The massive globalization process speed up the development of information and communication technologies in our society. Along with these process there begins the concept of digitalization. Bangladesh has been considered as a developing country with lots of difficulties for huge population. Our thousands of year‟s traditional cultures are being replaced by the digital culture. However, this is a common trend worldwide. But the transformation pace is extremely high in Bangladesh, if we evaluate last 10 years trend. One simple example can be illustrated accordingly. There are thousands of people using mobile handset but has no electricity at their home! Our inherent Bengali culture, for example Pohela Baishak (Bengali new-year), Halkhata, village fair, joint family ties are fading away due to virtual communication and digital technology. Apart from adverse effect of digitalization it has brought many blessings as well. Ecommerce, E-governance, e-shoping, IT industries has come up with lots of job and business in Bangladesh and made our life easier in many extent. In this report I will explain the digital culture in Bangladesh, some prominent examples, and pros and cons.

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Digital culture and Bangladesh: Recent development and challenges
Md Al-Beruni
M.Sc. of Energy Systems, Aachen University of Applied Sciences.
Abstract
The massive globalization process speed up the development of information and communication
technologies in our society. Along with these process there begins the concept of digitalization.
Bangladesh has been considered as a developing country with lots of difficulties for huge
population. Our thousands of year‟s traditional cultures are being replaced by the digital culture.
However, this is a common trend worldwide. But the transformation pace is extremely high in
Bangladesh, if we evaluate last 10 years trend. One simple example can be illustrated
accordingly. There are thousands of people using mobile handset but has no electricity at their
home! Our inherent Bengali culture, for example Pohela Baishak (Bengali new-year), Halkhata,
village fair, joint family ties are fading away due to virtual communication and digital
technology. Apart from adverse effect of digitalization it has brought many blessings as well. E-
commerce, E-governance, e-shoping, IT industries has come up with lots of job and business in
Bangladesh and made our life easier in many extent. In this report I will explain the digital
culture in Bangladesh, some prominent examples, and pros and cons.
1. Introduction
“Digital Bangladesh” is a wonderful vision that is dreamt by the present government
(Bangladesh Awami League) for the technological development of Bangladesh. It is an idea that
includes the IT use for management, administration and governance to establish transparency,
accountability and answerability.

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The digital Bangladesh manifestation in a glance:
●Digital Bangladesh by 2021
● Charter for Change
● Declaration was made in December 12, 2008
● A long-term vision rather than a target.
● ICTs as a pro-poor tool.
(Rahman Hillol, 2016)
It is to be remembered that Digital Bangladesh doesn‟t only mean the broad use of computers,
and technologies in day to day life. Digital Bangladesh means a digital society which ensures an
ICT driven knowledge- based society where information will be readily available online and
where all possible tasks of the government, semi-government and also private spheres will be
processed using the modern technology. With the invention of telegraph in 19th
century the
modern world has been inaugurated with the Information and Communication technologies day
by day. Now in the 21st Century we witness a dramatic new wave of ICT, leading to massive
socio-economic changes. Bangladesh is not an exception. Despite of facing hundreds critical
crisis Bangladesh has profoundly embraced with digital culture.
2. Digital culture and Bangladesh:
The telecommunication facilities like Radio, Television, Landline telephone, Cell phone and
final edition the internet play a significant role in the development of digital culture and thus
digitalizing our lives. Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Secretary Enamul Kabir, in an
interview, specified that in Digital Bangladesh the “citizens would get information through
electronic channels. Human interaction would be minimal. Most of the services can be given
over electronic channels.” In this sense, he merely spoke about the provision of government
services. Former Secretary of the Ministry of Science and ICT Nazmul Huda Khan defined it as
applying “the latest advancements in science and technology” in reaching government
development targets such as the “amelioration of life and emancipation from causes vexing
humanity.” IT Specialist Shahid Uddin Akbar explained it simply as “integrating ICT in social

