Expatriate Bangladeshi 2000Linking Individuals, Regions, Ideas, and Actions
|
Bangladesh Country ReportY2K Problem: Preparedness of BangladeshSecond Global Y2K Coordinators’ ConferenceJune 21-23, 1999, The United Nations, New York, USAM Abdus SobhanNational Y2K Co-ordinator of Bangladesh,Member Secretary, NY2KAC of BangladeshExecutive Director, Bangladesh Computer Council
Courtesy of: Global Amitech1.0 IntroductionThe Y2K problem or the millennium bug in the computer system is a matter of much concern in both developed and the developing countries. In Bangladesh also, there is widespread awareness and concern of its possible adverse effects on its economy, business and national life. Major concern is in the area of disruption of utility services such as power, gas, water supply, telecommunications and in the financial sectors such as banks and insurance. Disruption of supply lines for energy, oil and gas, petroleum product etc. may disrupt communication and distribution networks for foodgrains. Since Bangladesh is heavily dependent on imports, especially of foodgrains, petroleum products and agricultural inputs, any disruption in the international economies and supply lines will adversely affect Bangladesh. Special emphasis are to be given to continuity of operations of seaports (Chittagong and Mongla) and airports (Dhaka and Chittagong). Bangladesh Government has so far taken the following steps to address the Y2K problem . These are listed below: 2.0 Formation of the National Y2K Advisory CommitteeThe Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) and some private sector organisations started publicly in different forms to create awareness among the general users of computer systems and other systems using embedded chips. The Ministry of Science and Technology has instructed the customs and port authorities to obtain compliance certificate from Bangladesh Computer Council for imports of computer and IT products before releasing the imported materials. Meanwhile, under the directive of honourable Prime Minister, a "National Y2K Advisory Committee (NY2KAC) was formed on May 05, 1998 by the Ministry of Science & Technology. The Committee, headed by the Secretary, Ministry of Science & Technology, consists of 36 members drawn from all important ministries, Government, Autonomous and private organisations and IT specialists. So far five meetings of the Committee have taken place. On recommendation of the NY2KAC, the BCC has undertaken massive awareness campaign on the issue throughout Bangladesh. A separate Awareness Sub-committee has been formed to oversee and monitor the national Y2K awareness campaign. Mass media such as newspaper and magazines are already in the publicity of the Y2K problem. The NY2KAC is planning to go through national television and radio broadcasts to communicate to the public about the seriousness of the problem, its effects and solutions. 3.0 Seminar/Workshop and Survey on Y2K ProblemSeveral local seminars/workshops on the Y2K problem have been arranged, especially by private and independent organisations and the Government bodies. On June 29, 1998, the World Bank Bangladesh Office arranged a workshop entitled "Year 2000 Challenge: Issues for Bangladesh" at Dhaka. About 500 IT professionals from Government and Private Organisations attended the seminar in which a Y2K Toolkit was distributed among the participants. Several IT Professionals have shared views and experiences of other countries in addressing the Y2K issue through attending the following international seminars on Y2K.
Based on the recommendations of the NY2KAC, BCC and Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) jointly conducted a nation-wide Survey on IT Resources and Identification of Y2K Problem Areas. A total 1836 Government, Autonomous and Private Organisations were surveyed.. Information about computer and IT resources existing in these organisation and the level of Y2K compliance of these resources was collected through the process of filling up questionnaire forms. Additionally, a Y2K awareness leaflet was distributed throughout the country during the survey period, from July 18, 1998 to October 15, 1998. The survey report will be available by the end of June, 1999 at BCC Web Site. Further action plan, based on the survey information has been approved by the NY2KAC, which includes assisting the non-compliant organisation and monitoring the progress made by them towards Y2K compliance. 4.0 Further activities of the NY2KACThe Bangladesh Computer Samity, vendors association for computer and IT products , being a member of NY2KAC, has pledged that their member organisations will co-operate with personal and corporate users in making the hardware and software products Y2K compliant. They are providing BIOS patches and Y2K Drivers to the users of non-compliant machines at nominal cost. Bangladesh Computer Council has prepared a National Action Plan and an Implementation Plan to tackle the Y2K Problem and has sent it to the Planning Commission through the Ministry of Science & Technology for approval and funding. A special Y2K Cell has been established at Bangladesh Computer Council to assist and advise computer users in the Government and Private organisations as well as private users on the solution of Y2K problem. A proposal is under consideration with the Planning Commission for allocating fund for the Y2K Cell. In the 5th meeting of the NY2KAC, held on April 05, 1999, special Working Groups have been formed for the following sectors of the economy:
