The recently passed A2I Bill 2023 has put the private sector in direct and unequal competition with the government.
The demand was raised at the IT trade body’s press conference on the Agency to Innovate Bill 2023 at the BASIS Conference Center on Monday.
In the press conference, it was expressed that everyone in the information technology sector will benefit through public-private joint partnership.
After discussion on sub-section 18 of Article 13, after agreeing on three points why not to do business and accepting the demands of representation of five organizations, the issue of company formation will also be amended.
BASIS President Russell T Ahmed, ISPAB President Imdadul Hoq, BACCO President Waheed Sharif and e-CAB General Secretary Abdul Waheed Tamal gave their statements on the same in the press conference.
They said, the law is for all time. So there should be no such scope in law. It will bring the public-private sector face to face. It’s unfair. There is no need for this so we believe it will be resolved. Necessary amendments will be made in the law.
The 12th meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology was held on 18 June 2023. Honorable members of the committee (Members of Parliament), Hon’ble Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology, relevant officials of the ICT Division and presidents of 5 trade organizations of the IT sector were invited and attended the meeting.
A total of 13 sections and 15 sub-sections of the A2I Bill 2023 have been tabled for presentation in the said meeting with specific proposals for necessary amendments. Among them, the meeting unanimously decided on 3 issues 1. All ICT Trade Associations shall be represented in the Executive Committee [Section-7]. 2. A2I shall not participate in any joint or partnership transaction [Section-12 (d)]. 3. A2I cannot form a company [Section 21].
But, after reviewing the A2I Bill 2023, recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee and raised by the Honorable Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology in the National Parliament on 5 July 2023, it can be seen that the two points of the above 3 amendment proposals which were unanimously accepted by the Parliamentary Standing Committee are considered the most important. The proposal viz., “power to form companies as the agency may require” [Section 21] still exists which was decided to be abolished altogether.
Hon’ble Prime Minister, Hon’ble Prime Minister’s ICT Advisor and State Minister for ICT have always been saying – ‘Government will not do business, it will create a business-friendly environment for businessmen’. There is no alternative to creating a business-friendly environment to strengthen the position of the private sector in implementing the Smart Bangladesh vision of the Honorable Prime Minister.
The BASIS President Russell T Ahmed said in his speech, “However, we all association heads have sat several times with the Honorable Minister of State and all concerned on the Agency to Innovate (A2I) 2023 Bill and have given written proposals on the conflicting issues with the industry. When the A2I Bill was passed by the Great National Parliament, we and all those related to the IT industry were shocked to notice that the most dangerous section among the decisions taken in the meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, was the section giving the power to A2I to form companies. By which, A2I can form any type of company and provide any service. This clause is very much in conflict with the industry. In this case, BACCO President Waheed Sharif said, “We were present at the Parliamentary Standing Committee meeting and agreed with the demands and the law needs to be amended by repealing this clause in the interest of Smart Bangladesh. Amending this bill is very important to accelerate the development of this industry.”
ISPAB President Md. Imdadul Hoq said, “According to the passed A2I Bill 2023, the government will assist the private sector to create business areas but will not be part of the business itself. But an opportunity to form a company can be misused by an evil person. That opportunity should not exist.
Muhammad Abdul Waheed Tamal, General Secretary of e-CAB said, we are working with A2I. I want to work together in the future. So it is expected that the honorable state minister and the ICT advisor will fulfill the collective demands of all the associations soon.