimensions of the Information SocietyInformation Society

•• Some human rights and environmental Some human rights and environmental groups have developed websites to convey groups have developed websites to convey their messages to a wider audiencetheir messages to a wider audience


XI. International and Regional CooperationXI. International and Regional Cooperation

•• UNESCAP & ADB with the help of JFICT have taken a UNESCAP & ADB with the help of JFICT have taken a programme to set up 5 programme to set up 5 rural Community erural Community e--CentresCentres in each in each of the SASEC countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan) of the SASEC countries (Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan) as pilot basisas pilot basis

•• The World Bank has come up with the EMTAP projects to The World Bank has come up with the EMTAP projects to help the government to built up help the government to built up network among various network among various government bodiesgovernment bodies under which government officials will under which government officials will receive training on ICT applicationreceive training on ICT application

•• KOICA has setup an advanced KOICA has setup an advanced ICT training centerICT training center

•• CISCO in collaboration with universities is conducting CISCO in collaboration with universities is conducting training programstraining programs

ChallengesChallenges

•• Inadequate Inadequate awarenessawareness

•• Inadequate Inadequate ICT infrastructureICT infrastructure

•• Inadequate access to Inadequate access to electricityelectricity•• Little online Little online content in local languagecontent in local language (Bangla)(Bangla)

•• High costHigh cost•• Inadequate number of working Inadequate number of working computerscomputers•• Lack of Lack of jobsjobs for ICTfor ICT--trained HRtrained HR•• Lack of a coordinated national effort to build Lack of a coordinated national effort to build

ICT capacityICT capacity in the governmentin the government


•• Need for improvement in Need for improvement in security issuessecurity issues

•• An online An online payment gatewaypayment gateway-- yet to be implementedyet to be implemented•• Comprehensive Comprehensive intellectual property rightsintellectual property rights are yet to are yet to

be formulatedbe formulated•• Lack of Lack of ICT standards and common architectureICT standards and common architecture for ICT for ICT

systems has also created impedimentssystems has also created impediments•• EE--Government projects are taken up by different Government projects are taken up by different

government bodies with government bodies with little nationallittle national--levellevel

coordinationcoordination

•• SustainabilitySustainability


•• Due to lack of online payment system, Due to lack of online payment system, B2C B2C services are not yet widely popularservices are not yet widely popular

•• Absence of good Absence of good content developerscontent developers•• Absence of Absence of good incentivegood incentive to attract to attract

highhigh--level ICT professionals working level ICT professionals working inin--countrycountry

•• Low penetrationLow penetration of electronic and of electronic and printing mediaprinting media

•• Poor coordinationPoor coordination among among donors donors governmentgovernment and other and other stakeholdersstakeholders

ConclusionConclusion

•• Bangladesh Bangladesh reaffirms its commitmentreaffirms its commitment to the to the WSISWSIS process and supports implementation process and supports implementation of the Plan of Action. of the Plan of Action.

•• To build To build people centeredpeople centered inclusive and inclusive and developmentdevelopment oriented oriented information society, information society, Bangladesh has already declared Bangladesh has already declared Information Information and Communications Technologyand Communications Technology as as Thrust Thrust sector sector


•• A number of initiatives have already been A number of initiatives have already been taken by the govt. in collaboration with other taken by the govt. in collaboration with other stakeholders (such as private sector, civil stakeholders (such as private sector, civil society and media) society and media) in line with the national in line with the national ICT policyICT policy and and WSIS Plan of ActionWSIS Plan of Action

•• The Govt. has created The Govt. has created enabling environmentenabling environmentsuch as liberalization of Telecom Sector, such as liberalization of Telecom Sector, infrastructure development, capacity building infrastructure development, capacity building etc to bring the ICT benefits to the mass etc to bring the ICT benefits to the mass people at affordable cost people at affordable cost


•• To implement the WSIS Plan of Action, To implement the WSIS Plan of Action, Bangladesh as a developing country is facing Bangladesh as a developing country is facing many many challengeschallenges like like shortage of ICT4D shortage of ICT4D fundfund, lack of commitment of the major , lack of commitment of the major stakeholders towards achievement of Plan of stakeholders towards achievement of Plan of Action, building multi stakeholder Action, building multi stakeholder partnership, partnership, lack of skilled manpower in ICTlack of skilled manpower in ICTetcetc

•• Bangladesh has still huge Bangladesh has still huge unfinished tasksunfinished tasksahead to be done in the process of formation ahead to be done in the process of formation of information society of information society


•• Bangladesh Bangladesh reaffirms its supportreaffirms its support to the UN & to the UN & ITU efforts towards implementation of WSIS ITU efforts towards implementation of WSIS Plan of Action and it Plan of Action and it appealsappeals to the to the international community to international community to increase its increase its support to LDCssupport to LDCs’’ initiativesinitiatives in development of in development of sustainable infrastructure/human sustainable infrastructure/human resource/capacity building that will make resource/capacity building that will make LDCs part of the information society LDCs part of the information society

Thank youThank you

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