The document discusses Bangladesh's progress towards realizing the vision of "Digital Bangladesh" over the past decade under Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's leadership. Key points include: - ICT has played an integral role in Bangladesh's digital transformation, with important strides made in utilizing technology to improve citizen-centric services. - Bangladesh has seen major advances in the telecommunications sector, with over 100 million mobile users. The government has leveraged this through initiatives like m-governance. - A range of e-services have been implemented, such as online university admissions, exam results by SMS, mobile health services, and m-ticketing for transportation. - Projects have digitalized the education sector through

1. On the Way to Digital Bangladesh
By Ali Ehsan
Digital Bangladesh vision is probably the most honorable solution to the Socio-economic
struggles of our country. The slogan has become synonymous to the expedited advancement of
Bangladesh that has taken place under the able leadership of our Honorable Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina over the last one decade.
Fostered by public expectations – as reflected in the election polls – and bolstered by Sajeeb
Wazed Joy, the Digital Bangladesh slogan has emerged beyond the election manifesto of a
political niche to the heartfelt desire of 16 crore Bangladeshi.
Unlike the disingenuous lot, I will be reminiscing the success while disinterring the gaffe, as I
believe the potent and wise telecommunication adviser of our honorable prime minister will
most certainly welcome some new insights.
ICT has been an integral part of the digital renaissance of Bangladesh. ICTs constitute the most
transformative innovation of the recent past. ICTs are interesting in the context of the inclusive
development debate because of their ability to strengthen connectivity not only of higher-
income groups but also of those at the lower income level.
During the 6th Five Year Plan period, Bangladesh has made important strides in utilizing
technology to bring in tangible transformation in the citizen-centric services. Progress made in
bringing government services to the doorstep of citizen is probably the area where Bangladesh
registered most significant progress.
With over 10 crore active mobile users, our advancement in the telecommunication sector is
exemplary. Cellular phone is no longer a commodity but a tool for triggering social changes.
Understanding the importance of cellular phones in our day to day life, the government has
devised m-governance to capitalize on the growing number of m-citizens.
Overhauling the leaders in the area of m-payment, Bangladesh has set a new standard for
Mobile Banking. Our brothers and sisters abroad can easily transfer remittance to their families
in remote villages through bKash, MKASH etc at the lowest global service charge.
Mobile helpline for farmers have triggered the production of crops. Introduction of programs
like e-Tathyakosh, Pipilica and e-Purjee enable farmers to access tailored informations.
Banglalink and Grameen Phone has gone a step further to open Farmer’s Call Center.
Mobile Health-lines have made health services available in remote places and affordable for the
lower income citizens. Ubiquity of mobile phones across all district and upazila hospitals has
made it possible to launch a “mobile phone health care” program. 18 hospitals have introduced
telemedicine services so far (Source: ProthomAlo). Alongside the government, the local mobile

2. operators like Grameenphone, Teletalk and Robi have played a big role in mobilizing this
project.
Mobile Bill Payment Service saves valuable working hours as we no longer have to stand in
queue to pay our utility bills. This facility is no longer limited to the metropolis, as the service is
available in Union Digital Centers as well.
Since 2009, applications for admission registration at 32 public universities, 400 colleges, all
public medical colleges are being carried out through SMS service. SSC , HSC, JSC and PSC
examination results are delivered through mobile phone text message.
Citizens can apply for job positions in the Bangladesh Civil Service and Bangladesh Army
through SMS. Important information is disseminated to prospective migrant workers through
SMS service.
In the recent years, m-Ticketing service for bus and trains have become increasingly popular.
This service is currently available for the Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi and Sylhet routes only.
Last year, Bangladesh received WSIS Award 2014 for taking innovative approaches towards
introducing ICT-backed reforms in public service delivery. Also, it is worth mentioning that the
“Alliance for Financial Inclusion” (AFI), an international organization of central banks and other
financial regulators, awarded Bangladesh Bank for promoting financial inclusion policies in
2014. There is evidence of many global players, like Samsung, AMD, VizRT, WorldBridge Global
– setting up operations in Bangladesh (KPMG, 2012:4).
After coming back to power in 2014, the government has managed to maintain an upward
slope in iGDP. Into the 7th Five Year Plan Period, a plethora of acts, policies and guidelines are
in place, some are more robust than the others, which is guiding the nation towards the
realization of Digital Bangladesh.
My head is bowed with respect as I intend to illustrate our advancement in the internet sector
and most importantly iGDP in the 7th Five Year Plan period. Bangladesh is no exception to the
global leapfrog in internet-density over the last one decade. The number of internet users have
increased from 1 million in 2004 to a staggering 36 million today.
The packages of m-initiatives and e-initiatives taken under the Digital Bangladesh vision have
liberated our beleaguered economy. Despite the absence of quantitative assessment (iGDP for
Bangladesh) of contribution of digital economy to Bangladesh’s GDP, there is growing
perception that progress is being made to meet the e-business objective of the 6th Five Year
Plan Period to enable businesses, irrespective of their size, to avail ICT for production and to
gain market access domestically and internationally. (Researched from: Achieving Digital
Bangladesh by 2021 and Beyond by Rokonuzzaman, PhD).
The Multimedia Classroom and Teacher-led Digital Content Development projects have
digitalized the education sector. 12, 500 teachers have been trained to create multimedia

