Human Resources: training, education.
Infrastructure: telecommunications, connectivity, centralised network.
Research and Development: industry applications, innovation, centralised database, language.
Industry: software, hardware, services.
Economy: e-commerce, security, interoperability, legal framework.
Government: efficiency, access to information, ICT literacy.
Legal: legislation, security, international agreements, law enforcement, case management, framework, court administration.
Health: records, education, telemedicine.
Agriculture productivity, services.
Social: rural development, access to information.
Transportation: traffic management, route planning, online booking.
Tourism: marketing, information, partnerships.
Environment: collection, dissemination, planning, inventory.

This summary is part of a research project carried out between March and October 2006 in support of the International Institute for Communication and Development (IICD), one of The Communication Initiative (The CI)'s partners.

Bangladesh has identified ICT as key to improving the efficiency of the country’s public and private sectors and driving socio-economic development, necessitating its integration into all sectors. Developed in late 2002, the current policy outlines the use of ICT as a driving force to create a knowledge-based society by 2006. Accordingly, every citizen will be ensured access to information through the development of a national ICT infrastructure comprising e-commerce, governance, human resources development, banking, public utility and other ICT-enabled services, facilitating the application of democratic values vital to sustainable economic development.

Bangladesh’s ICT policy objectives are as follows:

• The creation of infrastructure facilities and an ICT legal framework to facilitate the integration of ICT and the development of the software industry;
• The provision of incentives to local and foreign entrepreneurs to promote ICT sector development;
• The development of an effective ICT infrastructure allowing the international and national networks open access;
• The promotion of ICT integration in all economic sectors to encourage transparency, efficiency, and good governance;
• The establishment of regulatory frameworks for a variety of key ICT issues, and to ensure the provision and quality of private ICT education;
• The creation of reliable and accessible national databases;
• The promotion of ICT use, training, and culture in the public sector;
• The development of a sizable resource of globally-competitive ICT professionals able to meet local and global market requirements;
• The continuous promotion of the ICT industry through the creation of an effective ICT institution; and
• The enactment of laws and regulations that conform to World Trade Organization stipulations to allow for consistent ICT growth.

Below are specific sectoral strategies outlined within this document to achieve the ICT policy objectives:

Training and Human Resources Development

In order to effectively compete in the global ICT market, Bangladesh must produce a significant number of quality ICT professionals. Policy in this area focuses on standardising and supporting ICT education and training in public and private institutions at all educational levels, leveraging the assistance of donors, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and other partners in capacity-building in ICT education. The shortage of qualified ICT trainers and teachers will be addressed through the implementation of frequent and accessible ICT training programmes, including through the deployment of virtual ICT trainers where possible. ICT will also be exploited for the provision of distance education, helping to address the country’s limited educational resources. Support for in-service training programmes will allow for ICT skills upgrading of public and private sector professionals. Additionally, multimedia institutes will be established and produce human resources personnel skilled in exploiting the multimedia marketplace.

ICT Infrastructure

The ICT infrastructure policy emphasises the need to strengthen the Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology in order to attain sustainable, competitive growth in Bangladesh’s ICT sector. A relevant ICT infrastructure must be quickly established in the public and private sectors, the telecommunication sector deregulated and opened to private investment, and the development of the telecommunication infrastructure prioritised. Direct connectivity will also be established with an international information/communication backbone. ICT use and information services will be rendered more affordable and accessible through healthy competition in the ICT sectors, and telecommunications specifically made available to all societal segments. National infrastructure and communication agencies should share and exploit their resources to facilitate the expansion of ICT. Telecommunication capabilities will be expanded to include rural areas, and new technologies introduced to the existing and widening network. An internet exchange will be established, educational institutions and libraries provided with internet access, and Cyber Kiosks set up in post offices and other public buildings. The development of a national information infrastructure will ensure a direct connection to the global information infrastructure, enabling the provision of ICT enabled service to the world market. Additionally, the availability of adequate bandwidth country-wide will be ensured, and the development of local ICT industry emphasised. The establishment of high-tech zones and software parks will facilitate technology transfer and development, while a university library and research network will allow for the development of a central depository for ICT information and research.

Research and Development in ICT

Focusing on needs-based and applied research, this section of the policy prioritises improvements in the quality and efficiency of ICT industry applications, encouraging innovation in the public and private sectors. The Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) will take the lead in planning activities for research and development (R&D) in the educational, private, and public sectors. Scientific and technological information will be captured in a centralised on-line database, accessible by educational and R&D organisations. Inter- and intranet content will be made available in Bangla, and large technology corporations will be encouraged to establish R&D centres in-country.

