Digital Bangladesh will be a reality if the country can implement a comprehensive digitalization strategy, which will integrate the National Identification System (NIS) with critical services. The implementation of this system will help improve access to financial services such as online banking and credit scoring systems. Digitalization will require human capital, and therefore, ICT-based education and training programs should be given a high priority. Finally, political stability is essential for achieving the vision of Digital Bangladesh. During political turmoil, development in different sectors may suffer.
Digital government
As the number of websites about Bangladesh increases, so does the number of service providers opening web entities. As a result, more people are using computers for word processing, e-mail correspondence, accounting, Internet browsing, and software application. But even though these advances are good news for the country’s citizens, they still face some challenges. One of these is the lack of a sound regulatory/legal framework to guide digital government in Bangladesh.
Digital education
The country’s higher education institutions have taken the initiative to conduct teaching-learning activities online. While many teachers in developed countries already have some experience with online education, teachers in Bangladesh are largely new to the field. Further, HEIs in Bangladesh have yet to develop a policy that allows them to continue their teaching-learning activities during emergencies. In this article, we examine the readiness of teachers to conduct online education and the challenges that face them as they implement online teaching-learning activities in Bangladesh.
Digital business
While the growth rate in Bangladesh is 5.2%, it is well ahead of its South Asian peers with a -6.8% growth rate and below India’s 9% and Sri Lanka’s -4.55%. Its population is relatively young with 62% of people under the age of 35. There are already over 110 million internet users and the middle class is growing at a rate of 10% per year. According to UNCTAD, over ninety percent of internet users in Bangladesh use mobile devices. And as of 2016, almost 40 million people in Bangladesh own a smartphone. The country is poised to reap the benefits of the youth dividend, but the dwindling SME sector is limiting its potential.
Digital citizen
The project is being implemented through an e-learning portal focusing on digital citizenship and freedom of expression. The project aims to promote responsible digital citizenship among the younger generation of Bangladesh. The European Union has funded the project, which is implemented by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, part of Dnet. The project will last until January 2023. The aim of the project is to empower young people in Bangladesh to use digital technology for positive purposes.
Integrated Supervision System (ISS)
The Integrated Supervision System (ISS) is a web-based monitoring system for the Bangladesh bank. The system integrates the multifold supervision mechanism of the central bank, including credit risk management. The ISS is a web-based monitoring tool for scheduled banks that ensures paperless supervision. The ISS also introduces automated credit-related information–CIB–through electronic channels. With this improved service, Bangladesh banks can better manage their credit risk.
