As per the proposed budget for fiscal 2009-10, the ICT and telecommunication sector will receive a total allocation of Tk 563 crore, which was Tk 265 crore in the revised budget for fiscal 2008-09.
The allocation includes Tk 142 crore annual developed programme for Science and ICT ministry, Tk 221 crore for post and telecommunication ministry, a special allocation of Tk 100 crore for ICT development and Tk 200 crore for Equity and Entrepreneurship Fund for ICT promotion.
The ICT industry insiders have praised the ruling party's willingness to keep its electoral pledge of having a 'digital Bangladesh.'
Muhith said automated system would be introduced in the administration, educational institutions, land and health sectors and tax administration phase by the phase within a few years.
He made a commitment to connect the country with the second submarine cable for providing internet service to more people.
Besides, initiatives will be taken to introduce e-governance and e-commerce by 2014 and 2012 to make the administration and business activities more efficient and transparent.
"We have to use information and communication technology extensively for accelerated development. Therefore, we are moving ahead with a dream of establishing digital Bangladesh by the year 2021. The transition to digitisation process will, on the one hand, help accelerate production and on the other hand, facilitate curbing corruption," said Muhith.
He said they expect that employment in ICT sector will rank second only to textile sector by 2021.
“We have a plan to bring the least advantaged communities under the coverage of telephone and internet connectivity by extending its network and reducing the charges. We are well on the way in bringing all Upazilas within internet coverage in the next five years,” he said.
Muhith proposed withdrawal of value added tax (VAT) on internet services in educational institutions but mentioned nothing about the home users.
He gave assurance that incentive for software industries will be enhanced and steps will be taken to promote local software in both government and non-government sectors.
Although the local software industry exports products worth $25 million a year, the Tk 500 crore domestic market is dominated by foreign firms.
Welcoming the move, Habibullah N Karim, president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), said," If it is implemented, the local software industry will grow quickly."
The finance minister made a commitment to introduce compulsory computer and technical education at the secondary and primary levels by 2013.
Bangladesh produces only 2,500 IT graduates a year but the number will increase if the government move is materialised, said Karim.
The finance minister said, "We would like to integrate land survey, land records and land management and bring the whole land administration under digital management. Once this initiative becomes successful, we shall be able to resolve many complex issues surrounding land administration, which will realise our goal of building a Digital Bangladesh."
Meanwhile, Mostafa Jabbar, president of Bangladesh Computer Samity, opposed the proposal for imposing 25 percent import duty on mobile phone sets.
Low-priced handsets should be exempted from such duty, otherwise rural people will be deprived of the technology, he added.
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Quelle/Source: The Daily Star, 12.06.2009
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