DRAFT
IT POLICY of BANGLADESH
For Public Review and Comments
Please send your comments and suggestions on this policy to
Bangladesh Computer Council
House # 31/A, Road # 6, Dhanmondi
Dhaka 1205
Fax : 880-2-8613373
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0
Preamble
2.0 Vision, Mission and
Objectives
2.1 Vision
2.2 Mission
2.3 Objectives
3.0 Policy
Statements
3.1 Human Resources Development
3.2 IT Infrastructure
3.3 Research and Development
3.4 IT Industry
3.4.1
Software Industry
3.4.2
Hardware Industry
3.4.3
Services Industry
3.5 e-Commerce
3.6 e-Governance
3.7 Legal Issues
3.8 National Security and Defence
3.9 Health Care
3.10 Social Welfare
3.11 Transportation
3.12 Tourism
3.13 Environment
3.14 Regional and International
Cooperation
4.0 Implementation and
Monitoring
4.1 Institutional Arrangement
4.2 Funds and Resources
1.1 Information Technology (IT) encompasses the broad fields of
data/information processing and communications by means of computer and
telecommunications techniques and tools and is being increasingly used for
organisational/personal information processing in all sectors of economy and
society. of a nation. This document presents the policy guidelines for the
development of the IT sector in Bangladesh.
1.2 A dependable information system is essential for efficient management and
operation of the public and private sectors. There is a shortage of locally
generated information needed for efficient performance of these sectors. In
order to meet this objective, IT use in every sphere shall have to be
accelerated in terms of information generation, utilization and applications.
1.3 Over the last few years, many nations have taken advantage of the
opportunities afforded by IT within a policy framework, laid down guidelines and
proceeded with the formulation of a national IT strategy as a part of the
overall national development plan. Bangladesh intends to use IT as the key
driving element for socio-economic development.
2.1 Vision
To be a IT-driven nation comprising knowledge-based society by the year 2010.
2.2 Mission
Build up a country-wide info IT infrastructure to ensure access to information
by every citizen to facilitate empowerment of people and enhance democratic
values and norms for sustainable economic development. Use this info
infrastructure for human resources development, governance, e-commerce, banking,
public utility services and all sorts of on-line IT-enabled services.
2.3 Objectives
2.3.1 Promote and facilitate use of IT in all sectors of the economy for
transparency, good governance and efficiency improvement.
Private sector will lead the thrust in the IT development and use;
2.3.2 Develop a large pool of world class IT professionals to meet the needs of
local and global markets. export requirements;
2.3.3 Promote use of IT by providing special allocations for IT project
implementation in the public sector. Train the decision makers in IT use and
promote a IT culture;
2.3.4 Provide effective incentives for development of IT sector to both local
and foreign entrepreneurs;
2.3.5 Develop an efficient IT infrastructure that provides open access to
international and national networks;
2.3.6 Establish legislative and regulatory framework for IT issues like IPR,
data security and protection, digital signature, e-Commerce etc.;
2.3.7 Set up national data bases that are reliable and accessible to all the
people of the country;
2.3.8 Set up an IT organisation at the highest level to continuously promote and
foster IT Industry;
3.1 Human Resources Development
Bangladesh must prepare itself is to compete effectively in the global IT
market. As the demand for skilled manpower in IT is growing world-wide, the
country needs to produce a large number of IT professionals. The specific policy
statements are:
3.1.10.1.1 Widespread introduction of IT education in public and private
educational institutions is a prerequisite of pressing need for producing
skilled IT manpower. Facilities shall be built to promote IT education and
computer aided education in all levels. Donor agencies, non-government
organisations and other development partners of the country shall be encouraged
to help build the necessary capacity in this area.
3.1.20.1.2 Universities, Bangladesh Institutes of Technologies and colleges,
both in the public and private sectors, shall be strengthened to produce IT
graduates in four-year Computer Science and/or Engineering courses. Polytechnics
and other institutes shall be allocated necessary resources will be allocated to
produce IT skilled manpower this institutions.
3.1.30.1.3 Two among out of the twelve proposed Science and Technology
universities proposed in the Fifth Five Year Plan, two will be earmarked as
centre of excellence in IT by giving higher allocation of resources.