The Working Groups have established close contacts with the relevant sector organisations and are advising and monitoring their progresses and activities in achieving compliance to the Y2K problem. The individual working groups will submit report to the NY2KAC by the end of May, 1999. the next meeting of the NY2KAC will be held in the first week of July, 1999. 5.0 The present statusThe present status of Y2K compliance in the different sectors of the economy are summarised below: a) Financial Sector The Bangladesh Bank has advised all schedule banks , government and private, to follow up the Y2K issue upto the branch levels. A task force has been formed by the Bangladesh Bank to monitor the progress achieved in making their operations Y2K compliant. According to Bangladesh Bank sources, 80% of the banking sector has achieved Y2K compliance. A 100% Y2K compliance is targeted by the end of November, 1999. Another major Nationalised bank, Sonali Bank is also expected to be ready by July/September. The source informs that the preparedness upto May stands half done. Some of the hardware need to be replaced. It has 32 of its branches computerised where BexiBank software of Beximco Computers Ltd. and PCBank of Leads Corporation are used. The Bank has made agreements with both the software developers and some of its systems have already been upgraded. Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) has been using Y2K compliant system from the begining of its automation. It is using Tandem Servers and its propreitery OS. The source said that they are confident of smooth rollover. Besides the central computer of the Bourse does not accept any electronic request from its members or brokers with time stamp; rather, the time is stamped on the broker’s request file from the DSEs main systems. So, there is no chance of risking the automation. But DSE is requesting the brokers to make their systems compliant for the sake of smooth transaction as far as brokers are concerned. The Chittagong Stock Exchange has indicated that their systems are Y2K compliant from very begining of computerisation. While foreign banks are ready for smooth year transition, local private banks, even some government ones, have become compliant or have already taken steps in this direction . the banks in the country mainly use two software: Bexibank and PCBank. Beximco Computers have informed that the software is in use in 400 branches of 13 banks across the country. Its clients include Sonali Bank, Agrani Bank, Janata Bank, State Bank of India, International Finance, Investment and Commerce Bank (IFIC), United Commercial Bank Ltd. (UCBL), Arab-Bangladesh (AB) Bank, National Bank Ltd. (NBL), Al-Arafa Bank, Islami Bank, Social Investment Bank, Banque Indo-Suez, etc. City Bank uses a module of the software. A spokesman for the company have informed that they have finished fixing the problem and have checked it twice. They have made agreements with the clients and have delivered the solution to 50 of them. He hopes that by June this year, the company will be able to complete its Y2K assignment, which also includes updating the databases of the clients. He further informed that they do not run the risk as they do not use the system date for calculations. PCBank, developed by Leads Corporation, has clients like City Bank, Prime Bank, Eastern Bank, South-East Bank, Dhaka Bank, United Commercial Bank Ltd. (UCBL), National Bank of Pakistan, three Dhaka branches of Sonali Bank, Dutch Bangla Bank, etc. The company has indicated that their UNIX based multi-user software runs in 100 branches of 10 banks across the country. They are confident that they would be able to complete upgrading their clients very soon. b) Power This is a critical sector which is being closely monitored to avoid any disruption of services at the start of the new millennium. Substations and generators containing embedded chips may cause disruption of services. A Y2K co-ordinator in the rank of Chief Engineer has been appointed within the organisation to identify possible sites of disruption. The Rural Electrification Board (REB) has formed a three member committee in May,1999, which has been entrusted with the responsibility of making an inventory and identifying areas of potential sites of problem. c) Gas This is another critical sector which is being closely monitored to ensure continuity of services. Titas Gas Systems Ltd. has indicated that thsy do not have any Y2K related problems and will be able to maintain continuity of services through the year 2000. Bakhrabad Gas Systems Ltd. located in Comilla District have indicated that their PCS system and Natural Gas Meters are Y2K compliant. d) Water It is expected that water and sewerage services will remain largely unaffected by the Y2K problem. Nevertheless, this critical sector must be closely monitored. e) Telecommunication sector The telecommunication sector may experience disruption in its services due to presence of some embedded chips in its exchanges. The state run Bangladesh Telephone and Telegraph Board (BTTB)have formed a task force to monitor and to take steps to maintain continuity of service through the year 2000. The BTTB came late in contacting the suppliers of its equipment for upgrades. It has no target date for compliance other than the crucial date of December 31, 1999. A spokesman for BTTB has informed that they are trying their best and they have to do it as they have no other options. f) Communication sector Disruption of supply of petroleum products may hamper distribution of foodgrains and essential goods. The Eastern Refinery Complex, the lone refinery of the country, is being closely monitored by the relevant working group in maintaining its operations. Bangladesh Railway has finished upgrading its system. Technohaven Co., the provider of the Railway’s ticketing and booking system, has informed that its software automates ticket booking systems at 29 of the BR stations.That software was originally developed in view of the Y2K Problem. Only the user interface needs to be updated. Now Technohaven has