The Digital Bangladesh

By Shahidul K K Shuvra, The Independent Editor of IT and Science pages, Cell- 01715245459, http://www.theindependent-bd.com

After BCSICTWorld 2008 the National award winner IT organisation Bangladesh Computer Samity, BCS, is going to host BCS Digital Expo2009 on 25 to 28 March at Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Centre, BCFCC. The organisers of the Digital Expo2009 promised to present the country a non-traditional IT fair because it wants to show models and replications of digital life and IT strategy at the exposition. According to a press conference arranged by BCS the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is supposed to inaugurate the IT exposition.

Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) in cooperation with ICT Business Promotion Council and the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology will facilitate the four-day long event. More than 50 stalls across the 15 pavilions will enlighten the citizens of the country on being citizens of the Digital Bangladesh. Every type of IT usage such as Information and Communication Technology for Development, software development, outsourcing, businesses offshore, internet services etc will be highlighted to promote more IT businesses as well as awareness. It is a noticeable approach by BCS, which is trying to come out from its image as a computer vendor dominated IT body.

The slogan Digital Bangladesh started getting popularity from the last BCSICTWorld 2008 and then the slogan was picked up by Awami League in its election manifesto. One of the election pledges of the Awami League led grand alliance was to build a Digital Bangladesh by 2021, which is still in a public discussion. Feedback from IT experts and organisations is needed to design a roadmap for making the country digital based. Unconventional IT fairs like demonstrating models of digital life, countries, strategic supports, info-tech policy affairs etc can show a way to the politicians and public to make the country a positive Digital Bangladesh. The theme 'Towards a digital Bangladesh ' has been selected to demonstrate the exact picture of what is Digital Bangladesh to remove public ignorance and prejudice regarding ICT adaptation.

BCS has been regularly facilitating ICT expositions in the names of BCS Computer Show and BCS ITExpo from 1993. Now BCS is not only speak on computer and it may be wrong to think that BCS only run by hardware vendors. It is the oldest and biggest promoter of ICT sector. Its IT fairs taught us arranging fairs with the tools and services of info-tech can entertain commoners by the essence of education.

ICT industry has been branded some years ago as a thrust sector in the country. Many hi-tech experts think that like garment industry the sector can earn much from the international software market. e-Governance is a must for ensuring better services as well as for creating transparency at the all levels of the government. Adapting e-governance can boost the local software industry and reduce the dependence on expensive foreign software.

It is well-know that the country started using computer since 60s while many developing nations could not even imagine on the emerging power of info-tech. But compare to the neighbouring countries the nation came in the race of info-tech very lately. Businessmen still have a lack of confidence in investing for the sector as well as being sluggish in taking bold steps with a wide vision. Many opportunities for software, hardware and computer re-exporting are slipping out of our hands.

BCS is the apex IT trade body that is also laying focus on digital awareness programmes. From early 90s its digital exposition is pushing the nation towards the cyber society with calling rendezvous for IT lovers and budding e-generations that always get focused in the fairs.

We are lagging behind for lack of hardware plant and even our computer assembling job is going on without proper guidance. We can expect initiative from the new government on inviting big hardware giants like Dell, Acer, IBM etc to start manufacturing here. Our computer experts also have knowledge to develop supporting component to improve quality of a device. So government initiative with a long vision is needed and in addition developing countries like us can jointly invest and develop a project for building a hardware plant in a selected place. We should not forget that here we have a big market and to some extent we can be dependent on own products.

IT Fairs like Digital Expo2009 organised by BCS or even with the initiatives of others is strengthening up the awareness layer of digital life. For more than decades we are in the user level of computer and awareness is on the rise. It should be underlined that this awareness is nothing if we fail to develop better ICT infrastructure and cannot provide digital devices to the commoners. From this Digital Expo2009 we must be more action oriented in boosting up the ICT industry, which deserves huge investment and care by right IT policy.

Along with three-roundtable discussions on digital life style several seminars will sensitise the policymakers as well as citizen will be familiar with the exact definition of the Digital Bangladesh. The fair will remain open from 10am to 8pm daily for all people and BCS offers 50 per cent discount on online ticket.

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