<i>Going green with ICT</i>
Countries around the globe try to promote various activities in mitigating the environmental degradation. One of the vital steps developing countries have undertaken is the 'Go Green' concept through which, believably, we can save resources of our planet to let our future generations survive. This environmental issue is more than important for the existence of our country.
This is understandable that countries try to implement this massive 'Go Green' initiative through some certain steps. "Going Green" is a phrase referred to the pursuit of knowledge and practices that lead to more environmentally friendly and ecologically responsible decisions and lifestyles, thus helping protect the environment and sustaining its natural resources. If we look around the globe, we can see many companies and enterprises have already had adopted the slogan 'Go Green'.
It is conceivable that latest development of information technology can make this concept more appealing. Question is, how information technology can contribute in making this concept a success? It is obvious that online transaction is a great way in saving the planet's certain resource. If we consider various offices and business centers, we can realize how much papers and paper utilities we use that we can do without switching to online and save huge chunk of money and resources, which will ultimately help our environment to go green. Now 'Digital Bangladesh' is a concept through which we can disseminate information and knowledge. We can integrate the two concepts -- 'Go Green' and 'Digital Bangladesh' -- and can make them go together, that can make the dream of green Bangladesh a reality.
The government is trying its best to spread the ICT knowledge in various sectors of the country. The number of internet users is getting higher day by day and many offices and industries are trying to go online and promoting communication through e-mail, audio-video conferencing etc. Research shows that even we can save a huge bulk of money only if we can reduce using papers and paper utilities. This is why many developed countries try to do everything online that also ultimately save natural resources. The volume of paper used for statements and envelopes is considerable. There are also the energy costs of running the printing machines, and the costs of delivery.
In our country it is still not possible to deliver the electric, gas bill online or to do online banking for all banks. But this is the real time we can promote a thorough online activities. With the initiative on digital Bangladesh, it is obvious that it can make the concept 'Go Green' workable in our country.
It is apparent that we talk about many things regarding environmental protection, but time has come when we do need to think something practical that can make something different. Through digital Bangladesh effort, our government can also come up with various websites on environmental issues to inform and enlighten people.
The concept of going green is virtually difficult to implement in full especially for developing countries like Bangladesh, where there is very high density of population and great extent of poverty. But there is no doubt that our country is also moving forward with the development of information technology. We need to make sure utilizing this technology to keep our development process alive. Digital Bangladesh will definitely be consequential also for enhancing environmental awareness if we can truly proliferate the ICT application in our country.
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