8/8/2019 Ict Bangladesh http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/ict-bangladesh 1/18 An Overview of ICT Sector in Bangladesh An Overview of ICT Sector in Bangladesh Presentation by Sayeed Rahman Governor¶s Office for Technology, KY at FOBANA 2003 Convention Washington DC - August 30 th , 2003 http://www.banglait.org
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BackgroundBackground Computer use started back in 1964 by Atomic Energy Center, Dhaka andComputer use started back in 1964 by Atomic Energy Center, Dhaka and
Universities,Universities, first main frame computer came to Bangladesh in 1964first main frame computer came to Bangladesh in 1964
The Internet came late in Bangladesh, with UUCP eThe Internet came late in Bangladesh, with UUCP e--mail beginning in 1993 andmail beginning in 1993 andIP connectivity in 1996 . By July 1997 there were an estimated 5,500 IP andIP connectivity in 1996 . By July 1997 there were an estimated 5,500 IP andUUCP accountsUUCP accounts
In June, 1996 the government decided to allow private companies to act asIn June, 1996 the government decided to allow private companies to act asInternet Services Providers (ISPs) using VSATs.Internet Services Providers (ISPs) using VSATs.
In June 1997, the Government of Bangladesh appointed a Committee to lookIn June 1997, the Government of Bangladesh appointed a Committee to lookinto the problems and prospects of export of software from Bangladesh. Theinto the problems and prospects of export of software from Bangladesh. TheCommittee submitted its report in September, 1997.Committee submitted its report in September, 1997.
The government has taken a decision on June, 1998 to withdraw allThe government has taken a decision on June, 1998 to withdraw allimport duties and VAT from all computer hardware and software. This hasimport duties and VAT from all computer hardware and software. This hasbrought the prices of computers down to a level affordable by middle incomebrought the prices of computers down to a level affordable by middle incomehouseholdshouseholds
Telecom Infrastructure in BangladeshTelecom Infrastructure in Bangladesh 750,000 fixed lines Operated by BTTB750,000 fixed lines Operated by BTTB-- (Government monopoly)(Government monopoly)
Next five yrs demand for fixed lines will be 3.5 millionNext five yrs demand for fixed lines will be 3.5 million and expertsand expertsthink BTTB will be unable to deliver.think BTTB will be unable to deliver.
1.5 million Mobile Phones1.5 million Mobile Phones-- Operated by Four CompanyOperated by Four Company
Bangladesh is a market now for 13 million Mobile PhonesBangladesh is a market now for 13 million Mobile Phones
GrameenGrameen-- Current subscriber base of GP is 1 million while it hasCurrent subscriber base of GP is 1 million while it has
coverage in 52 districts including all six divisional headquarters.coverage in 52 districts including all six divisional headquarters.
GrameenPhone connections would stand at 2 million by 2004GrameenPhone connections would stand at 2 million by 2004
ShebaSheba-- 65,000 subscriber 65,000 subscriber 32,000 Village phones are in operation in 52 districts, 50,000 32,000 Village phones are in operation in 52 districts, 50,000
Bangladeshi women making living as Grameen phone ladies.Bangladeshi women making living as Grameen phone ladies.
Source: Grameen, BBC News, BD MediaSource: Grameen, BBC News, BD Media
More than 600 Million people worldwide have someMore than 600 Million people worldwide have somesort of access to the Internet. That is an astonishingsort of access to the Internet. That is an astonishingnumber, and reflect the rapid growth of the networknumber, and reflect the rapid growth of the networksince it was invented in 1970s.since it was invented in 1970s.
