Expatriate Bangladeshi 2000

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Information Technology Strategic Committee

Shaping the Future of IT in Bangladesh: A Brain Storming Session

January 9, 2000

Virginia Tech--Northern Virginia Center

Falls Church, VA

Contents:

• Background
• Agenda
• Presentations
• Summary of Discussions
• Attendees

Background:

The meeting was organized to inaugurate EB2000's efforts to assist in the development of the information technology sector in Bangladesh.  It followed two earlier events:

• Brain storming session with Dr. M. Yunus of Grameen Bank discussing the future of the information and communication technology infrastructure in Bangladesh;
• Formation of four groups to guide EB2000's follow-up plans for IT sector development (Regulatory Reform, Technology Infrastructure, Business Development and Capacity Building);

To coordinate the follow up and other initiatives related to the IT sector development, a core team bearing the name IT Strategic Committee (ITSC) was formed from the list of individuals who volunteered for different groups:

1. Saifur Rahman, PhD, Chairman
2. Mohammed Ahsan, Project Manager
3. Anir Chowdhury
4. Hafiz Chowdhury
5. Nuim Chowdhury, PhD
6. Tanvir Chowdhury
7. Mahmud Farooque
8. Shaheen Hossain
9. Syed Akhtar Mahmood, PhD
10. Iftekhar Rahman, PhD
11. Quazi Zaman

The members of the core groups were invited in the first brain storming session.  A larger meeting with the entire committee is expected in the future.  Other members of the EB2000 ITSC are (Alphabetical order by first name):

1. Abu Z Hossain
2. Abul Barkat
3. Ahmad Ahsan, PhD
4. M. Harun uz Zaman, PhD
5. Muhit Rahman
6. Saleh Tanveer, PhD
7. Sarwar Jamil
8. Shabbir Parvez
9. Shahabuddin Hossain, PhD
10. Shahjahan Khan
11. Shams Bashir
12. Sumon Shahed
13. Syed Arif Jamil
14. Syed Hussain

Agenda:

Why are We Gathering as a Team?

Bangladesh, in spite of its sectoral thrust, available skills and individual knowledge, the willingness, and the excellence of its formal education systems, have had less than successful endeavors in capturing the legitimate share of the software market. The major problems that are baffling this effort can be summarized as follows:

• Inadequate networking and marketing capacities of the existing software companies and other agencies in promoting Bangladesh as a premiere software developing nation.
• Lack of a comprehensive IT strategic plan for the nation
• Lack of capacity building institutions
• Inadequate experience in large IT Project Management skills
• Inadequate experience in systems management and systems integration skills

Our effort will be directed at developing a comprehensive national IT strategic plan that will focus on a structured plan, resource requirements, gap analysis, and a time plan with defined priorities.

Why are We Meeting:

We intend to conduct a brain-storming session to elicit adequate information to facilitate the development of a "plan of action" for the design and development of a conceptual IT strategic plan for Bangladesh. This plan is intended for submission to the international agencies for funding.

How Do We Manage the Session?

The session will be managed and moderated by the sitting Chairman Dr. Saifur Rahman and attended by the initial “IT Strategic Committee” members formed by EB2000 management. Session will be of a hybrid format with formal presentations on six topics followed by informal discussion.

What Do We Discuss?

• What do we intend to accomplish?
• How do we develop the knowledge base required to accomplish the envisioned targets?
• What type of resources will be required to accomplish the tasks?
• How do we coordinate our activities?
• How do we share resources and manage conflict with other organizations with similar intent?
• What would be our strategic direction and tactic in achieving our targets
• How do we organize ourselves with shared responsibilities?
• Action plan with responsibility allocation and a time plan.

What are Our Session Components?

1. Opening Statement by the Chairman
2. Our Objective and Targets: A presentation on what do we intend to achieve.
3. A Vision for the Future- A presentation of the Needs and Gap Analysis of Bangladesh’s current IT position.
4. Our Next Steps: A Presentation on the Gap Bridging Tasks and their Resource Requirements
5. Bridging Minds and Thought Process: A presentation on how we get the Participation of other organizations with vested interest in the IT industry
   of Bangladesh including the Govt. of Bangladesh.
6. Structural Management: A Presentation on how do we organize Ourselves

All Presentations will be followed by an open discussion for 15 minutes on the items that require decision.

How Do We Conduct Our Meeting?

The meeting will be conducted formally under the Direction of the Chairman with assistance from a moderator who will also act as the Reporter. The mode of the meeting will mostly be interactive for everyone to voice their points of views on specific issues as deemed necessary. Each issue will be delivered through a formal presentation using data projectors or data shows before opening the floor for the brain storming session. The brain storming session will be moderated by the presenter and will be recorded for reference purposes. Group discussion may be allowed for certain topics that require people requiring specific skills to interact together before coming to a final decision.

What Do We Expect from the Meeting?

By the end of the meeting the following items will have been defined in tangible terms:

• Our organization including individual responsibilities with time-frame for each item
• The components of the Strategic Plan
• Organizational and management relationships
• Action Plan for Strategic plan development
• Next Meeting Plan

Presentations:

• IT Strategic Plan - Mohammed Ahsan
• Resources Needs - Hafiz Chowdhury
• Bridging Minds and Thought Process - Mahmud Farooque

Summary of Discussions:

The Chairman mentioned his experience of trying to promote the development of the IT sector in Bangladesh over 15 years, and advised all to be realistic in their expectations of what could be achieved. All present concurred with the need to be aware of local sensitivities, bureaucratic mistrust/fear and political/personal rivalries. This was essential to achieve the long term goal of a flourishing IT sector in Bangladesh; it was also necessary to preserve the non-partisan stance of eb2000. Thus eb2000's activities in this area would have to complement, and where possible enhance, the work of the JRC committee, and not seek to substitute it.

Given the unclear position in Bangladesh, and the small number of people attending, it was agreed that no major decisions could be made on behalf of the entire organization. Some initiatives should however be taken to harness the enthusiasm generated after the speech by Dr Yunus. It was agreed that three points of action would be posted to the eb2000 website for comment by the entire membership, and followed up:

• The Chairman (who was coincidentally traveling to Dhaka the next day) would meet JRC to brief him about the eb2000 initiative, and enquire where non-residents could contribute directly 
• As the existing JRC report, as well as the comments from Dr Yunus had expressed a specific need for non-residents to assist Bangladeshi IT related firms and training concerns, eb2000 would investigate ways to set up a cooperation program, 
• The four groups formed by volunteers would each start separate discussions on what they felt was necessary in Bangladesh. They would also investigate what other initiatives eb2000 could undertake to support the existing JRC report. E.g. the coordinator of the telecomm group mentioned the possibility of organizing a talk by a WB expert on that subject.

Attendees:

1. Saifur Rahman, PhD
2. Mohammed Ahsan
3. Hafiz Chowdhury
4. Mahmud Farooque
5. Syed Akhtar Mahmood, PhD

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