3.1.40.1.4 Establish multimedia institutes to produce skilled human resources to
exploit the opportunity offered by the growing multimedia-market.
3.1.50.1.5 Diploma and Trade courses in IT will be offered by both public and
private institutes including Polytechnics. The continual skill upgrading of
existing professionals working in public and private sectors shall be ensured by
inservice training programme.
3.1.60.1.6 The shortage of trained and qualified teachers and trainers for IT
education and training is a bottleneck to the HRD plan. To address the issue,
IT-Capacity-Building of the tTeachers tTraining iInstitutes(TTI) will be taken
up. To teach the teachers and trainers, intensive post graduate diploma courses
will be introduced in TTIs. Develop tTraining programs to train and retrain them
periodically to keep them up-to-date with the technological progress in the area
of IT will be introduced. IT literacy will be a desirable requirement in the
recruitment and selection of teachers.
3.1.70.1.7 As it would be difficult to train teachers in IT in large number
using the present infrastructure, deploy virtual IT teachers wherever possible.
CD and web based courseware development and use shall be encouraged to promote
computer aided education at all level of education.
3.1.8 To address the issue of deficiency in English and mathematics education, a
crash programme shall be taken to train teachers. To ensure standard and quality
of IT education, a national certification and accreditation system shall be
developed and implemented.
3.1.9 Take up programs to develop quality IT professionals and skilled personnel
to ensure success in the global software and, IT-enabled services market.
Encourage and support formal and informal sector to adopt internationally
accepted standards in training programs. and to introduce globally acceptable
standards like professional certification examinations.
3.1.10 Use the potential of IT for delivery of distance learning to help stretch
the country's limited teaching resources and ensure quality education to all.
3.2 IT Infrastructure
3.2.1 To ensure capacity building of the nation in the field of Information
Technology and to attain a sustainable growth of the IT sector of Bangladesh and
to compete in the expanding global IT market, a separate IT ministry will be
established.
3.2.2. To support the growing demand of the IT sector, appropriate IT
infrastructure is to be established immediately. As telecomtelecommunication
infrastructure is an integral part of IT, so the telecomtelecommunication sector
needs liberalization.
3.2.3 * Development of Telecommunication Infrastructure should be considered as
Infrastructure Development Industries like Development of Road, Electricity
Power, Computer/IT Industry etc.
3.2.4. * Facilitate development of Telecommunication Infrastructure at the least
possible cost with little or no customs duties during construction of the
infrastructure and to earn revenue subsequently, from the Services (VAT etc.) it
renders to Telecommunication and IT Industries, through these Infrastructures.
3.2.5 * As telecomtelecommunication infrastructure [Telephone Exchange, Towers,
Radio / Telephone Transmission Lines etc.] are similar to Electric Power
Infrastructure [Generator, Pylons, Power Transmission Lines], so Customs Duty
& Tax etc. should be amended accordingly.
3.2.6 * Cellular Telephone Handsets are being increasingly used as Terminals for
emailing and other IT uses. Customs Duty & Tax etc. of Cellular Mobile
Telephone Handsets should be brought down to the level of Computer Terminals.
3.2.7 * The use of IT and information services should be affordable to the
people; and therefore the cost (and hence the price) of carriage. Infrastructure
& Services must be provided by a multiplicity of enterprises; some of which
like the Railways, Electricity and Gas Companies can easily exploit their under
unutilized potential to provide quick and less expensive infrastructure.
3.2.8 * Bangladesh T&T Board (BTTB) has resources like land, MW / UHF Towers
all over the country, which are under utilized and could be shared with other
Private TelecomTelecommunication Operators for augmenting Information
Infrastructure. BTTB will take the leadership to coordinate with other Public
Utility sectors [PDB, Gas, Railway etc.] and make their existing dormant / under
utilized infrastructure & resources (land, building, Radio Towers, Power
Pylons, Cable Duct etc.) productive. BTTB will promote cooperation between
Railways, Electricity Boards, Power Grid Company, Oil & Gas Companies, etc.,
which have right of way and some infrastructure to build digital microwave and
optical fiber based photonic information transport systems for use by
information service providers.
