Brainstorming to explore IT windows

Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, state minister for fisheries and livestock, speaks at discussion on the third day of the National IT Week 2003

The ideas and discussion during the August 31 September 6 meet are clear examples of the collaboration between the government of Bangladesh, the private sector, and the provinces and territories working together to bring the benefits of ICT to Bangladeshi communities. Some major decisions involving the IT sector of the country were made at the IT week.

The event was co-organised by the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) Task Force for Development of IT Professionals and Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC). The weeklong programme was co-ordinated by M. Shahjahan Khadem, convenor of the IEB Task Force for Development of Information Technology Professionals.

On the inaugural day, a discussion was held on "World Summit on Information Society (WSIS): Preparation of Bangladesh Strategy" at the conference room of the IEB. Chaired by Dr. A M Chowdhury, executive director, BCC, the session was addressed by Dr. Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, vice-chancellor, BRAC University, as chief guest. Syed Marghub Murshed, chairman, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Karar Mahmudul Hasan, secretary, Ministry of Science and ICT were also present as special guests. Reza Selim, member secretary, Bangladesh Working Group on WSIS, presented the keynote paper.

The second day of the seminar was attended by Kazi Mahmood Satter, managing director and chief executive officer of Eastern Bank Limited. The topic was the importance of online banking for development of e-commerce in Bangladesh. Satter presented a valid case in favour of online banking. He pointed out the disadvantages, advantages, constraints and the profits incurred by the country as a whole through online banking leading towards better e-commerce of the country in the long run.

September 2 was the third day of the seminar and the theme was the importance of a database of available ponds of Bangladesh to develop the fisheries with trained educated youths.

"We have not been able to reach the goals due to lack of coordination between the ministries in the past and the trained personnel in the fishing sector," said Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan, state minister for fisheries and livestock.

He added that Bangladesh could earn at least Tk 2,000 crore a year by developing these ponds and push GDP up. The speakers stressed the need to make a database of ponds which can be accessed on the web from anywhere in Bangladesh for exact locations.

The fourth day dwelt on the importance to set up computer labs from primary to post-graduate level to develop human resources skilled in internet technology and English'.

"Lack of managerial skills and trained faculties with sound knowledge of English are hampering the spread of computer literacy programs in these institutions," said Prof. M Moniruzzaman Mian, chairman of the National Educational Commission and former vice-chancellor of Dhaka University.

The fifth day was about the importance to set up fixed telephone exchanges in Dhaka city through private and public sectors in line with telecoms policy.' The session was held at the Bangladesh Telephone and Telecommunication Board office.

Telecoms Secretary Faruq Ahmed Siddiqi said in order to increase the city's telecommunications links, the private and public sectors need to work together. Reportedly, Bangladesh has a total of 10 lakh telephone connections which is not even 1 per cent of the demand.

The sixth day of the seminar saw a discussion on the prospects of e-governance in the country at Bangladesh Computer Council, at Dhanmondi. SAMS Taifur, joint chief and project director, support, of the ICT taskforce, Planning Commission, and Dr. A.M Chowdhury, executive director, Bangladesh Computer Council, spoke. "Through e-governance, the government would profit through better efficiency and better flow of information," said Dr. M. Shamsher Ali, vice-chancellor, South East University.

September 6 was the last day of the program and had Dr. Abdul Awwal, IT activist and associate professor of North South University as the speaker. Land Minister M Shamsul Islam also attended the program, and so did Dr. Shamsher Ali, vice-chancellor of South East University.

The discussion was about the "Vision of Bangladesh to earn US$ 2 billion by 2006 by exporting computer software and development of human resources." The speakers noted that $2 billion is too much of a mark for Bangladesh to reach as far as information technology is concerned. But at least through initiation and completion of some projects already in hand, and some others being planning, such a stage could possibly be set in the near future.

Some other recommendations made in the seminar include drawing up a national curriculum for computer science studies and IT training for the 15 lakh government employees.

"Through dedication and the right knowledge and skills we should be able to give our people jobs and possibly unemployment could be reduced," mentioned Dr. Abdul Awwal.