20 recommendations placed before the telecom and ICT Advisor for building a technology-driven nation
Experts have submitted 20 recommendations for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology to ensure that "Bangladesh 2.0," which emerged through the student led popular uprising, remains free from corruption. These recommendations emphasize the use of technologies like AI and blockchain, making the internet and information technology accessible to every citizen, and increasing AI-based capabilities within the country.
The recommendations, outlining their objectives and goals, highlight 11 priorities, with six of them deemed immediately implementable. The proposals stress the importance of equipping the talented youth with technical skills and incorporating professionalism.
Among the recommendations that are immediately actionable is the rationalization or reduction of data and call rates, the formation of a task force to review internet infrastructure, and the creation and implementation of an action plan to ensure everyone can buy and use smartphones with little to no down payment, in coordination with telecom companies and financial institutions. Furthermore, a task force is recommended to resolve issues faced by freelancers, including the introduction of widely requested services like PayPal and Stripe in the country to ease remittance incentives. Additionally, a coordinated effort involving Bangladesh Bank, BFIU, mobile financial services, CID, BTRC, and other government agencies is suggested to curb the proliferation of online gambling, with a comprehensive action plan and rapid implementation. To address cybercrime, a committee should be formed to provide law enforcement with preventive information, technical advice, and assistance.
To promote local software sector employment, the proposal suggests halting or minimizing the purchase of foreign software in both public and private institutions over the next two years. Another recommendation is to work with Bangladesh Bank to implement a nondiscriminatory policy for payment ecosystem operators (PSP, PSO, etc.) and to launch widespread adoption of QR code-based payments.
In the medium-term category, the recommendations include formulating a national IoT (Internet of Things) strategy and roadmap, simplifying app monetization, mandating that at least 40% of all IT hardware purchases by the government be sourced from domestic companies within the next three years, providing toll-free (or data-free for apps) access to critical government services, ensuring internet availability and quality nationwide through proper technical audits, and forming an expert committee to investigate recent hacking and data theft incidents involving national data infrastructures. Additionally, a task force is recommended to establish strategies and roadmaps to prevent AI misuse, and a policy is proposed for coordinating with the SEC and Bangladesh Bank to create investment opportunities for startups through the country’s capital markets.
These written proposals were handed over on Wednesday night to Md. Nahid Islam, Advisor to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, as well as the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, by Fahim Mashroor, founder of Bdjobs and former BASIS president. Fida Haque, Co-Chair of BASIS FinTech Standing Committee and founder of Surjomukhi Limited and Adorsho Praniseba Limited, along with Didarul Bhuiyan, founder of NayaBrittik and Obok Technologies Limited, payment gateway expert, and member of Rashtra Chinta were present at that time. Freelancers Hasin Hayder and sustainable development author and researcher Foyez Ahmed Tayyeb also contributed to the recommendations.
