From Tech Hubs to Community Halls: ICT Parks Struggle to Survive

While many ICT parks are now being rented out as community centers just to cover the salaries of caretakers, government-built flats for secretaries on Minto Road offer such lavish facilities that they rival luxury hotels. This stark contrast was highlighted by Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman, Executive Chairman of the Power and Participation Research Centre (PPRC), during a policy dialogue titled “Economic Governance and Corruption Prevention”.

The dialogue was held on Thursday, January 22, at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka, and was organized by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS).

The event was chaired by Zillur Rahman, President of CGS. Speakers included M Abu Yusuf, Executive Director of Research and Policy Integration for Development (RAPID); Saima Haque, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Dhaka; Asaduzzaman Ripon, Vice Chairman of the BNP; former Chattogram City Corporation Mayor Mahmudul Islam Chowdhury; and former Bangladesh Chamber of Industries (BCI) President Shahedul Islam Helal.

Other speakers were M A Baki Khalili, Dean of the School of Business at the University of Asia Pacific; Abdul Haq, President of the Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA); Sardar A Nayeem, Chairman of Japan Bangladesh Friendship Hospital; and business leader Shahdat Hossain. The session was moderated by Parvez Karim Abbasi, Executive Director of CGS.

Ahead of the upcoming national parliamentary elections, the discussion focused on ensuring good governance in the financial sector, reforming the banking system, uprooting corruption, and building a transparent and accountable economic framework. Speakers emphasized that good governance in the banking and insurance sectors is impossible without depoliticization, independent regulatory institutions, and legal reforms.

Addressing the dialogue, Dr Hossain Zillur Rahman said state corruption and harassment have become systematic due to conflicts of interest. Referring to projects driven by the ego of those in power, he noted that several ICT parks are now being leased as community centers merely to pay caretakers’ wages. “This project mindset has spread like cancer within state thinking,” he remarked.

He further stated that several serious inefficiencies have taken root within the state structure. “One is a financing crisis; another is the lack of transparency in decision-making; and a third is ego-driven projects by those in power,” he said. Citing the example of government flats built for secretaries on Minto Road, he noted that their luxurious facilities surpass those of elite hotels. “There is no discussion about who will be held accountable for such state expenditures. Without effective cost management, Bangladesh cannot move forward,” he added.

Dr Rahman also said that reports would be prepared by advisers in all ministries detailing what work has been completed and what has not, which would be helpful for future governments. He pointed out that bureaucrats have been excessively empowered, investment has stalled, employment has declined, and talented young people no longer wish to stay in the country. Over-centralization has increased, making decentralization urgent. “There is no transparency in decision-making, and accountability must be ensured,” he stressed.

He also alleged that mega projects suffer from a lack of prioritization and transparency. While corruption remains a major problem, no research has yet proven that corruption has decreased, he said. “People no longer want to hear promises; they want to see real action.” He added that reform initiatives involving institutions such as the Anti-Corruption Commission and the Media Commission have not been effectively implemented.

Referring to recent developments, Dr Rahman questioned the sudden appointment of three individuals to Biman Bangladesh Airlines’ board of directors. “What is the explanation? If there are valid reasons for the appointments, why is there a problem in disclosing them?” he asked, adding that the lack of transparency in decision-making persists even under the current government. “This was a problem in the past, and we must ensure it does not continue in the future.”

Saima Haque Bidisha, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) of the University of Dhaka, said that while digitalization may not completely eliminate corruption, it can significantly reduce many problems. “Digitalization can bring balance, but digital literacy is crucial,” she noted. She pointed out that although income tax return submission is partially digital, the process remains complex and paper-dependent in practice. She emphasized that while Bangladesh does not lack policies, implementation remains weak, and stressed the need for capital market reforms, rational use of tax incentives, and simplified trade licensing for women entrepreneurs.

Speaking at the event, Professor Dr M Abu Yusuf, Executive Director of RAPID, said that good governance cannot be established unless constitutional institutions are separated from politics. He also identified the credibility of government data and the disconnect between education and employment as major challenges.

DBTech/ASPA/MUM/OR