3.2.9 * BTTB will seek cooperation of Private Licensed TelecomTelecommunication
Operators to transform the under utilized resources in the public sector into
countrywide Information Infrastructure. To this end, BTTB shall make joint
venture agreements with Private Licensed TelecomTelecommunication Operators
where BTTB will make available the Public Sector resources like land, Radio
Towers, Power Pylons, Cable Duct etc. and the Licensed Private
TelecomTelecommunication Operators shall provide necessary finance and
technology to construct countrywide National Information Infrastructure (NII)
for use of all Telecommunication and Internet Service Providers.
3.2.10 * BTTB will increasingly shift its role from Service Provider to
individual subscribers towards Infrastructure Provider to all other
TelecomTelecommunication Service Providers and ISPs.
3.2.11 Socio-economic activities development can be accelerated if more people
can have access to information. Teledensity is important in this respect and it
will be increased to broaden the coverage which will improve the socio-economic
condition of the people through IT-related activities.
3.2.12 Basic telecomtelecommunication facilities will be extended to the rural
and under-served areas to bring the greater mass into the stream of IT
activities.
3.2.13 Advanced and new technologies will be introduced to expand the existing
network and will be extended gradually to the rural and under served areas.
3.2.14 TelecomTelecommunication facility will be made available to every segment
of the society and all of the present and emerging services will be provided at
an affordable cost.
3.2.15 To provide dial-up Internet access, by Internet Service Providers is face
an acute problem with the present capacity of telephone network of the country.
This problem will be solved by developing national internet access platform
without affecting the present telephone network.
3.2.16 The Internet facility will be extended to all the district headquarters
and subsequently to its adjacent areas. Internet will be provided to the
educational institutions and libraries at a subsidized rate.
3.2.17 To ensure public access to information, Cyber Kiosks will be set up in
all post offices. Private sector participation will be encouraged to set up
these facilities.
3.2.178 To support the installation of ISPs in the country national high speed
communication backbone for internet will be developed and international high
speed gateway facilities for ISPs will be provided.
3.2.1819 Inter- ISP communication is time consuming and costly as there is no
internet exchange for the country This problem will be solved by establishing
internet exchange in the country.
3.2.1920 An integrated flexible and reliable nation-wide transmission system
capable of voice, videos, data and graphics transmission will be ensured.
National Information Infrastructure will be developed and it will be connected
to Global Information Infrastructure through Information superhighway to create,
collect and salell software and provide IT related enabled services to the
world-market.
3.2.20 21 To improve the quality of present telecommunication services and to
help provide value added services. Analog telephone-switches and transmission
link of the existing telephone network will be replaced by digital switches and
transmission link immediately. It will improve the quality of present telecom
services as well as it will help to establish value added services.
3.2.21 22 The bandwidth capacity and availability will be ensured all over the
country at a reasonable cost to encourage the growth of Internet, IT industries,
e-Commerce and e-Governance and will also help facilitate video conferencing.
3.2.22 23 Development of local technological capabilities through local IT
industry, preferably with state support, will be emphasized. The service
component of the IT industry will be conducted by local private firms, possibly
in association with foreign firms.
3.2.233.2.24 Increasing need to expand Rapid expansion of
telecomtelecommunication facilities and globalization calls for liberalization
of telecommunication sector. An efficient telecomTelecommunication Rregulatory
body will be developed, in accordance with The Telecommunication Act, to
encourage the local and foreign private sector investment in
telecomtelecommunication sector.
3.2.2425 Hi-Tech Zzones of the country will be established through technology
transfer with the cooperation of foreign companies experts and expatriate
non-resident Bangladeshis. Software Technology Park (STP) with dedicated and
advanced data communication facilities shall be established and software
development & and export companies will be encouraged to set up offices in
those parks at preferential terms.
3.2.2526 A central depository for collection and dissemination of IT information
and research findings will be developed. This will be done under a network,
connecting all universities libraries and research organization to this central
depository which in turn will be connected to the Internet.
3.3 Research and Development in IT
3.3.1 Research and development in IT will focus on need based applied research
contributing to the improvement of quality and efficiency of the application to
our IT industry.
3.3.2 * National Council for Information Technology (NCIT)Bangladesh Computer
Council will coordinate IT R&D activities carried out by the public and
private sector organizations.