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and economic activities.” Bazlur Rahman, CEO of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and
Communication (BNNRC) stated that “I see digital Bangladesh in a way which would bring
change in life and livelihood of people in rural areas, income would increase, narrows the gap.
All the disparities, divide in terms of technology would be reduced.” Extensive use of mobile
telephone, internet, social media, using digital information for business, lesser use of hard cash,
smart id card, biometric mobile SIM registration, e-governance, online shopping etc. some
example of digital culture of present Bangladesh.
3. Key ICT Progresses in Last Five Years
ICT is the backbone of any digital initiative. ICT covers the vast area of information technology,
communication technology and the telecommunication technology. Despite having 50 years of
history the government has only from 1997 started the process of developing a national ICT
strategy. In 2002 Bangladesh identified ICT as a "thrust sector" as it represents potential for
quick wins in reforms, job creation, industry growth, improving governance and facilitating
inclusion. The earning from outsourcing IT jobs has increased by 56% in 2013, said sources in
the Bangladesh Association for Software and Information Services (BASIS). In 2016
Bangladesh, the overall IT/ITES sector is valued at USD 650 million, with export claiming 39%
($250 million) of that value. The overall IT/ITES industry has enjoyed a high growth rate of 40%
over the last five years and this trend is expected to continue. “To make teaching and learning
more enjoyable and participatory, multimedia classrooms are installed in 22,500 secondary
schools and 1700 primary schools. 10000 teachers have been trained as „Master Trainer‟ who
later trained about 20,000 teachers. -A portal, www.teachers.gov.bd has been launched to assist
the teachers where they can find the digital contents for multimedia classrooms.” (Rayhan
Shahariar, 2015)
4. The role of e-governance
Developing of an e-administration with affordable, transparent services using ICTs are already
availing millions of Bangladeshi using mobile phones, radio, TV, internet. Sectors which are

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enjoying those facilities are education, healthcare, agriculture, administration of land and water
resources, social safety nets, law enforcement and judiciary and disaster management. Service at
doorsteps is also necessary for ensuring government accountability, decentralization and
providing effective and efficient service delivery to citizens. Electronic governance or E-
governance can be defined as the delivery of government services and information to the public
using electronic means to support good governance. Along with Governments of many
developing nations, Bangladesh is also coming to a fast realization that ICT is not only necessary
for promoting economic growth but also can be a great engine for driving good governance. E-
governance works mostly in two ways. 1. G2C (Government to Citizen) for example applying
for passport through govt. website, online training, employee information etc. 2. G2B
(Government-to-Business) for example suppliers using internet to tender, submission of tax
assessment through internet at department of Taxation.
5. The role of E-commerce
E-commerce or Electronic commerce has the main objective to reduce the friction in the
marketplace. This allows transactions to take place exclusively via online. Electronic commerce
(e-commerce) is the conduct of commercial transactions over electronic networks (OECD,
2002). Almost all types of necessary things are now available in e-commerce services like
mobile, accessories, jewelry, clothing, food, books, cars etc. In Bangladesh, however, giant
online shopping like Amazon, ebay still plans to penetrate the market. We are relatively new in
this sector. In 2009 Bangladesh bank approved online payment and in 2013 the bank approved
the use of Debit and Credit card for online payment. Even “PayPal” still struggling to get
approval to operate in Bangladesh. Nevertheless, thousands of Online shopping portals are
operating and they are increasing exponentially. E-commerce has successfully created many
startups with limited capital. Even many housewives do online selling business of various items,
like handicrafts while staying at home.

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Fig.1. Hundreds of online shopping portals thrived in recent years in Bangladesh.
6. The role of Social media and the creation of virtual relationship
Social media is a rapidly growing phenomenon in Bangladesh. A study conducted by “We Are
Social and Hootsuit” May 2017, stated that Dhaka ranked second in number of active Facebook
users worldwide. Countrywide, roughly 30 million people using the world‟s strongest social
medium, Facebook (Business Habit, 2017). There are always two sides of everything; it depends
on the perspective on how we perceive it. The same goes for social media, most people admire it
as a revolutionary invention and some perceive to take it as a negative impact on the society.
Social media is changing our relationship styles in several important ways. For example, it can
connect us with lots of people rapidly, we are prone to copy others behaviors, attitudes, beliefs, it
gives an easy platform to compare ourselves with others. The most notable thing is social media
has glamour, which attract people to explore themselves in this virtual world and to discover a

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new horizon of relationship without responsibility. Parents from metropolitans in Bangladesh
complain excessive use of Facebook by their kids. Some of these lead juvenile crimes, young
gangs, and many other disputes among school students.
6.1 Social Works via Facebook
Fig. 2. A Facebook cover photo from MastulFoundation Bangladesh.
6.2 BDCYCLIST: A Facebook group for cycle lover which promoting cycling in Dhaka City.
Latest achievement: Longest single line of bicycles, Guinnes World record. “Bangladesh
cyclists smash world record Bangladesh cyclists set a world record for the longest single line of
moving bikes.” (BBC January 18, 2017)
7. Some prominent digitalization in Bangladesh:
7.1 Bangladesh Introduces „Smart‟ National Identity Cards
On October 2, the Bangladeshi government inaugurated Smart National ID cards (NID) as part
of their Digital Bangladesh initiative, aiming to distribute the cards to 100 million people in
Bangladesh. The NID cards replace existing laminated cards used by the Election Commission,
but they have many other functions. Banking, passport details, driving licenses, trade licenses,
tax payments, and share trading are among the 22 other services that can be accessed through the
cards. The cards will also be associated with an individual‟s mobile phone SIM card. Once
issued, they will be valid for 10 years.