changed the interface and there is no problem at all. Biman, Bangladesh Airlines, the state-run airlines of the country, have informed that it has already replaced its non-compliant hardware used for ticketing. It depends mostly on SITA for overseas connection which is Y2K compliant. Its target for full remediation in two areas - in house automation on one hand and ticketing and cargo reservation on the other - is November, 1999. But it has contingent plans if it cannot fix it before the prime moment. The Air Traffic Control of the Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) are expected to remain largely unaffected by the Y2K Problem. But all the precautionary steps must be taken to avoid any unwanted incidence. The Bangladesh Meterological Department have informed that they have achieved Y2K compliance by June, 1999. g) Industry sector It is expected that all industrial units will be Y2K compliant by the Year 2000. The critical industries are on close supervision and steps taken to ensure the continuity of production through year 2000. The multinational manufacturing companies operating in Bangladesh have achieved a headstart in achieving Y2K compliance. For example, British American Tobacco Bangladesh Co. Ltd. and Lever Brothers (Bangladesh) Ltd. have achieved compliance by December, 1998. One of the Internet Service Providers, Information Services Network (ISN) have informed that they are internally compliant as far as their hardware and software are concerned. They are replacing the servers, both terminal and proxy. But they will retain the old terminals as redundant backup system. They are upgrading their operating system to Solaris 7 which is compliant. ISN has taken care of the billing system and the file management in the servers. Therefore, there is not any chance of automatic file deletion from the servers after the midnight on December 31, 1999. 6.0 Y2K Web Site of the NY2KACThe Web site of the NY2KAC is not yet hosted. 7.0 IYCC Report Template for Bangladesh’s Y2K Preparedness StatusThe report template is provided with this document as an annexure. The data given in the template is based on July-October, 1998 survey. Latest status will be available by the end of July,, 1999. 8.0 ConclusionBangladesh, along with other countries, recognises the Y2K problem as a serious global issue. The Bangladesh Government attaches high level importance to the magnitude of the problem and has taken adequate steps to address the issue. Non-availablity of Experience Programmers and IT Professional /Experts on the Y2K problem and non-availability of funds are the major obstacles. In spite of these, it is expected that by June, 1999, substantial gain towards national Y2K compliance would be achieved. ANNEXURE-1IYCC-Preparedness of Bangladesh on Y2K IssuesReport Template 1. Information Source Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) - Ministry of Science & Technology . Bangladesh Govt Prof M Abdus Sobhan (Executive Director) II. National Readiness 1. Please indicate sector readiness in percentage for each of the following project phases.
2.0 Which have been the main obstacles in your country to the Y2K remmediation process. a) Non-availability of Experienced Programmers and IT Professional/Experts on Y2K Problem b) Lack of Management Commitment c) Non-availablity of funds 3.0 Total amount spent on Y2K Public Sector US$ 100,000/- Private Sector US$ 500,000/- III National Y2K Contingency planning: The progress in percentage for each of the following milestones in the deveopment of a national contingency plan are indicated below:
Amount needed to develop the contingency plan to the point where it is ready for implementation: US$ 10 million Time needed to bring the contingency plan to fully operational capacity, form the time of authorisation to implementation : 150 days. IV. Cross Border Issues. 1) The efforts being undertaken in Bangladesh for as far as Y2K cross- border issues are concerned on the following mission-critical sectors are enumerated below: a) Financial Institutions- banking securities industry International Trade of Bangladesh dependent on foreign banks, suppliers and creditors are vulnerable. No concrete steps to alleviate this have been taken. b) Telecommunications - landline and wireless phone service, satellite technology This sector is heavily dependent on facilities offered by foreign countries and will depend on level of compliance of other countries in this respect. c) Transportation - air and rail transport, maritime shipping, custom This sector is dependent in import/export trade of Bangladesh with other countries, especially in maritime, shipping and air transport. International trade of Bangladesh based on rail transport is negligible. d) Food Supply-agricultural sector, food processing Transportation.of foodgrains is heavily dependent on imported petroleum products. Any disruption of supply lines of petrol and production facilities in the country’s lone refinery, Eastern Refinery may affect proper distribution of foodgrains. Steps are being taken to monitor uninterrupted operations of sea and air ports. 2) Countries which have established year 2000 remediation and contingency planning efforts at international level Donor Agencies Donor Agencies such as The World Bank has a special programme to oversee, monitor and assist the Y2K Action Plans of Bangladesh. Similar programme are being prsued by the Asian Development Bank. Foreign Countries The American Embassy, The Canadian Embassy, The High Commission of United Kingdom, The Japanese Embassy, The Commonwealth have established monitoring facilties or assistance programme in the National Y2K Programme of Bangladesh. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Send mail to info@eb2000.org with
questions or comments about this web site.
|
