Overview Of Information And Communication Technology In Bangladesh Context

Introduction: Information and communication technology (ICT) has become a part and parcel in today’s modern civilization. Although it was first adopted by private sector but now after seeing the potential and success rate, government of different countries are coping up with this magic wand. In first periods of 1990s ICT was introduced in government sector as e-Government (Mu, 2018). The ICT sector has shown a new way of management for all kind of personal and official daily activities and also act as a managerial tool to collect and organize whether large or big information effectively. Today computer uses superseded all other means of communicating technique.

Therefore current ruling party of Bangladesh included “Digital Bangladesh” in their election manifesto and 2021 is the target year to achieve this goal (Islam & Khair, 2012). Bangladesh also included IT sector in its export policy and finally marked this sector as thrust sector and to regulate this sector there is a National IT Taskforce (Studies, 2018). What is Information and Communication Technology (ICT):Information and communication technology is an unified term which converging several field such as signal (including telephone and wireless), computer, as well as necessary software, storage, audiovisual system which enable user to access, store and manipulate information as per user requirement (Rangriz et al. , 2018). In Bangladesh current ICT based activity includes computer uses, internet, telecommunication infrastructure, IT companies and E-commerce, IT education, banking sector, printing-publication and media sector, government agencies and last but not least political parties. Recent Trend in ICT Sector:ICT sector is the most trending sector in the world. Everyday this sector is evolving with the changing trend. Here few trends of ICT which thought to be game changer for future generation is discussed.

1. Cloud Computing: with the increasing internet speed and cheap rate clouding computing got spotlight in recent days. Another issue is that in cloud computing it is possible to access one’s document from anywhere around the world with just one click. All you need just a internet connection and the whole world is your locker.
2. Social Media: Social media concept was widely introduced by “Facebook” in 2004 and till then this concept never lose its ground from trending list. Everyday a new dimension of using social media get innovated such as marketing, news platform, promotion etc.
3. Communication beyond sight and sound: Today the limit of communication just has pushed to its edge now it is time for new dimension. According to the expert this sector will be the key player in ICT sector in few decades with the advancement of “Artificial Intelligence” and Physical device.
4. E-governance: Although this concept is still in it’s infancy in Bangladesh but within a few years this sector seen as promising one. Now almost all the activity is done over the internet or cellphones. Either you have to pay the utility bill or passport application everything is now possible using ICT in Bangladesh. So with proper nursing it is assume that in next decades everything in this country will be under e-Governance system.
5. E-Banking: It will be almost impossible to find anyone in our country who doesn’t have any at least one mobile banking account or credit or debit card by his name. It seems a fairy tale early this decades but with the technological advancement and free flow of information have makes this fairy tale into reality. Apart from this there are also some trending field such as e-Marketing, e-education, software market which also thought to be a key player.

Uses of ICT in Bangladesh:Information and communication technology now widely used in every single step in our daily life. According to (Clement, 2012) this are some uses of ICT in Bangladesh.

1. E-Governance: Bangladesh government as a mandate of their election now using ICT in every possible way. Our “Totthobatayon” website considered as the largest web portal among the world. Also almost all the major governmental service now have been digitalized as a result citizen now can access from their house.
2. ICT in Education: Our education system are in changing phase and moving toward ICT based education. Now teacher using laptop and projector to conduct class. Also all the text book available online.
3. E-Banking: People now enjoy banking service through their cellphone. Mobile banking si regarded as revolution in our country. All the bank have online and sms banking facility which make the banking system easier and effective.
4. ICT to pay utility service: Few years back people had to wait several hours to pay their utility bills but now scenario has changed. It became possible through the introduction of ICT in this sector. Now people can pay their utility bills or may book bus or train ticket using laptop or cellphones.
5. E-Marketing: Although e-market now in its infancy in our country but it is expected to be a largest sector in future. A major portion of people now use internet to shop. They don’t need to go to the market to buy product. Thanks to online marketing scenario now changing and people enjoying new test of marketing from their home.
6. Daily life Activity: Information and Technology now everywhere. Whenever you listen a song or read newspaper over the internet whether knowing or not knowing we are using ICT. ICT Policy:In 2002 a national policy regarding the framework for the development of ICT sector in our country was conceptualized (Khan, 2006). Again in 2008, ICT policy was revised to change some important issues and to modernize with the changing trend. So far to make sure ICT is learned by all the new generation government ensure ICT learning compulsory through including them in text book level. Also to promote further growth government of Bangladesh exempt all the taxes from this sector so that everything related to ICT become easily available to the citizen and people at least may get chance to acquire with this sector.

Cyber Security: Internet has brought the world so much closer than any time before and make many things easier but like some others great things this also comes with some major issues. Cyber space now a lucrative field for cybercriminal who uses various means to harm other. Cybercrime can be defined as the unlawful act where computer and internet are used as a tool or medium. In Bangladesh with the uprising of the social media and high speed internet service cybercrime becoming a major threat. Some form of cybercrime in Bangladesh are,

•  Facebook or email account hack by web phishing or by other means
•  Online Financial Frauds
•  Sharing false information and obscene pictures or video by fake accounts in social media
•  Abuse of chat engines like imo, viber, whatsapp
•  Question papers leakages over social media
•  Online terrorism propaganda over social media and blogs
•  Fake and false email (Nigerian Scam)
•  False news spreading by fake online newspaper
•  Online gambling and Crypto currency
•  ATM, POS(Point of Sale) and others online banking frauds (Central Bank Reserve Hack)
•  Mobile Banking frauds (BKASH, ROCKET, MCASH)
•  Pornography

Bangladesh police recently inaugurate cybercrime unit to fight against cyber terrorism but without the help of people it is almost impossible to eradicate this problem because it is an international problem too. It is also necessary to form a legal framework and inclusion of this framework in ICT policy to make a strong ground against this crime. Observation Regarding ICT in Bangladesh:According to (M I Chowdhury, 2016) this are some observation regarding ICT sector of Bangladesh,

•  Bangladesh, to be a middle income country by 2021 almost 8% growth is required in every year. ICT sector could be a major thrust to achieve this growth rate.
•  Lack of ICT trained teacher in rural area so the government initiative to create an ICT learned generation turning into a failure.
•  NGO’s are playing major role to reach out to the remote people and connecting them to the national information pathway.
•  In India Hyderabad regarded as software city but still having so much potential we don’t have such special city or area.
•  Although we have several institution regarding ICT but no effective initiative so far seen to make any difference.
•  Lack of government training facility and there’s problem with non-government training facility.
•  Social media became a problem for us specially recent two incident was speeded using social media propaganda

Recommendation:

•  An institutional framework should be prepared to fight against cybercrime or existing cybercrime unit of police should be strengthen.
•  Availability of high speed internet to the remote area of the country.
•  Government subsidy should be given for young entrepreneur to further business extension.
•  Software should be included in the export item and emphasis should be given
•  Government already establishing IT village in different part of the country after infrastructure development this site should start there operation as soon as possible with its full capacity.
•  There should be co-ordination between all the stakeholder of the ICT sector
•  Skilled manpower should be created
•  Teacher should be given high standard training not only on computer uses but also priority should also be given in the maintenance.