ICT Industry

This section of the policy focuses on the development of the software, hardware, and service industries in Bangladesh. The local software industry will be encouraged in its development through price preference in public and private sector procurement; the provision of government start-up financial support; the exchange of ideas, experiences and collective training among software companies and developers; government-assisted exploration of ICT export opportunities; and the promotion of joint ventures between foreign and Bangladeshi ICT entrepreneurs. The local hardware industry will be encouraged to establish operations and given preferential treatment; foreign-owned companies offered incentives to set up production facilities in-country; and institutions established to ensure a supply of skilled manpower to the industry, which will likely target the export market. The services industry, in turn, will take advantage of Bangladesh’s cost-effective labour to promote the export and widening of ICT-enabled services.

E-Commerce

In conjunction with the private sector, the government plans to develop and promote a secure electronic commerce environment also encompassing an inter-banking payment system, government-to-government transactions, and eventually, government-to-business transactions. A legal framework to support this environment will be put in place.

E-Government/E-Governance

An ICT system will be implemented within the public administration system with the aim of improving the quality of services and efficiency, reducing resource wastage, and enhancing planning. ICT will improve coverage and citizen access to public services in the country’s most remote regions. Additionally, the National Data Resource Centre will be networked to all government departments - which will each prioritise the creation of an ICT Cell and website for information dissemination - and will have the capacity to store and supply essential country information. Great value will be placed on ICT literacy in public service recruitment.

Legal Issues

The enactment of software copyright provisions and an ICT Act will be prioritised to provide protection against ICT crimes and to promote a secure electronic environment. The implementation of encryption standards and international agreements on interoperability will increase data security and improve interoperability. Law enforcement agencies will also integrate ICT to aid them in achieving their mandate and to increase efficiency.

Health Care

The integration of ICT into healthcare will aim to provide hospitals and healthcare facilities with new capabilities, particularly with regard to record-keeping, telemedicine and education. Additionally, computer networks will link medical research centres and hospitals, increasing the availability of medical expertise throughout the country.

Agriculture and Poverty Alleviation

ICT systems will be integrated into agricultural research and technology, agro-business development, agricultural databases, and agro-based industries in order to improve productivity and services in a field that impacts rural people particularly.

Social Welfare

ICT systems will be leveraged to improve social welfare through integration into rural development activities, including agriculture, rural planning, and the fisheries industry. Participation of beneficiaries would be encouraged in this process. ICT would also facilitate citizens’ access to the government’s public grievance redressal process. In addition to other forms of ICT dissemination, government will encourage non-government organisations (NGOs) to provide ICT support services at the village level.

Transportation

ICT will be integrated into the transport management system, used specifically for traffic management, route planning, and online booking and ticketing services.

Tourism

ICTs will be leveraged to capture the potential of Bangladesh’s tourism industry. This will be done through internet marketing of the country’s prime tourist attractions, a tourist-oriented on-line information system, and the strengthening of the government’s partnership with agencies related to tourism in order to promote online reservation services.

Environment

The implementation of ICT can aid in addressing environmental degradation, notably in the collection and dissemination of information on environmental issues to help raise awareness among the public. ICT can also facilitate the development of a complete inventory of the country’s flora and fauna, and enable national-level planning for agricultural crops estimation and the balancing of ecological requirements with compatible land use. ICT will also be applied in the context of urban pollution issues.

Judiciary

Computer based Management Information Systems (CMIS), Wide Area Networks (WAN) and Local Area Networks (LAN) will be developed to expand judiciary capacity. The system will likely consist of three modules: case management, legal framework, and court administration.

Regional and International Cooperation

Sub-regional, regional and international cooperation around ICT will center on the Ministry of Science and ICT and BCC. The lead agency will develop ICT agreements with a range of countries, development partners, and international agencies, and will facilitate the participation of Bangladesh’s ICT sector in relevant forums.

Title: National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy
Year: 2002
Publication: Bangladesh Computer Council
Click here [5] to view the report online.

Relevant Links:

• Bangladesh Development Gateway - National Policy on ICT [6]
• UNESCO Bangkok: Bangladesh: National ICT Policy [7]
• Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology [8]
• Asia-Pacific Development Information Programme: ICT Profile - Bangladesh [9]
• The Information Technology Landscape in People's Republic of Bangladesh [10]