National Policy on ICT

3.1 Training and Human Resources Development

Bangladesh must prepare itself to complete effectively in the global ICT market. As the demand for skilled manpower in ICT is growing world-wide, the country needs to produce a large number of ICT professionals. The specific policy statements are:

3.1.1 Widespread introduction of ICT education in public and private educational institutions is a prerequisite for producing skilled ICT manpower. Facilities shall be built to promote ICT training and computer aided training at all levels of education including Primary Schools and Madrasahs. Donor agencies, non-government organizations and other development partners of the countryshall be encouraged to help build the necessary capacity in this area.

3.1.2 Universities, Bangladesh Institutes of Technology and Colleges, both in the public and private sectors, shall be strengthened to produce ICT graduates four-year Computer Science and/or Engineering courses. Necessary resources will be allocated to these institutions.

3.1.3 Out of three Science and Technology Universities proposed in the Five Year Development Plan, one will be established as centre of excellence in ICT by giving higher allocation of respires.

3.1.4 Establish multimedia institutes up to district level to start with to produce skilled human resources to exploit the opportunity offered by the growing multimedia-market.

3.1.5 Diploma and Trade Certificate in ICT will be offered in both public and private institutes including Polytechnics. The continual skill upgrading of existing professional working in public and private sectors shall be ensured by in-service training programmes. 3.1.6 The shortage of trained and qualified teachers and trainer for ICT training in bottleneck to the HRD plan. To address the issue, It Capacity-Building of the Teachers Training Institutes (TTI) including TTCs, NAPE, PTI will be taken up. To teach the teachers and trainers, intensive postgraduate diploma courses will be introduced in TTIs. Training programmes to train and retrain them periodically to keep them up-to-date with the technological progress in the area of ICT will be introduced. ICT literacy will be a desirable requirement in the requirement and selection of teachers. Divisional training centers of BCC will provide TOT (Training for the Trainers) to build up sufficient number of skilled trainers.

3.1.7 As it would be difficult to train teachers in ICT in large number using the present infrastructure, deploy virtual ICT trainers wherever possible. CD and web based courseware development and use shall be encouraged to promote computer-aided education at all level of education.

3.1.8 To address the issue of deficiency in English and mathematics education, a crash programme shall be taken up to train eachers. To ensure standard and quality of ICT education, a national certification and accreditation system shall be developed and implemented.

3.1.9 take up programmes to develop quality ICT professionals and skilled personnel to ensure success in the global software and ICT Enabled services market. Encourage and support formal and informal sector to adopt internationally accepted standards in training programs and to introduce globally acceptable standards.

3.1.11 Qualified and skilled teachers will be brought in from abroad in the fields where local teachers are not available.

3.1.12. Syllabus and Course Curricula for all levels of Computer Science training will be updated continuously.

3.2 ICT Infrastructure 3.2.1 To ensure capacity building of the nation in the field of Information Technology and to attain a sustainable growth of the ICT sector of Bangladesh and to help compete in the expanding global ICT market, Ministry of Science and information & Communication Technology and BCC should be appropriately strengthened.

3.2.2 To support the growing demand of the ICT sector, appropriate ICT infrastructure to be established immediately both in public and private sector, as telecommunication infrastructure is an integral part of ICT, so the telecommunication sector should be deregulated and made open to private sector investors as early as possible.

3.2.3 Development of telecommunication infrastructure should be considered as infrastructure Development Industries like Development of Road, Electricity, Power, Computer/ICT Industry etc.

3.2.4. In order to establish direct connectivity with international information and communication backbone Bangladesh will join Fiber Optic Submarine Cable Network. 3.2.5 As telecommunication infrastructure {Telephone Exchange, Towers, Radio/Telephone Transmission Lines etc.} are similar to electric power infrastructure {Generator, Pylons, Power Grid and Gas Transmission Lines}, so Customs Duty & Tax etc. should be amended accordingly in the same line.

3.2.6 Cellular telephone handsets are being increasingly used as terminals for emailing and other ICT uses. Customs duty and tax etc. of cellular mobile telephone handsets should be brought down to a reasonable level.

3.2.7 The use of ICT and information services should be affordable to the people; and therefore the cost (and hence the price) of carriage. Infrastructure & Services should be provided by a multiplicity of enterprises like the BTTB, Bangladesh Railways PDB, REB, etc.

3.2.8. Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) as resources like land, MW/UHF Towers all over the country which would be encouraged to be used by the private sector companies for augmenting information Infrastructure. BTRC should take the eadership to coordinate the activities of Public Utility sectors [BTTB, PDB, Gas, Railway etc.] and make their existing dormant/underutilized infrastructure and resources (land, Microware/UHF Towers building, Radio Towers, power pylons, cooperation between BTTB, Railways, PDB, REB Power Grid Company, Oil and Gas Companies, etc., which have right of way and infrastructure to build digital microwave and optical fiber based photonic information transport systems for use by ICT services providers.