While over half of UK households are online, onlyWhile over half of UK households are online, only
0.1% of homes in Bangladesh (Source: BBC0.1% of homes in Bangladesh (Source: BBCNews)News)
Present Position in BangladeshPresent Position in Bangladesh
RegisteredRegistered DialDial--Up user accounts 250,000Up user accounts 250,000
BTTBBTTB ± ± is now offering its service in allis now offering its service in all 64 districts64 districtsSource: http://www.bttb.netSource: http://www.bttb.net
service on July1st, 2001 and Short Message Service. Anyone canservice on July1st, 2001 and Short Message Service. Anyone cansend short message to Grameen Phone via web. Trysend short message to Grameen Phone via web. Tryhttp://www.icq.com/http://www.icq.com/
Ministry of Science and Technology has been renamed on AprilMinistry of Science and Technology has been renamed on April2002 as ³Ministry of Science and Information and Communication2002 as ³Ministry of Science and Information and CommunicationTechnology ³Technology ³
BTRCBTRC (Bangladesh Telephone Regulatory Commission) was set up(Bangladesh Telephone Regulatory Commission) was set upin Jan, 2002in Jan, 2002
VoIPVoIP ( Voice Over Internet Protocol) has been legalized on( Voice Over Internet Protocol) has been legalized onNovNov 10,10, 2003, Government suppose to break the Monopoly on2003, Government suppose to break the Monopoly onFixed Lines (BTTB) by June 2003 but it¶s unlikely to see FixedFixed Lines (BTTB) by June 2003 but it¶s unlikely to see FixedLines phones by 2004Lines phones by 2004
Equity and Entrepreneurship FundEquity and Entrepreneurship Fund is being introducedis being introduced
Global Information Super highwayGlobal Information Super highway
Submarine Cable connection to GlobalSubmarine Cable connection to Global
Information Super highway(SEAInformation Super highway(SEA--MEME--WEWE--4) will4) will
be ready for service in 2004. It will be built using be ready for service in 2004. It will be built using
DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex)DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplex)technology with 1.28 terabits per second speedtechnology with 1.28 terabits per second speed
Bangladesh¶s StrengthsBangladesh¶s Strengths A substantial number of educated unemployed youth force, with A substantial number of educated unemployed youth force, with
ability to read and write Englishability to read and write English About 2500 Bangladeshi NRB(Non Resident Bangladeshi) IT About 2500 Bangladeshi NRB(Non Resident Bangladeshi) IT
professionals employed in North Americaprofessionals employed in North America
Total number of ICT related graduate every year now BangladeshTotal number of ICT related graduate every year now Bangladeshproducing about 5000 from 21 Public and 51 Private Universitiesproducing about 5000 from 21 Public and 51 Private Universities
A large number of Bangladeshi students are studying overseas in A large number of Bangladeshi students are studying overseas inComputer related subjects, specially in IndiaComputer related subjects, specially in India
Bangladesh offers a very attractive costBangladesh offers a very attractive cost--effective wage level for effective wage level for Programmers about half of IndiaProgrammers about half of India
VisitVisit http://www.banglait.orghttp://www.banglait.org for more infofor more info
These two web sites will give you the answer , whereThese two web sites will give you the answer , where
we are and what need to be donewe are and what need to be done Most of the web sites contains obsolete informationMost of the web sites contains obsolete information
even the Universities don¶t have any web sites.even the Universities don¶t have any web sites.
No interactivity; emails are not repliedNo interactivity; emails are not replied
Recently by newspaper report shows thatRecently by newspaper report shows thatBangladesh Police to adopt EBangladesh Police to adopt E--Government to fightGovernment to fightcrimecrime
Concerns and R ecommendationConcerns and R ecommendation BASIS and MOSICT should encourage Bangladeshi SoftwareBASIS and MOSICT should encourage Bangladeshi Software
companies to get certified for CMM(Capability Maturity Model)companies to get certified for CMM(Capability Maturity Model)from Software Engineering Institutefrom Software Engineering Institutehttp://www.sei.cmu.edu/cmm/http://www.sei.cmu.edu/cmm/
http://www.sei.cmu.edu/http://www.sei.cmu.edu/ instead of ISO 9001instead of ISO 9001
BTTB need to be privatized ASAPBTTB need to be privatized ASAP
Stop BTTB to market Cellular Phones!Stop BTTB to market Cellular Phones!
Open a cell on EPB for monitoring the ICT related exports likeOpen a cell on EPB for monitoring the ICT related exports likePakistan Software Export Board http://www.pseb.org.pk/ whichPakistan Software Export Board http://www.pseb.org.pk/ whichwill keep track of IT and ITES export for Bangladeshwill keep track of IT and ITES export for Bangladesh
Be open when it comes to vital data about Bangladesh ITBe open when it comes to vital data about Bangladesh ITexport, our so called ICT policy makers should give real dataexport, our so called ICT policy makers should give real datainstead of imaginaryinstead of imaginary
BASIS should target a realistic number for IT & ITES export byBASIS should target a realistic number for IT & ITES export by2006 instead of imaginary $2 Billion, when our last fiscal year IT &2006 instead of imaginary $2 Billion, when our last fiscal year IT &ITES export was only paltry $3.2 million (2002ITES export was only paltry $3.2 million (2002--03), India's booming03), India's boomingsoftware export sector has a share of around $10 billion last fiscalsoftware export sector has a share of around $10 billion last fiscal(2002(2002--2003) year and Pakistan has only $60 million.2003) year and Pakistan has only $60 million.