3.3.3 * The NCITBCC along with IT industry, will formulate plans to vigorate
need-based R&D activities in the Universities, BITs and public & private
sector R&D institutions and encourage the younger generation in these
activities. The industry may fund for R&D activities for new IT products and
services through Industry-Academia collaboration.
3.3.4 Set up a central on-line data bank for scientific and technological
information which can be accessed by educational institutes and other R&D
organisations.
3.3.5 R&D efforts will be intensified on Bangla text processing, Bangla
voice recognition, translation and synthesis will be intensified.
3.4 IT Industry
3.4.1 Software Industry
3.4.1.1 To develop and encourage the local software industry, price preference
will be given to locally developed software in all public and private sector
procurement.
3.4.1.2 The government shall extend start-up financial support to the local
software industry. Expatriate Bangladeshi experts shall be encouraged to set up
software development companies.
3.4.1.3 For familiarization with the international market and trends and
establish business contacts, associations of software companies and developers
should be encouraged to exchange ideas, experiences and organize collective
operations such as seminars, training, etc. and take part in trade delegations
and trade shows.
3.4.1.4 The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) should take vigorous steps to identify
and explore markets for export of software, data entry services and IT-enabled
services from Bangladesh, including promoting strategic partnership and
outsourcing opportunities.
3.4.1.5 In case of joint-ventures, the lead firm in all software projects must
be a Bangladeshi company, in order to ensure technology transfer and
maintenance.
3.4.1.56 An annual export target of 2 (Two) billion US dollars from earnings
from export of software, data entry and IT-enabled services US dollar shall be
set for the next 5-year period year 2006. The target shall be revised
periodically to match the growth of the market.
3.4.2 Hardware Industry
3.4.2.1 Hardware industry often requires a huge capital investment and
entrepreneurs shall be encouraged to establish production facilities for
components, peripherals and accessories with joint venture cooperation and
technology transfer agreements. Foreign owned and multinationals companies, who
will establish such production facilities in Bangladesh and employ our
workforce, shall be offered special incentives.
3.4.2.2 Laboratories in university and other concerned institutions will be
setup to develop skilled manpower required to establish and run hardware
industry.
3.4.2.32 Since the local market is still small, the hardware industry shall
target the export market. Dependence on foreign materials should be reduced
where possible by giving incentives to local companies and protecting them from
unfavorable competition. Local institutions and R&D organizations shall also
be encouraged for research, design, and manufacturing of specialized informatics
equipments.
3.4.3 Services Industry
3.4.3.1 Bangladesh, having the advantage of cost-effective labour, must
endeavour for expansion and export of IT-enabled services such as medical
transcription, data entry, data processing, call centres etc. at home and
abroad.
3.5 e-Commerce
3.5.1 The Government will promote business in electronic form and create an
environment in which it will be completely secure.
3.5.2 Authentication of the identities of both buyer and seller or the involved
parties in an electronic transaction is crucial to promote e-commerce. A
certification authority for issuance and management of digital certifications
that are needed to secure electronic transactions has to be established.
3.5.3 Establish inter-banking payment system in electronic form.
3.5.4 Legal framework to provide the guiding principles, rules and legislation
for e-Commerce shall be put in place.
3.6 e-Governance
3.6.1 The Government shall use IT system within the public administration to
improve efficiency, reduce the wastage of resources, enhance planning and raise
the quality of services.
3.6.2 Government shall implement wide-spread IT systems to provide nation wide
coverage and access by any citizen to the government databases, administrative
systems which can be used to extend public services to the remotest corner.
3.6.3 All Government ministries, departments and all district headquarters must
be networked to the National Data Resource Centre in the shortest possible time.
The Centre shall be a system of national databases having capacity to store and
supply rapidly all necessary information on the economic, cultural and social
situation of our country.
3.6.4 Each ministry, divisions, government bodies shall create an IT cell, to be
managed and run by well-trained IT professionals to plan, coordinate and
implement IT projects and services. Special compensation package comparable to
that of private sector shall be introduced to encourage IT professionals.
3.6.5 All ministries, divisions, agencies of government and semi-government
organisations shall set up web sites where all policy documents and information
relevant to the public shall be ported and regularly updated. A portal
`Bangladesh Government' will be created from which link will be provided to the
web sites, like E-forms, E-procurement, E-recruitment, E-resultsetc.
