Bangladesh is a country of potential. We can beat any country if we can turn our population into human resources. Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman dreamt of building a Sonar Bangla. His philosophy was to build a discrimination-free society and take forward the country through development of villages. Prime Minister and daughter of Bangabandhu, Sheikh Hasina, has been working to implement Bangabandhu’s philosophy. Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser and her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy initiated the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ vision. Senior Secretary of ICT Division NM Zeaul Alam, PAA, talked to Bangladesh Post on the activities of the government for building a developed and digital Bangladesh.
Bangladesh Post (BD Post): How close are we to the attainment of Digital Bangladesh?
Zeaul Alam: Since the declaration of Digital Bangladesh by PM Sheikh Hasina in 2009, huge development happened in last 10 years. Meantime, process of digitalisation has changed. With evolution, we evolve too. Now, we know about the fourth industrial revolution (4IR). Digital Bangladesh is a continuous process.It’s hard to say where it actually stops. But we are marching forward alongside the rest of world. ‘Digital Bangladesh’ makes it happen. Our youths are adopting new technologies fast.This year, they brought international recognition on blockchain home. Our students, startups, and academiciansare coping with the global advancement. It’s a huge success.
BD Post: Establishment of 4IR-frendily industry is a must to build a developed Bangladesh. How is the government proceeding to create skilled human resources for the 4IR?
Alam: As the 4IR comes with AI robotics, we alongwith A2I and others carried out study to assess the impact on our employment. We are proceeding with the study and including new technologies into our mechanism. However, skills come first. Behind automation, there is always a manual process. So, we need skilled manpower and we are working on it.
BD Post: You once said now our target is frontier technology and cyber security. How are you working on it?
Alam: We have created space in frontier technology bringing many awards home. Our universities have frontier technology-based labs. We’ve automatized 10 services and will use frontier technology. Students will be trained. India’s Tech Mahindra will assist us. Moreover, collaboration with other countries including China and Japan is underway. Besides, cyber security becomes a rising concern. The government formulates the 2018 cyber security act. Campaigns have been launched in phases. We have 24/7 “cyber incident response teams” to oversee the important cyber establishments. A Cyber Security Council headed by PM has been formed.
BD Post: The government is encouraging on blockchain technology-based innovation. How much progress havebeen made so far?
Alam: Our students, government agencies (i.e.) Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), A2I and others working on blockchain technology. BCC’s certification management now runs on blockchain to prevent forgery. It ensures transparency.The government also formulated a strategy paper to use blockchain technology effectively.
BD Post: Entrepreneurs often demands for high-speed internet at union levels. Other than the union digital centres, will the government take any initiative in future?
Alam: High-speed internet is now available at the unions. We are undertaking project to work with the government’s “My village, my town” initiative. The BTCL is overseeing to ensure internet at a reasonable cost at the marginal level.
BD Post: As a winner of the 2012 national “Innovation Award”, tell us from your experience, what aspects we should emphasize to create a sustainable startup eco system in Bangladesh.
Alam: We are working for the startups as per the instructions of our PM, advisor and state minister. The government has provided institutional infrastructures, assistances and incentives for the startup ecosystem. PM allocated fund for startups in 2018-19 fiscal year. We have “Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) project” to give mentoring support at all stages – pre-seed, seed and growth - of startups. PM told several days ago that our youths won’t seek jobs they will give it. Only startup ecosystem, if our youths join, will turn them into job providers.
BD Post: The government has long been talking about a national registration system for freelancers? What progress has been made so far?
Alam: We have already signed a memorandum of understanding with a vendor and it’s now at the inaugural phase. Maybe, we will launch it soon. National Skill Development Authority is working on certification and we are giving them an identity.
BD Post: According to freelancers the process will eased to meet the target of $5 billion by 2021 if PayPal operation starts in Bangladesh. Any good news for them?
Alam: Talks are on with PayPal. The state minister wrote to them through embassy.There are some issues related to bank transaction that requires Bangladesh Bank and others’ involvement. We are automatizing our financial transaction to create an integrated service delivery platform. Hopefully the issue of payment gateway will come in favour of the freelancers.
BD Post: Formulating a data privacy law is on at the instruction of the PM’s IT Advisor. What are the updates?
Alam: A daft law is ready. We are preparing it in English as all available references are in English. Later, it will be translated into Bangla.
BD Post: In developed countries, children learn coding at schools. Have the government taken any initiative to introduce coding at schools?
Alam: In fact, coding is important. The government, especially, our advisor has instructed to go ahead. Policymakers also give a green signal. If we can teach children how to code, they will create miracle. Use of Sheikh Russel Labs can accelerate the teaching kid about how to code. The education ministry is considering it.
BD Post: You have long been involved in women empowerment. When you were the UNO of Bagerhat’sChitalmari, you established a women college. How are you working on the inclusion of women in technology?
Alam: Women education was lagging behind in the area on that time. We established Bangabandhu Women’s College. Bagerhat-1 constituency lawmaker Sheikh Helal helped me personally and made much contribution to build the college. Today, women don’t lag behind in IT education. More women participate in IT training than men or both have equal participation. Several initiatives including “She Power Project” had been taken to trainrural women. They then came to IT business and became IT entrepreneurs. At the beginning period of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ declaration, PM asked to bring a man and a woman for each union digital centre, thus we created 6,000 female and 6,000 male entrepreneurs. This is how our women empowerment is increasing in IT sector.
BD Post: Nowadays, nearly 70 percent of cybercrime victims are teen girls. Do you have any plan fornational awareness campaign on cyber security for women?
Alam: Girls often become victims to cybercrimes due to lack of awareness. It can be prevented, if they become aware and learn about digital ethics; not sharing password, not sharing a false post or news on social media, etc. If a girl becomes aware, she raises awareness in her family. We have been campaigning and we hope to do more.
BD Post: The 4th Digital Bangladesh Day will be celebrated on December 20. How will the government plan to celebrate it?
Alam: Last year, we celebrated the Digital Bangladesh Day with festivity. This year we face coronavirus outbreak. Both virtual and hybrid programmes will be organized to celebrate the Day with the theme “Although maintaining distance, still connected”.President or PM along with othersis expected to join it.
BD Post: Nowadays, more students show interest on higher study on ICT. What do you recommendfor them?
Alam: IT is a fundamental knowledge. Everyone should have a basic knowledge then one can be an IT engineer, a robotics engineer or a blockchain engineer.
BD Post: Thank You. It was nice talking to you.
Alam: It was nice talking to you too.