3. content. Secondary and Higher Secondary ICT based education project has established 20,000
Multimedia Classrooms The Basic ICT Skill Transfer up-to-Upazila-level has set up computer labs
at 192 educational institutions. Large amount of e-contents have been made to aid students in
the Primary, Secondary and Higher Secondary level. ICT courses for grade VI – XII have been
introduced besides e-book conversion of 325 textbooks.
Realizing the importance of Online Classroom and Outreach programs, the Ministry of ICT is
aiding the Online Classroom initiative taken by Jaago Foundation. Unfortunately, there is no
news of the establishment of a Massive Open Online Course(MOOC). Hopefully the e-contents
developed by the teachers will be used to establish bengali Massive Open Online
Courses(MOOC) like Khan Academy. The reputed public universities should launch online
outreach programs, as higher education is still not accessible to a large fraction of our country’s
population.
Electronic Tendering, Electronic Government Procurement and Electronic Contract
Management facilities have reduced hassle in tender submission. The Electronic Government
Procurement has increased participation of organizations or individuals in tender submission. It
is also facilitating more donor support.
In order to take public and private information and services to the marginalized communities in
rural areas the government has launched over 4,547 Union Digital Centers. In addition to
information, these centers provide services to the general public pertaining to health,
education, agriculture, legal services, online birth registration, foreign workers and
professionals’ online registration service, and various types of utility payment services. This
program is a huge success apart from a few complains about the management failure and
inexperience of the appointed office-bearers.
Today, 14 community radio stations are proactively providing interactive voice response (IVR)
related services and early disaster warnings to more than 4.6 million listeners of 67 upazilas
under 13 districts. Disaster risks have been reduced as a result of adoption of early Interactive
Voice Response through the provision of affordable communication through mobile phones.
Dhaka Metropolitan Police has launched an experimental online diary. Several other Pro-citizen
e-governance programs like Electronic Land Registration, Electronic Commerce, Electronic
Passport Registration etc. have become massively popular among the common people.
Entrepreneurs have also been able to reap goods of the Digital Bangladesh vision. Digital
Bangladesh offers generous opportunity for investment under its liberalized Industrial Policy
and export-oriented, private sector-led growth strategy. Innovation funds, tax holiday for IT
companies, seminars and initiation of the first government Venture incubation program in
Chittagong University of Engineering and Technology(CUET) has provided sufficient leverage to
the promising entrepreneurs.
Moreover, initiatives like the introduction of online application for licenses in business will
make life easier for young entrepreneurs. And introduction of online payment through AlertPay

4. for both transaction within country and internationally will trigger growth in the e-commerce
sector. Hopefully, the government will be able to convince PayPal to start operating in
Bangladesh as the e-commerce and the outsourcing industry heavily depends on PayPal.
Approaching the final roadblock of this essay, I would like to expressive my sincere gratitude to
the Honorable Prime Minister of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina for
envisioning Digital Bangladesh. The influence of Digital Bangladesh is monumental in our
national life. The successful execution of this model will be a legit demonstration of our nation’s
might and will.
A version of this article appears in the DhakaInsider magazine on May 21, 2015 with the
headline: On the Way to Digital Bangladesh