3.2.10. BTTB will increasingly shift its role from Service provider to individual subscribers Infrastructure Provider to all other Telecommunication Service Providers and ISPs on commercial basis.

3.2.11 Socio-economic development can be accelerated if more people can have access to information. Tele-density is important in this respect and it will be increased to broaden the coverage, which will improve the socio-economic condition of the people through ICT-related activities in line with experience of developed countries.

3.2.12 Basis telecommunication facilities will be extended to the rural and under-served areas to bring the greater mass into the stream of ICT activities both by the public and private sector.

3.2.13 Advanced and new technologies will be introduced to expand the existing network and will be extended gradually to the rural and under served areas. 3.2.14 Telecommunication facility will be made available to all segments of the society and all of the present and emerging services will be provided at an affordable cost.

3.2.15 To provide dial-up Internet access from local telephone calls ISPs will be provided with relevant technological facilities.

3.2.16 The Internet facility will be extended to all the district headquarters and subsequently to its adjacent area up to Upzila levels. Internet will be provided to the educational institutions and libraries.

3.2.17 To ensure public access to information, Cyber Kiosks will be set up in all Post offices, Union complex and Upzila complex. Private sector participation will be encouraged to set up these facilities.

3.2.18 to support the installation of ISPs in the country national high speed communication backbone for Internet will be developed and international high-speed gateway facilities for ISPs will be provided on commercial basis.

3.2.19 Inter-ISP communication in time consuming and costly as there is no Internet exchange in the country at present. The roblem will be solved by establishing Internet exchange.

3.2.20 An integrated flexible and reliable nation-wide information communication network capable of voice, audio, video, data and graphics transmission will be ensured. National Information Infrastructures will be developed and it will be directly connected to Global Information Infrastructure through Information superhighway to create, collect and sell software and provide ICT enable services to the world-market through involvement of both the public a private sectors.

3.2.21 To improve the quality of present telecommunication services and to help provide value added services analog telephone-switches and transmission link of the existing telephone network will be replaced by digital switches and digital transmission link as early as possible.

3.2.22 The bandwidth capacity and availability will be ensured all over the country at a reasonable cost to encourage the growth of Internet, ICT industries, e-Commerce and e-Governance. 3.2.23 Development of local technological capabilities through local ICT industry will be emphasized. The service component of the ICT industry will be emphasized. The service component of the ICT industry will be conducted by local private firms, in association with foreign firms as and where possible.

3.2.24 Hi-Tech Zones will be established through technology transfer with the cooperation of foreign companies and Bangladeshis working abroad. Software Technology Park with dedicated and advanced data communication facilities shall be established and software development and export companies will be encouraged to set up workspace in those parks at preferential terms.

3.2.25 A central depository for collection and dissemination of ICT information and research findings will be developed. This will be done under a network, connecting all university libraries and research organization to this central depository, which is turn will be connected to the Internet.

3.2.26 Solar power will be encouraged specially in those inaccessible areas where use of ICT is constrained due to lack of lectricity.

3.2.27 Use of VoIP and WLL (Wireless Local Loop) technologies will be reviewed and realistic measures taken thereafter.

3.3 Research and Development in ICT

3.3.1 Research and development in ICT will focus on need-based fundamental and applied research contributing to the improvement of quality and efficiency of the application to our ICT industry.

3.3.2 Bangladesh Computer Council will encourage ICT R&D activities carried out by the public and private sector organizations.

3.3.3 BCC along with ICT industries will assist in formulating plans to conduct need-based R&D activities in the Universities, BITs and public & private sector R&D institutions and encourage the younger generation in these activities. The ICT industry may fund for R&D activities for new ICT products and services through Industry Academia collaboration.

3.3.4 A central on-line data bank for scientific and technological information will be established, which can be accessed by educational institutions and other R&D organizations.

3.3.5 R&D efforts on Bangla text processing, Bangla voice recognition, translation and synthesis will be intensified.

3.3.6 Technology Corporations such as Microsoft, IBM, Computer Associated, Oracle, SAP etc. will be approached to set up their R&D Centers in Bangladesh.

3.3.7 Contents for Internet and Intranet will be developed in Bangla.

3.4 ICT Industry

3.4.1 Software Industry

3.4.1.1 To develop and encourage the local software industry, price preference may be given to locally developed software in all public and private sector procurement.

3.4.1.2 In order to assist fast development of local Software Industries, Government will set up an ICT Incubator. The government will extend start-up financial support to the local software industry. Non-Resident Bangladeshis and experts will be encouraged to set up software development companies.

3.4.1.3 The associations of software companies and developers should be encouraged to exchange ideas, experience and organize collective operations such as seminars, training, etc. and take part in trade delegations and trade shows for acquaintance with the international market, trends and establishment of business contacts.

