INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ITS FUTURE IN BANGLADESH
Information Technology or IT is most commonly used word or buzzword now-a-days. IT means the combination of all activities related to collecting processing, storing, using and transmitting data and information through the use of computers and communication networks. Bangladesh has a large number of opportunities to be a passenger of information highway. Bangladesh wishes to prosper in the knowledge based economy of the future it must develop its most abundant but neglected resource population with a dynamic relevant education system, especially related to Information Technology or IT.
Prospects of IT industries in Bangladesh :
IT education has opened a new frontier for the unemployed youth of Bangladesh. IT is one of the most rapidly growing industries in the world. It largely depends on human resources like. Bangladesh has the opportunity to take these advantages. Some of the prospects for it industry in Bangladesh are -
(a) Bangladesh has a large number of educated unemployed youth force with ability to read and write English. They can be trained in the required skill in data processing services within a short time.
(b) Quite a few Bangladeshi skilled professionals have been working abroad. They can be encouraged to return to the country and collaborate with Bangladeshi entrepreneurs.
(c) Universities in Bangladesh are forming out an increasing number of graduates in computer related subjects every years who can play an important role in IT industry.
(d) Programming Language. C++, Visual Basic, Visual Foxpro, Oracle, DB/2. Bangladesh offers a very attractive cost effective wage level.
Present view of IT in Bangladesh :
In June 1996 the government decided to allow private companies to act as Internet services Providers (ISPs) using VSATs. At present there are about 22000 account holders with the ISPs (8 in Dhaka and 2 in Chittagong) and the total number of users would be around 100000. A number of cyber cafes providing E-mail and Internet browsing facilities have been opened, in Dhaka city.
BTTB has already established a network for providing Internet Connectivity and plans to start commercial service very soon. The proposed tariff rate should make Internet connection affordable to a large cross-section of public. BTTB is also establishing a fibre optic backone in the country. They also plan to offer ISDN services very soon using the facilities of the already installed digital exchanges in Dhaka and Chittagong cities.
In order to enable the young entrepreneurs in the information Tecnology field a special fund has been created by the government to provide working capital loan without any collaterals. Experience of the other countries shows that it is very difficult to achieve success in exporting software unless there a big domestic market. The government ministries and departments are being asked to computers their activities a domestic price preference of 15% would be given to suppliers of locally developed software.
There are some impediments to the development of IT industry in Bangladesh. They are
# Poor quality of science Math and English
# Poor quality of Educators
# Lack of employment demand from the IT Sector
# Inadequate in entives for IT industry development.
# Lack of sufficient economic background
# Lack of eagerness and enthusiasm over science and technology.
# It is due to over population, IT industrious are not getting high rapidity in its growth.
# Lack of high standard of life.
Step that should be taken for the development of IT industry in Bangladesh.
# The government needs to formulate and implement a dynamic nation wide education policy that will facilitate human resources development in IT. The foundation of IT education can be laid at the school level possibly from class six. More emphasis needs to go into science math and English.
# If we are to expand a domestic IT market and also tap into export oriented software opportunities, we need to increase the level of enrolments in both public and private universities.
# Special plans may be taken and public funds must be mobilized for improving IT education facilities at all levels.
# Special incentives should be delegated to the private sector and N.GO for IT human resource advancement.
# Specialized IT education institutions need to be set up under government patronage across the country.
# All out structural measures need to be taken to facilitate rapid development of the domestic and export oriented IT industry in the country.
If we want to develop our IT industry, we must implement a coherent, coordinated, action plan involving both the public and private sectors. In just a matter of 5 to 10 years, countries such as India, Israel and Philippines have established their names in the world IT markets. We need to have a clear realistic and long term vision for IT human resource development and create an accountable system for ensuring standards. As we have to go a long way, we shall wait for the day.
