[Bangladesh] One per cent of GDP 'should be ploughed' into ICT development

["Irfan Khan" <khania2@super.net.pk>]

Date: Thu, 05 Jun 2003 13:14:41 -0000
From: "BANGLA ICT" <banglaict@yahoo.com>


One per cent of GDP 'should be ploughed' into ICT development
FE Report


A taskforce report on "Information and Communications Technology 
(ICT)" placed a number of recommendations including allocation of at 
least 1.0 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) for ICT 
expenditure in the coming fiscal year.  

Creation of special fund for supporting ICT research and development 
activities and allocation of Tk 500 million for giving low-interest 
loans to teachers and students to be disbursed by commercial banks 
are among the salient demands made by the taskforce.  

Besides, it also recommended encouragement of private sector 
investment in ICT and allowing of 100 per cent depreciation of ICT 
related investment at a function at the National Press Club in city. 
The taskforce prepared by National Policy Review Forum 2003, 
organised in collaboration with the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), 
the Prothom Alo and the Daily Star, also sought fund for national 
level infrastructure projects and initiatives in academia.  

Daily Star editor Mahfuz Anam moderated the function that unfolded 
the taskforce report about one week ahead of tabling the national 
budget,  

where BTRC Chairman Syed Marghub Murshed and Syed Ashraful Islam MP 
were special guests.  

Promotion of venture capital is needed and the equity and 
entrepreneurship fund (EEF) should be converted into venture capital, 
the taskforce headed by Vice Chancellor of BRAC University Jamilur 
Reza Choudhury recommended.  

The taskforce also recommended autonomy and corporatisation of the 
state-run BTTB, which would allow using its own revenues, borrowing 
from the financial markets without government permission and 
guarantee its  

smooth operation through expanding its activities.  

The existing Bangladesh Telecommunication Act 2001 should be amended 
making the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) 
accountable to Parliament through a parliamentary committee, the 
taskforce suggested. The BTRC should be converted into communications 
commission, which would regulate three areas - telecom, ICT and 
broadcasting.  

Adequate legal infrastructure for implementing ICT based banking 
services and e-commerce, creation of qualified work force for ICT 
enabled services and training are also necessary, it suggested.  

Upgrading the infrastructure for the delivery of government 
information, strengthening inter-agency coordination through the 
compulsory use of electronic mail was also stressed by the taskforce, 
comprising 14 members from ICT industry, academics, telecom experts, 
policy makers and activists.  

Speaking at the function, the BTRC chairman sought concerted efforts 
from the government, regulators and civil society to sensitise public 
 

opinion for ensuring a good market. Market is the ultimate tool for 
regulating competitiveness and prices being provided by the service 
providers in the telecom sector, he added. Syed Ashraful Islam 
stressed the need for educating lawmakers so that they could utilise 
their knowledge on  

ICT during policy making.  

Editor of the Daily Star stressed the need to stop brain drain from 
the country to ensure its future development.  

Muhammad Jafar Iqbal of Shahjalal University of Science and 
Technology, CPD Research Fellow Ananya Raihan, independent telecom 
analyst Abu Saeed Khan, president of Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) 
M Sabur Khan, President of Bangladesh Mobile Telecom Operators' 
Association M Fazlur Rahman and president of ISP Association of 
Bangladesh Akhteruzzaman Manju were among the members of the 
taskforce. (The Financial Express)