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Editorial

Bangladesh’s burgeoning ICT sector

Address the long-term challenges in upgrading the country’s digital performance


Bangladeshpost
Published : 10 Feb 2021 09:54 PM | Updated : 11 Feb 2021 12:29 AM

It is encouraging to note that Bangladesh has maintained its progress in the ICT sector despite the Covid-19 pandemic. According to the Global Connectivity Index 2020 published based on the progress of 79 economies in deploying digital infrastructure and capabilities, Bangladesh has advanced in the fields of Broadband, Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in comparison with last year. As a result, three more points have been added to Bangladesh’s portfolio this year. Reportedly, Bangladesh has advanced 8 points in the 'Global Connectivity Index' since 2015.

Relentless efforts on the part of the government over the last several years have successfully reinvigorated the country’s ICT sector. The ‘Digital Bangladesh’ initiative of the incumbent government is paying off in the time of Covid-19 crisis. With the integration of ICT, it has been possible to run offices, medical services, educational institutions, businesses and other activities during the covid-19 pandemic.


The ‘Digital Bangladesh’ initiative of the in cumbent

government is paying off in the time of pandemic 


Over the last year an array of schemes has been incorporated by the government’s ICT wing to take the country’s ICT sector to the level of the first world countries.  From the adoption of computers in government offices for record-keeping to the increased use of credit and debit cards throughout shops and merchants, the use of ICT is everywhere. 

However, compared to most industrialised nations of the world we are still in the early stages, and there is still a lot to be done to materialize the dream of a Digital Bangladesh. Hitherto there are many long-term challenges in upgrading the digital performance of Bangladesh, especially in the areas of spending on research and development and increasing the availability of skilled professionals in science and technology. Therefore, the government should address these issues in order to reinforce the efficiency of the country’s ICT sector.