New Oath, New Outlook: ICT Sector Sets Sights on Structural Reform
The swearing-in ceremony of the newly elected Members of Parliament (MPs) of the 13th National Parliament and members of the new cabinet is set to take place today, Tuesday, February 17. Breaking with longstanding tradition, the ceremony will be held outside Bangabhaban, at the South Plaza of the National Parliament Building. The interim government has already completed all arrangements for the event.
Under the leadership of BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman, the newly elected MPs will take oath as members of the BNP-led cabinet. However, it has not yet been determined who will assume responsibility for the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The ICT sector has received special emphasis in the election manifestos of both BNP and Jamaat. In light of this priority, entrepreneurs, leaders, and sector stakeholders are sharing their views with Digibangla on the challenges and expectations facing the new government.
Among them, IT entrepreneur Niton Mohammad Kamruzzaman has emphasized the need for a fundamental shift in the government’s role to ensure sustainable development in the ICT sector. He argues that instead of acting as a software or system maker, the government should focus on being a policymaker and data custodian. He proposes replacing the prevailing tender-based grants and short-term Proof of Concept (POC) models with a sustainable, license-based framework. Under such a model, citizens would directly choose service providers based on quality, while the government would generate revenue through licensing or transaction mechanisms. According to the Chief Technology Officer of Tapware Solutions Limited, this approach would ensure healthy market competition and deliver quality services in the long term.
Opening Up Data and Infrastructure: Following the Estonian Model
One of the biggest challenges in the technology sector is ensuring the free and secure flow of information. Kamruzzaman believes the government should act as the custodian of sensitive citizen data and ensure API exposure modeled after Estonia’s renowned ‘X-Road’ system. This would allow private innovators to use government data to develop citizen-friendly services such as digital health appointment systems or integrated financial platforms. The government would primarily establish the Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), upon which entrepreneurs could build and operate their business services.
Digital Identity and E-Residency: Building an Entrepreneur-Friendly Environment
Drawing inspiration from developed nations, Kamruzzaman has called for the establishment of a robust digital identity system in Bangladesh. He suggests that introducing digital identity and e-residency systems similar to Estonia’s would enable entrepreneurs to register companies, access banking services, and pay taxes online from anywhere. This would reduce bureaucratic red tape and improve the Ease of Doing Business. He also highlights the importance of implementing the “Government as a Platform” (GaaP) concept, allowing third-party developers to integrate their software or plugins into core government systems in compliance with regulatory frameworks.
Research and Global Competitiveness
Kamruzzaman stresses the need to establish a dedicated fund and offer tax incentives to support long-term research and development (R&D) in the ICT sector. To make local IT firms competitive in global markets, government support for high-tech research is essential. He advises the government to prioritize Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) models rather than developing proprietary systems on its own. Through licensing or transaction fees, both the government and private sector could benefit sustainably over the long term.
Diplomatic Engagement and Software Export Incentives
Expanding the global footprint of domestic software requires strong diplomatic initiatives. Kamruzzaman underscores the importance of simplifying business policies to foster joint ventures with advanced economies such as Japan. According to him, one of the new government’s major challenges will be reducing dependency on loans while building an investment-driven, SME-friendly ecosystem. If export incentives and seamless global transaction systems are ensured, Bangladesh’s ICT industry could rapidly emerge as a leader on the global stage.
DBTech/DHE/MUM/OR
