Bangladesh ranks very low positions in United Nation’s ICT Index
ICT Adviser expresses his disappointment with feedback on ADP progress in telecommunication and ICT sector
BDT 65 thousand crore has been invested in the annual development sector of Information and Communication Technology and Posts and Telecommunications in the last 10 years. Out of this, Information and Communication Technology Division alone has taken Tk 25 thousand crore and Posts and Telecommunications Department has taken projects worth Tk 40 thousand crores. But still Bangladesh is placed behind countries like Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Vietnam, Bhutan, Rwanda, Ghana and Kenya in various international indicators.
Adviser Md. Nahid Islam expressed his disappointment due to the backwardness in various sectors of digital development despite huge investment. He commented that due to widespread irregularities, the people of the country did not get the benefits of the money spent on various initiatives.
Nahid Islam said that since 2010 many projects have been taken in the name of Digital Bangladesh by spending a lot of money. But the people of the country did not get the result. It is seen almost everywhere that the projects were not completed on time, after one or two extensions, needed further extension of time again. Therefore, the time extension of the few projects that are being talked about should be extended carefully.
The advisor also commented that if the projects are implemented properly, there will be a lot of progress in the Internet and telecommunication sector in Bangladesh; the benefits of which will be enjoyed by the countrymen. The advisor also commented on reducing project costs, avoiding procrastination, always providing project updates on software and completing projects on time.
On Monday in the meeting room of the Posts and Telecommunications Division, he made these comments at the review meeting on ADP implementation progress. Posts and Telecommunications Secretary Dr. Mushfiqur Rahman presided over the meeting.
In the meeting, the Heads of Departments and Organizations and Project Managers of Posts and Telecommunications Department presented the implementation plans and latest progress of their respective projects. The data analysis shows that Bangladesh is behind Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Vietnam and Bhutan with a score of 62 out of 100 in the June report of the United Nations International Telecommunication Union's ICT Development Index.
Similarly, in the Okla Speedtest Global Index May, 2024 internet speed list, Bangladesh is ranked 109th among 147 countries. In this regard, Kenya is also ahead of Bangladesh. Besides, Bangladesh is also ranked 108th in the Broadband Internet Index. In that list, there are countries like India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Rwanda, Ghana and Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is ranked 113 out of 174 countries in IMF's Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index as of June, 2024; India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Rwanda, Ghana are also ahead of Bangladesh among the countries on the list.
Cyber security organization Surfshark Digital Quality of Life Index 2023 ranked Bangladesh 82nd in the list of 121 countries in the world, that is five steps lower than the previous year. According to the index, Internet speed in Bangladesh is 5% lower than the global average. Bangladesh ranks 73 on the Key Government Index, which is below the global average. 85th in e-security ranking and 77th in internet purchasing power.
According to the April 2024 report of the US magazine CEO World, Bangladesh is also lagging behind in freelancing. Bangladesh is at number 29 in the list of 30 best destinations there. Bangladesh ranks even after India and Pakistan in the list.
It was informed in the meeting that total nine projects have been taken up in 2024-25 financial year in four offices of Posts and Telecommunication Division. Among those, there are five projects of BTCL, one project of Teletalk Bangladesh Limited, Postal Directorate two and Bangladesh Submarine Cable PLC one project. Overall, the project review shows that the national progress in ICT is 1.02 percent and the progress in Posts and Telecommunications is 3.84 percent in FY 2024-25.