PromotePromote ee--governancegovernance--Ease of governance with less scope for Ease of governance with less scope for corruptioncorruption
As the formation of BASIS was according to Dr. JRC Committee As the formation of BASIS was according to Dr. JRC CommitteeReport to folllow the example of NASSCOMReport to folllow the example of NASSCOMhttp://www.nasscom.orghttp://www.nasscom.org "Encourage firms involved in software"Encourage firms involved in softwaredevelopment and data processing services to form an associationdevelopment and data processing services to form an association
in line with e.g. NASSCOM."in line with e.g. NASSCOM."
So far So far Recommendations were given not for the People¶s of Recommendations were given not for the People¶s of Bangladesh only for personal gain!Bangladesh only for personal gain!
We need to reorganize the leadership onWe need to reorganize the leadership onBASIS(BASIS(http://www.basisbd.orghttp://www.basisbd.org),BCC(http://www.bccbd.org)BCS for ),BCC(http://www.bccbd.org)BCS for our real ICT development and enhance the image of our countryour real ICT development and enhance the image of our country
Bangladesh spends only 2.2% of GNP on Education comparedBangladesh spends only 2.2% of GNP on Education comparedwith 3.4% by Sri Lanka, 3.2% by both India and Nepal and 2.7% bywith 3.4% by Sri Lanka, 3.2% by both India and Nepal and 2.7% byPakistan. We need to spend more on Education of our GNP.Pakistan. We need to spend more on Education of our GNP.Source:Source: www.adb.orgwww.adb.org
Make our Polytechnic Institute¶s breeding ground to provideMake our Polytechnic Institute¶s breeding ground to provide Associate Degree in CS or reorganize them as BIT¶s, since all 4 Associate Degree in CS or reorganize them as BIT¶s, since all 4BIT¶s are recently being transformed to Science & TechnologyBIT¶s are recently being transformed to Science & TechnologyUniversities.Universities.
From Statistics per capita investment in education in Korea $170,From Statistics per capita investment in education in Korea $170,in Malaysia $150, in India $14, in Pakistan $10 and in Bangladeshin Malaysia $150, in India $14, in Pakistan $10 and in Bangladeshit¶s only $5it¶s only $5
Invest at least 5% of our yearly defense budget on IT related R&D,Invest at least 5% of our yearly defense budget on IT related R&D,take example from Israel, India, Pakistan, today¶s war is Networktake example from Israel, India, Pakistan, today¶s war is NetworkCentricCentric
Make compulsory IT training for all Government Officials andMake compulsory IT training for all Government Officials anddefense officials.defense officials.
Make compulsory English for all Graduate Level CoursesMake compulsory English for all Graduate Level Courses Promote ITPromote IT--Enabled Services like Medical Transcription, CallEnabled Services like Medical Transcription, Call
Center, Data Entry, which requires only 3Center, Data Entry, which requires only 3--6 months training6 months training
Target to produce ICT related graduates about 25000/yr by 2006,Target to produce ICT related graduates about 25000/yr by 2006,now Bangladesh producing 5000/yr from Public/Privatenow Bangladesh producing 5000/yr from Public/PrivateUniversitiesUniversities
Invite at least one big company like Microsoft, Motorola, IBM toInvite at least one big company like Microsoft, Motorola, IBM toopen a development center in Bangladesh that should be our open a development center in Bangladesh that should be our targettarget
All Government Organization (Ministries/Offices) with whom Citizen All Government Organization (Ministries/Offices) with whom Citizenneed to interact must have websitesneed to interact must have websites
All Private/Public Universities must have websites and their Final All Private/Public Universities must have websites and their FinalYear CS students could developed these web sites as their projectsYear CS students could developed these web sites as their projects
Teachers should be updated with latest technology rather than stickingTeachers should be updated with latest technology rather than stickingwith their old lectureswith their old lectures
Emphasis should be given to open source technology with highestEmphasis should be given to open source technology with highestprioritypriority
We shouldn¶t focus on giving away 10,000We shouldn¶t focus on giving away 10,000-- 25,000 computer¶s to25,000 computer¶s toschools rather we should make 25,000 computer literate teacher for schools rather we should make 25,000 computer literate teacher for schools & collegesschools & colleges
The government also dreams of changing the country through IT,The government also dreams of changing the country through IT,although not farsighted enough to make investment in IT Educationalthough not farsighted enough to make investment in IT Education
Compare to other Engineering & Science education IT educationCompare to other Engineering & Science education IT educationrequires low investment which is good for poor countries like oursrequires low investment which is good for poor countries like ours