We are committed to making our glorious victory sustained
Imdadul Haq Executive Editor, Digibanglatech
The golden jubilee of the independence of Bangladesh was celebrated two years back. In 1971, the red bright sun of our victory rose through a bloody liberation war which continued as long as 9 months. Our freedom is not merely a victory over a territory, or over a human race; It is the victory of a long struggling spirit, a glorious victory in our history.
The call for change is still echoing in the history. We know, there are many obstacles; Still, the country is moving forward by embracing information technology. 'Victory' is becoming meaningful in the efficiency, creativity and patriotic involvement of our youth. In this case, the visible location of computers, internet and equipment in the expansion of technology services is helping to succeed in the development transformation. People of the country are now considering the use of information technology as a means of liberation. A large part of the young labor force in the country is investing their talent and ideas in the technology sector. As a result, a lot of innovative ideas and work are being developed. In the inner structure, therefore, a wonderful human value begins to be born.
The seeds of these values were sown in 1952. The 52nd anniversary of the acquisition of 'Land, Flag and Sovereignty' was achieved in the 1971 through a liberation struggle which was initiated from the Mother Language Movement is being completed. In the meantime, Bangladesh has graduated from LDC through economic liberation. Agricultural production has increased by 45 percent in the last 15 years with the use of technology at every level of agriculture, from seed bed to production. Instant e-mail through firewalls; WhatsApp can reach the desired destination instantly. The government is now in the hands of digital transformation of services. Government can connect with people virtually. The days of ruining shoes in search of a job are drawing to an end. You can apply for jobs at low cost by using online addresses like 'BdJobs' without looking for job circulars. Being internet connected, freelancing has become the new sector of earning foreign currency. Instead of running after a job, the new generation is joining the race to become entrepreneurs with domestic solutions to their problems.
This is how electronic communication has changed the concept of business. New doors have opened. Shopping at home, bankless transactions have made life easier. 16th December is the day when we independently started our journey on the road to perfection in technology, on the road to the Victory of our glory, of our existence.
In the meantime, MFS like 'bKash-Nagad-Upay' has taken Bangladesh to a unique height in the world. 'Pathao' is competing with companies like Uber. E-Courier, RedX is doing quite well in courier against companies like DHL. 'Ajker Deal', 'Pikaboo' are standing alongside global brands like 'Bikroy' and 'Daraz'. Established brands that survived the e-Valley scam are now anchoring in e-commerce ports. Shopup has become extremely popular with small and medium retailers. Grocery stores are being added to 'Mokam'. OTT platforms are becoming a popular source of entertainment. Along with Netflix, OTTs like Ayna, Chorki, Haichoi are making significant changes in place of traditional cinema halls.
Through more than 50 technology-based initiatives-innovations, the real victory has been achieved moving by the vehicles of technology. Now the sovereignty of this technology needs to be addressed. We need to switch from dotcom to dotbd; Zoom to 'Boithok'. In the same way, it is important to ensure a safe environment in which local entrepreneurs can do tech-based businesses without any stress in the long term. We need our own data bank, Research Analytics. Similarly urgent are more technical initiatives to measure transparency, such as e-GP; Good governance will be ensured in the country through innovation and initiatives. We should undergo tech-diplomacy, so that global companies like Facebook-YouTube-Netflix or Hyundai-Samsung set up their offices in Bangladesh. Because information technology will not be limited to the launch of products and services alone. Rather Artificial Intelligence, mechanical transformation etc. will come with a different reality for a densely populated country like ours. Therefore, there is no alternative to long-term government policies to establish indigenous technology entrepreneurs. Technology should therefore be brought into the driver's seat of lifestyle. In this way, the 'soil' and 'people' of this sedimentary delta will become golden with the sustainable use of technology. That day is not far off; The day when the victory of 'Golden Bangla' will be visible to the world even in the AI world.
