IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

Information Technology (IT) and IT Enabled Service (ITES) companies will employ some 4,000 fast track future IT leaders as a government project will provide support to the companies to train them into IT leaders.

The project “Leveraging ICT for Growth, Employment and Governance” of Bangladesh Computer Company under ICT ministry will offer a package of incentives to the IT and ITES companies to recruit the fast track future IT leaders and train them, said officials.

Read more: BD: 4,000 to get IT jobs after free training

The government has recently made an ordinance amending the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act of 2006 which causes a big threat to the freedom of expression as well as the fundamental rights of the citizens. The cabinet approved the draft of the ICT (Amendment) Act-2013 on August 19 proposing to empower law enforcers to arrest any person without warrant, and to increase the highest punishment to 14 years from minimum 7 years. The ICT Act, 2006 was termed by many as a repressive law though the offences were bailable, but in the amended ordinance the offences are non-bailable and there is much scope for harassment.

In the age of globalisation, the modes and methods of communication are spreading enormously day by day. Among these various types and methods, internet is a glorious example of the modern communication. Most people take the positives from it but there may be some equipped to use this dynamic means of communication for ulterior purposes. Consequently, some people may suffer and there may be noise and chaos in the society. To address this, there should be realistic policies that the state can enforce to control and regulate such disorder.

Read more: BD: New ICT law a threat to freedom of expression

Lack of training blamed for apathy

The government's online-based electronic procurement system is yet to gain a foothold among the people related to procurement and tendering process, as it has been introduced without sufficient training for the relevant persons. On the other hand, both the public and private stakeholders are largely not aware of the development.

The e-Government Procurement (e-GP) system became operational in October last year with a pilot programme involving Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Roads and Highways Department (RHD), Rural Electrification Board (REB) and Bangladesh Water Development Board, Planning Commission sources said.

Read more: BD: E-government procurement portal poised to take off, but many entities dither

In today's world, e-governance is what a 'smart government' stands for. The acronym means a 'simple, moral, accountable, responsible and transparent' system of government. The dream that we cherish for a 'smart' government or good governance as established in advanced countries can only possible through methodical application of e-governance based on large-scale use of information and communication technology in the discharge of government functions.

Introducing e-governance in Bangladesh is a public demand to ensure good governance, corruption-free government, simplification of government functions, transparency and accountability of the government and effective delivery of public services at the people's doorstep. The demand also relates to decreasing the gap between the government and its citizens and ensuring some fundamental rights (right to information, freedom of speech and expression) of the people. One must not deny the fact that there have been some commendable initiatives taken by the present government in this direction in materialising one of its key election promises for establishing what it dubbed 'Digital Bangladesh'.

Read more: BD: Establishing e-governance