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Fig. 3. Smart National ID card in Bangladesh.
7.2 „Uber‟ launches in Bangladesh to continue its emerging market push
Uber (Transportation Network Company) in 2017 the U.S. ride-sharing giant drove into
Bangladesh for the first time. Initially the services are limited to the capital city Dhaka only. But
increasing demand will make other big cities under its service shortly. Surprisingly, Uber did not
require much advertisement to lunch in Bangladesh. Targeted people are being aware
automatically via social media.
7.3 Shohoz.com.
Owned and operated by Shohoj Limited, is a premium online travel service provider which aims
to make long distance travel in Bangladesh easy and convenient. Driven by the passion to serve
you better, “Shohoz.com” offering bus tickets and launch tickets via online. In entertainment
sector, movie tickets, event tickets as well as cricket match tickets are also available on
Shohoz.com. “Our team of energetic and young professionals with deep expertise in e-
Commerce and travel domains, leave no stone unturned to provide you the best of services at
minimal costs through our user friendly website, Android App, Partner network all over
Bangladesh and a multi-lingual call center.” (Shohoz.com website)

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Fig.4. Traditional bus ticket purchasing line vs recent mobile app for online tickets.
7.4 bkash:
Every year 400 thousand Bangladeshis leave the country to work abroad (ILO). Sending money
from abroad was never been an easy task for Bangladeshi workers. Many companies come up
with solutions. Most prominently bKash trying to solve the issue. bKash Limited, a subsidiary of
BRAC Bank, started as a joint venture between BRAC Bank Limited, Bangladesh and Money in
Motion LLC, USA. Due to lake of access of personal bank account and distance of bank from
home has been a severe obstacle for village people. bKash invented a revolutionary solution for
this problem. bKash account holders can now receive international remittance directly on their
mobile phones. bKash agents office are available in almost every village. This easy service made
life easier of remittance receivers as well as giving peace of mind to millions of remitters
working abroad.
Fig. 5. An advertisement from bKash

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8. Conclusion
To have an effective digital culture, a country require IT experts, human resources, IT training
facilities and overall the connectivity with the global world and a promising working
environment. Government of Bangladesh and its maintenance body is also working to make a
digital Bangladesh with its vision 2021. Even though we observe a pretty good success rate but
still a long way to go. Bangladesh has a favorable environment for the development of digital
culture as it is interconnected with the global world. However, some general setbacks are, Poor
ICT infrastructure, scarcity of it proper policy, lack of awareness of government officials, lack of
coordination, low level of it literacy, lower liability of internet access, lack of it funds, wide
spread corruption. Simultaneously, digital culture produces some byproducts which are playing
negative role. Social networking dramatically reducing one to one interpersonal relationships and
fabricating person‟s actual identity or personality. This phenomenon is strongly observed in
Dhaka city. Fake news and cheap news portals are mostly managed in Facebook. Many people
believe in hoaxes; wasting lots of valuable time of their daily work. Digital crimes are also
increasing with cybercrime. One of the most severe consequence are question paper leak of
Board Examinations in Bangladesh are seen in last few years. Question paper leaked and spread
via Whatsapp or Facebook before the examination nights! One shameful act of some wicked
people is worth to describe. That is, some evil people (mostly from village) fueling religious
conflict among Muslims and Hindus via Facebook. A little awareness can stop thus chaos. Some
recommendations for Bangladesh to ensure a healthy digital culture are, need to ensure
information safety first, need a strong and intelligent e-Government policy, decentralization of
digital services form Dhaka city will solve many problems in a great deal. Bangladesh should
brand itself as a software/ITES outsourcing destination. After all we must have strong road map.
Universities from Bangladesh need to play a vital role to create expertise in IT industries.
Bangladeshi experts who are working worldwide in IT sector should come forward to enlighten
Bangladesh. Our people are inherently more emotional and always tend to follow the
technological trend blindly. We should be more cautious while using technology. We are very
optimistic that within next few years we will observe more productive digital culture in
Bangladesh.

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Reference
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