Connectivity, startups and infrastructure lead reform agenda

The government has outlined its progress, ongoing initiatives and future plans in the technology sector over the past 180 days, with connectivity, digital infrastructure, startups, cybersecurity, telecommunications and public-service modernisation taking centre stage.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam presented the overview at a press conference on September 3, Thursday, at the conference room of the Information and Technology Division at ICT Tower in Agargaon.

Prime Minister’s Adviser in charge Rehan Asif Asad and ICT Secretary Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan were present at the press conference.

The government highlighted initiatives covering technology infrastructure, startup investment, cyber security, Teletalk’s network expansion, the third submarine cable project, postal service modernisation and a planned unified digital identity system.

Tk 5 billion startup fund

The government has started work under a Tk 500 crore fund to strengthen the country’s startup ecosystem.

Following a special event at the University of Dhaka, Tk 7 crore has already been invested in three promising technology-based startups.

The initiative is intended to support technology-driven businesses, innovation and entrepreneurship and expand the country’s digital economy.

Digital connectivity expands

The government reported that broadband connections have been provided to 19,822 institutions over the past 180 days.

Training centres have also been constructed in 15 upazilas.

In the hill districts, remote services are being provided to 102 schools through low-Earth-orbit, or LEO, satellite technology.

Free Wi-Fi has been introduced at one airport, six railway stations and four intercity trains to improve digital connectivity for public transport users.

300 new Teletalk sites

State-owned mobile operator Teletalk has installed 300 new network sites during the period.

The operator is also conducting trials of Voice over Wi-Fi, or VoWiFi, and Voice over LTE, or VoLTE.

The technologies are expected to improve network coverage and voice-service quality.

Third submarine cable moves forward

Equipment installation at the landing station of the country’s third submarine cable project in Cox’s Bazar has been completed, according to the information presented at the press conference.

The additional submarine cable capacity is expected to strengthen Bangladesh’s international internet connectivity and improve the resilience of its digital infrastructure.

Cybersecurity and legal reforms

The government also highlighted legal initiatives aimed at strengthening governance and security in the information technology sector.

The minister said drafts of the Cyber Security Act, Personal Data Protection Act and National Data Management Act had received approval in parliament.

The government has also introduced a national-ready system, a cyber incident reporting system and the National Cyber Drill 2024 as part of efforts to strengthen cyber security.

Postal network set for modernisation

The government has planned to restructure around 9,000 post offices as part of the modernisation of the postal department.

During the previous mango season, around 350 tonnes of mangoes were delivered using the postal network.

Fourteen fulfilment centres have also been launched to facilitate e-commerce processing.

The press conference also highlighted a Bangla Screen Reader for visually impaired citizens and plans to establish a disaster recovery centre in Jashore.

These initiatives are aimed at connecting the traditional postal network with digital services and the growing e-commerce economy.

One-ID roadmap within six months

The government’s plan for “One Citizen, One ID and One Digital Wallet” was presented as a major initiative to bring citizen services under a single digital framework.

Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam said work on the Development Project Proposal, or DPP, was progressing rapidly and that the implementation roadmap would be finalised within the next six months.

Information and Technology Adviser Rehan Asif Asad described the concept as “One Citizen, One Digital ID, One Wallet.”

He said every citizen would have one card that would serve as their digital identity and enable digital transactions.

Under the plan, citizens would receive a permanent and unique digital identity from birth. The identity would be used throughout their lives to access health, education and other public services.

ICT Secretary Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan said Bangladesh currently has multiple types of cards but lacks coordination among them. Some people have two birth-registration cards, while some have two passports.

He said, “The new identity card will be unique and permanent. Even a newborn child will receive the card. No other card will be necessary.”

At present, children receive birth-registration certificates after birth and obtain a National Identity Card, or NID, at the age of 18.

Under the proposed system, citizens would receive their identity from birth and would no longer have to repeatedly provide the same information to different government offices.

The ICT Division said existing cards would gradually lose their separate functions once the unified identity system is introduced. Services associated with the NID, Family Card and Farmer Card are expected to be incorporated into the new identity system, although the mechanism has not yet been finalised.

Rooppur faces technical challenge

The progress and challenges surrounding the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant were also discussed toward the end of the press conference.

Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam said fuel loading at the plant had already been completed and that the government was targeting the supply of 300 megawatts of electricity to the national grid within four to six months.

However, the project is facing some technical challenges at the final stage of commissioning.

According to the information presented at the press conference, technical complications involving pressure valves at the project’s critical stages—B, B1 and C—have caused some delay in the testing process.

Experts and scientists from Russia’s state nuclear agency Rosatom are working jointly with the Bangladeshi team to resolve the problem, the press conference was told.

The government expressed hope that the technical difficulties would be resolved soon, allowing the plant to be connected to the national grid.

The government now faces two major timelines alongside its broader 180-day technology-sector agenda: finalising the implementation roadmap for “One Citizen, One Digital ID, One Wallet” within six months, and achieving the target of supplying 300 megawatts from Rooppur to the national grid within four to six months.
//DBTech/JUP/SME/MSI//