3.6.65 Make IT literacy a mandatory requirement for the recruitment and
selection of officials and staffs in the government. IT-literacy shall also be
given due importance in the ACR to ensure utilization of IT in the public
services.
3.7 Legal Issues
3.7.1 Software Copyright provisions embodied in the copyright act 2000 will be
implemented by promptly setting up appropriate enforcing bodies as mentioned in
the Act.
3.7.2 IT Act will be implemented enacted immediately to protect against computer
crimes such as computer fraud, hacking and damage to programs and data and
introducing/spreading computer viruses.
3.7.3 Data security and interoperability will be ensured through actions such as
setting of encryption standards and international agreements on
interoperability.
3.7.4 With the increase in the use of Internet and Information Technology in
every sphere of human life, formulation of new laws or amendment to the existing
ones will be done, if deemed necessary, to ensure privacy of data, freedom of
information and access to information by the mass.
3.8 National Security and Defense
3.8.1 IT will be used by the law enforcing agencies to ensure safety and
security of life and property of the citizen.
3.8.2 National Armed forces will use IT into the fullest extent to increase
their efficiency and effectiveness.
3.9 Health Care
3.9.1 The main focus in Healthcare shall be the use of IT and communication
technologies in Healthcare will be to deliver new capabilities for hospitals and
healthcare providers, specifically in the areas of electronic medical records,
and tele-medicine, and medical and health education.
3.9.2 Telemedicine System Network shall be introduced throughout the country for
cost-effective delivery of Health care services. The Telemedicine Network will
be used for rural patient management, distant medical education, health
professional training and to develop mass awareness programs for disease
prevention.
3.9.3 Development of Bangladesh Health Portal (BHP) will be given a priority for
appropriate growth of e-health and Telemedicine referral system. International
tele-consultation through Tele-Mmedicine for critical patients will be supported
in both private and public sector.
3.10 Social Welfare
3.10.1 Nation wide IT systems will be implemented for rural development
activities, agricultural and horticulture extension for farmers, career guidance
for youth, technology guidance for rural enterprises, micro level planning etc.
Communities and user groups or beneficiaries would be actively encouraged to
particiapte, in all such activities.
3.10.2 Public grievances redressal will be incorporated in the IT-based system
to facilitate access to citizens through any of the kiosks, public facilitation
centres or Government offices. It would be made email based and strengthened to
facilitate monitoring and on-line responses.
3.10.3 Non-government organisations will be encouraged to establish centres at
the village level for providing hardware/software or other support services. At
the same time the state will use both the formal and non formal channels to
disseminate information about the application, advantages to communities of the
use of IT.
3.11 Transportation
3.11.1 The state shallgovernment will introduce an IT-based integrated transport
management system. involving Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA),
Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), Bangladesh Railway and other
concerned agencies. Linking up of current and future traffic monitoring system,
processing data on traffic pattern and conditions, and delivering the
information quickly to government agencies, public through traffic signs,
pagers, mobile phones, broadcast media and the Internet shall be done. With the
advent of such a system, it will be possible to know when the next train or bus
will arrive and be warned of traffic congestion.
3.11.2 Commercial transport agencies can use thewill be encouraged to deploy
Information Technology real-time information for dynamic route planning and the
data accumulated can be used for future traffic planning. which would be highly
beneficial for fast growing cities like Dhaka.
3.11.3 IT should also will be used to provide for online booking and ticketing
services of all public and private transport companies. Bangladesh Railway, BRTC,
and other related organisations may be brought under a network that would offer
the booking and purchase of tickets over the Internet. Those buying tickets on
the Internet should be able to get their seats allocated immediately and to make
electronic payments securely and conveniently.
3.11.4 Software technology may be developed for road guidance through which
large vehicle fleets will be able to plan their routes and respond to unforeseen
circumstances. Advanced communications technologies such as the Internet, Global
Positioning System and mobile networks, and electronic maps with text and image
databases shall be used to enhance the decision-making process. This advanced
system should take orders, plan routes, dispatch vehicles and ensure optimum use
of time, petrol, distance traveled and number of vehicles. If a vehicle breaks
down, it can even adjust the fleet schedule and assign the job to another
vehicle. Such system design should take into account for easy integration with
existing and new transportation and logistics applications and should be tested
for commercial operations.
