IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Information Minister Hasanul Haque Inu's eagerness to bring down the country's internet cost at the grass-roots level subscribers certainly deserves appreciation. The minister's interest is to see that access to the information and communication facilities becomes wider to the extent where the digital divide between the rich and the poor can effectively be dismantled. Indeed, this is not just a pious wish but one that is most practical in the interest of the country. Malaysia, a country with comparable development indices until the 70's of the past century, had experienced a phenomenal rise with Mahathir bin Mohamad, the country's fourth prime minister, opening its door to the modern information superhighway. Bangladesh missed a chance of getting connected with the rest of the world when an elected government refused to accept the offer of free connection with submarine cable although later that opportunity was availed of, but at a cost.

If the information minister's pleading with his government bears any fruit, there is every likelihood that the country's information and communication technology (ICT) will undergo a radical change. When the cell phone first appeared in the country for public use, it was needlessly priced so forbidding that even a middle class subscriber found it beyond reach. Today, the sets are very cheap and mobile telephony has an enviable penetration in Bangladesh. Those who think that maintaining a cell phone costs unnecessarily should have better given a second thought to the cost-cutting by way of its use in economic and other ventures. The small gadget is no longer considered a status symbol but one that has changed lives of millions even in villages. If internet facilities can similarly be reached at the doorsteps of villagers, people at the lower rungs -smart as they are in handling the advanced devices, will take little time to learn the art of using it to their benefit. Moreover, an urge will be created among the not so education-enthusiasts to acquire education if not for themselves at least for their children.

The many advantages of ICT are mainly confined to the better educated and the rich. Handling the gizmos and exploring the economic benefits by the country's techno-savvy young generation have pointed to the fact that talent-wise they are at par with the very best in the world. But this is from within a limited pool enjoying the facilities of the ICT invention. Quite a few such talents have received top awards in international competitions. If the facilities are made available at the grassroots level, there is a chance that the broad base will help nurture more such talents. As for their everyday use in practical life too, greater access to the facilities will inject fresh blood into economic ventures. A better way of application and an easier and faster way of economic transactions are the key to empowering people as well as providing momentum to economy. Not outsourcing alone, there are a host of application of ICT to nation-building and that has remained more or less an uncharted territory -one that needs to be overcome.

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Quelle/Source: The Financial Express Bangladesh, 14.01.2013

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