The future of digital transformation continues to be a top concern as Bangladesh enters the dawn of a promising era, particularly if we want to establish the nation as a thought leader in IT industry.
It is anticipated that government efforts to support e-governance, enhance digital infrastructure, and cultivate a startup environment would be essential to this shift.
A key component of the Bangladesh 2.0 goal is infrastructure development, which goes hand in hand with economic diversification.
Bangladesh has made tremendous progress in changing its digital landscape over the past 20 years. A more tech-savvy and digitally inclusive country has been made possible by policies that foster internet access, e-governance, and ICT education.
The nation has witnessed significant advancements in e-commerce, digital healthcare, financial inclusion, and education due to the fast expanding ICT sector. Bangladesh has emerged as a major player in the digital economy thanks to successful projects including mobile financial services (MFS), digitized government services (e-GP), and the expansion of IT firms.
However, according to a July assessment, Bangladesh only receives a score of 62 out of 100 on the International Telecommunication Union’s ICT Development Index. This is significantly lower than the average score for all lower middle-income nations and the global average of 74.8.
The index offers pertinent aspirational goals for any nation striving for excellence in digital infrastructure by tracking a basket of categories, including connectivity and digital inclusion, use of digital services and web traffic, e-commerce, artificial intelligence, digitalized government, education, health, governance, cybersecurity, and more.
Bangladesh 2.0 calls for a faster stage of development in which digital infrastructure is progressively integrated into our everyday lives, encouraging creativity and tackling novel problems.
What is required to maintain this momentum as Bangladesh 2.0 prepares to welcome new leadership? What are some fresh areas for solutions that can improve Bangladeshis’ quality of life on a daily basis and advance our country on the ICT Development Index?
We have led the way in developing digital infrastructure for a range of sectors. I anticipate that in order to push Bangladesh to the limits of her potential and increase self-reliance, investments in technology excellence and scalability will be necessary in 5G, Decentralised finance (DeFi) and blockchain, Revolutionising healthcare through digitalization, Cybersecurity and digital literacy.
5G and beyond:
The impending 5G rollout in Bangladesh has the potential to revolutionize the expansion of digital services. Remote learning, telemedicine, and even new businesses like virtual reality (VR) and electric vehicles (EVs) may be made possible by extremely fast internet rates. Everyone would profit from the digital revolution if 5G coverage was extended to rural areas, promoting more inclusive growth.
Blockchain and decentralized finance (DeFi):
The success of mobile banking in Bangladesh may act as a springboard for blockchain-powered DeFi. This would give people who are still not a part of the regular banking system access to safe, transparent, and affordable financial services. By providing trustworthy land registration records, smart contracts, and tamper-proof voting systems, blockchain technology may potentially aid in the fight against corruption.
Revolutionising healthcare
By advancing wearable medical technology, AI-driven diagnostics, and telemedicine, Digital Bangladesh V2.0 may increase access to healthcare. AI might help physicians identify illnesses earlier and develop individualized treatment strategies, while urban centers could provide specialized care to rural regions.
Cybersecurity and Digital Literacy:
As the use of digital devices increases, so do the hazards. To maintain the benefits of digital transformation in Bangladesh 2.0, it will be essential to improve cybersecurity infrastructure, educate the public about safe internet usage, and create robust data protection laws. No one will be left behind in the digital age if national efforts are made to increase digital literacy among the populace.
Bangladesh has the potential to become a digital leader if it has a strong foundation. In addition to resolving national security concerns, we can raise our digital index ranking and play a major role in tackling global issues like poverty, urbanization, and climate change, which will ultimately improve the lives of millions of people.