3.12 Tourism
To harness the potential of the tourism industry in Bangladesh, Information
Technology can play an important role. The recommendations are :
3.12.1 Make use of Information Technology will be used to project tourists'
attractions in Bangladesh.
3.12.2
3.12.2 Develop a reliable, comprehensive, on-line information system to satisfy
the needs of the visitors for travel and accommodation to deliver instant and
up-to-date information will be developed.
3.12.3 The Strengthen partnership with both the local and foreign agencies
relevant to tourism will be strengthened and encouraged to introduce on-line
reservation for travel and accommodation, booking and ticketing for arts and
entertainment events and shopping.
3.13 Environment
The growing environmental problem has endangered the national communities
including the human existence. In this era of wired world, the Information
Technology can help build the capabilities to fight against the environmental
degradation. The policy recommendations are:
3.13.1 Create awareness about environment among the common mass by deploying
Information Technology will be deployed to in collecting and disseminating
disseminate information on environmental problems and their causes in order to
create awareness about environment among the common mass..
3.13.2 Identify and build an Information system for plants, animal, their
habitats and other natural communities whose life has been endangered will be
created.
3.13.3 Deploy GIS and other IT-based systems will be set up for planning at the
national level for conservation of nature while accommodating compatible land
use to maintain the ecological balance.
3.13.4 Make use Information Technology will be used to help solve the most
pressing problems of environment in the metropolitan areas - toxic emissions
from cars and industry.
3.14 Regional and International Cooperation
3.14.1 The MOIT and BCC will be the focal point for the regional and
international cooperation in the area of Information Technology.
The proposed Ministry of Information Technology shall explore and execute
sub-regional and international cooperation and collaborative agreements on IT
with developed and developing countries and also with international agencies.
3.14.2 The proposed Ministry of Information Technology shall explore and execute
sub-regional and international cooperation and collaborative agreements on IT
with developed and developing countries and also with international agencies.
The MOIT will take a lead role in solving common problems with the neighboring
countries in the area of the Information Technology.
3.14.3 The ministry will actively participate in the regional and international
forum to reap benefit for the countries economy.
4.1 Institutional Arrangement for Implementation
4.1.1 The role of the National Council for Information Technolgy (NCIT)
Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) as the central coordinating agency assumes
critical importance as the implementing body. BCC shall advise the Government on
IT sector to realize the objectives stated in the IT Policy. The NCIT shall
advise the Government on IT sector to realize the stated objectives and then
assign the Ministry of Information Technology for carrying them to successful
completion and ensure their high performance.
4.1.2 The above mentioned executive body shall be constituted with at least
twelve members drawn from the Ministry of Science & Technology, Ministry of
Post & Telecommunication, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Commerce, and
Ministry of Industries, Chambers of Commerce and eminent persons who have shown
capacity, in matters connected with computer and Information Technology,
economics, finance, education, engineering, science or technology. The Chairman
of the NCIT shall appoint one of the members of the council to be the chairman
of the executive body.
4.2 Funds and Resources
4.2.1 Government spending in IT shall be increased to at least 1% of GDP by
2005.
4.2.2 All economic sectors should be encouraged to make their own investment in
the application of IT in production, trade and services. Procurement and
utilization of funds from national sources, both public and private, should be
pursued. International development and donor agencies should be approached to
provide funds to set up necessary infrastructure and development of human
resources, conforming to the objectives of IT Policy.
4.2.3 Those IT companies will get preferential terms which will be able to meet
up 20 percent of its revenue expenditure from the earning of export of software
and IT-enabled services.
4.2.4 A centralized fund for R& D in IT sector should be created. A
centralised fund for R&D and HRD will be created. 1% of all profits from
Software and IT-enabled services shall be paid to the R&D and HRD fund. The
NCIT
4.2.3. BCC may will allocate funds to various IT organizations and universities
and distribute them through the Ministry of Information Technology which would
monitor and evaluate the impact of such expenditure. The administration of the
programmes will, however, remain with the respective organization.
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