3.4.1.4 The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Commercial wing of Bangladesh Missions abroad and in countries where there is not commercial Wing, the Embassies shall take vigorous steps to identify and explore markets for export of software, data entry services and ICT-enabled services from Bangladesh, including promotion of strategic partnership and outsourcing opportunities.

3.4.1.5 Joint ventures between local and foreign entrepreneurs in the ICT sector will be vigorously promoted.

3.4.1.6 An annual target of 2 (two) billion US dollars from earnings of export of software, data entry and IT-enabled services shall be planned up to year 2006. The target shall be revised periodically to match the growth of the market.

3.4.2 Hardware Industry

3.4.2.1 Hardware industry often requires a huge capital investment and entrepreneurs shall be encouraged to establish production facilities for components, peripherals and accessories with joint venture cooperation and technology transfer agreements. Foreign owned and multinational companies, who will establish such production facilities in Bangladesh and employ our workforce, shall be offered special incentives.

3.4.2.2 IT/ICT Laboratories and resource center in universities and other concerned institutions will be set up to develop skilled manpower required to establish and run hardware industry.

3.4.2.3 Since the local market is still small, the hardware industry may target the export market. Dependence on foreign materials should be reduced where possible by giving incentives to local companies and protecting them from unfavorable competition. Local institutions and R&D organizations shall also be encouraged for research, design, and manufacturing of specialized informatics equipment.

3.4.3 Services Industry

3.4.3.1 Bangladesh, having the advantage of cost-effective labour, must endeavor for expansion and export of ICT -enable services such as medical transcription, data entry, data processing, call centers etc. at home and abroad.

3.4.3.2 NGOs interested to contribute for the expansion of ICT sector will be provided with facilities.

3.5 E-Commerce

3.5.2 Authentication of the identities of both buyer and seller or the involved parties in an electronic transaction is crucial to promote inter-bank transaction should be ensured through appropriate measures.

3.5.3 Establish immediately inter-banking payment system in electronic medium.

3.5.4 Legal framework to provide the guiding principles, rules and legislation for e-Commerce shall be put in place.

3.6 E-Government/E-Governance

3.6.1 The Government shall use ICT system within the public administration to improve efficiency, reduce wastage of resources, enhance planning and raise the quality of services.

3.6.2 Government shall implement widespread ICT systems to provide nation wide coverage and access by any citizen to the government databases and administrative systems, which can be used to extend public services to the remotest corner.

3.6.3 All Government ministries, divisions, departments, autonomous bodies and all District headquarters, and Union Parishad officers must be networked to the National Data Resource Centre in the shortest possible time. The centre shall be a system of national databases having capacity to store and supply rapidly all necessary information on the economic, cultural and social situation of our country.

3.6.4 Each ministry, Division, Directorate, Department, Autonomous body shall establish an ICT Cell, to be managed and run by well trained ICT professionals to plan, coordinate and implement projects and services. Special compensation package comparable to that of private sector shall be introduced to encourage ICT professionals.

3.6.5 All Ministries, Divisions, Directorates, Departments and Autonomous organizations shall set up web sites where all policy documents, forms, circular, orders, notifications etc. and information relevant to the public shall be posted as early as possible and regularly updated. There will be a web portal of Bangladesh Government from which link will be provided to the web sites, like e-forms, e-procurement, e-recruitment, e-results etc.

3.6.6 Government will introduce and promote ICT based services like G2G (Government of Government), G2E (Government to Employee), G2G (Government to Customer) etc.

3.6.7 Preference shall be given to ICT literate candidates for the purpose of recruitment in public offices. ICT literate candidates for the purpose of recruitment in public offices. ICT-literacy shall also be evaluated in the ACR of officials to ensure utilization of ICT in the public services.

3.6.8 In order to establish database of the secondary schools, which are providing computers training root level, MIS will be introduced.

3.7 Legal Issues

3.7.1 Software copyright provisions embodied in the Copyright Act 2000 will be implemented by promptly setting up appropriate enforcing bodies as mentioned in the Act.

3.7.2 ICT Act should be enacted immediately to protect against computer crimes such as computer fraud, hacking, piracy, damage to programs and data and introducing/spreading computer viruses.

3.7.3 Data security and compatibility should be ensured through actions such as setting of encryption standards and international agreements on compatibility.

3.7.4 With the increase in the use of Internet and Information Technology in every sphere of human activities, formulation of new laws or amendment to the existing ones should be done as deemed necessary, to ensure security of data freedom of information.

3.7.5 ICT will be used by the law enforcing agencies to ensure safety and security of life and property of the citizen.

3.7.6 Agencies like Police, NBR and BAC shall use ICT for quick disposal and monitoring of investigation of cases.

3.7.7 Bangladesh Armed forces should use ICT to the fullest extent to increase their efficiency and effectiveness.

<Previous    Next>