Essay : Digital Bangladesh : Vision 2021

Digital Bangladesh : Vision 2021

Introduction : Digital Bangladesh means it will be an e-state; all of its activities like governance, commerce, education, agriculture etc. will be powered by computer and internet. Today the entire world is gradually becoming a digital planet. Almost every state is heading towards a knowledge-based society and Bangladesh cannot stay away from the advantages out of it. 
Both the ruling and opposition parties in Bangladesh, Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) emphasized ICT development as a core issue. The election manifesto of AL pledged with ICT commitment cuts across the whole range of social, economic and governance development issues. The AL assured to build a ‘Digital Bangladesh’ where people will get a developed life, corruption and misrule-free society, and face the challenges of the 21st century. Therefore, the destination for the generation is correctly pointed out towards a ‘Digital Bangladesh’ and there is no disagreement on the issue among the parties. 

VISION 2021 : Bangladesh Awami League placed before the nation the following set of election promises, work schedule and declaration in the light of its vision 2021. 

2010 : 100 percent net student enrolment at primary level. 

2011 : Supply of pure drinking water for the entire population. 

2012 : Self-sufficiency in food. 

2013 : Each house brought under hygienic (স্বাস্থ্য সম্মত) sanitation. 

2013 : Attain 8 percent annual growth rate, this will be increased to 10 percent in 2017 and sustained. 

2013 : Bangladesh generates 7000 megawatts of electricity which will be further increased to 8000 megawatt in 2015. Steps will be taken to increase power generation capacity assuming that the demand for power will reach the level of 20000 Megawatt in 2021. 

2013 : Free tuition up to degree level. 

2014 : Bangladesh attains full literacy. 

2015 : Living accommodation for the entire population. 

2021 : Contribution (ImhJj) of agriculture, industry and service sector to GDP will stand at 15, 40 and 45 percent respectively in place of 20, 28 and 50 percent as at present. 

2021 : Unemployment reduced to 15 percent from the present rate of 40 percent. 

2021 : Labour in agriculture comes down to 30% from 48% at present. 

2021 : Labour in industry is 25% from 16% and in service 45% from 36% at present. 

2021 : Poverty rate comes down to 15% from 45% at present. 

2021 : Bangladesh knows as a country of educated people with skills in information technology. 

2021 : 85% of the population have standard nutritional food. 

2021 : Poor people ensured a minimum of 2122 kilocalories of food. 

2021 : All kinds of contagious diseases eliminated. 

2021 : Longevity increases to 70 years. 

2021 : Infant mortality comes down to 15 from 54 per thousand at present. 

2021 : Maternal death rate reduced to 1.5% from 3.8%. 

2021 : Use of birth control methods increased to 80%. 

Power and Energy : In the next three years or by 2012 power production will be increased to 7158 megawatts and by 2013 at will be further increased to 9521 megawatts. 

Employment guidelines : The number of unemployed people in the country, estimated at 28 million, will be reduced to 24 million by 2013 and will be further reduced to 15 million by 2021. 

ICT sector : It education will be made compulsory at secondary level by 2013 and at primary level by 2021. 

Communication and infrastructure : Appropriate measures will be taken to construct the Padma and Karnaphuli bridge/tunnel, Dhaka-Chittagong four-lane express way. Measures will also be taken for expansion and modernization of the railway. Rail and road connection with neighbouring countries under the Asian Rail Highway Schemes will be established. 

Basic needs : With a view to providing food, clothing, shelter, education and health care to the citizens in accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution, gross domestic product will be raised to 8% by 2013 and 10% by 2017 which will be sustained thereafter. 

Food and nutrition : Food deficit will be removed and self-reliance in food production will be achieved, which will enable us to meet the nutrition needs of 85% of the population. 

Health care : By 2021 minimum daily intake of 2122 kilocalories of food, elimination of contagious (ছোঁয়াচে) disease, primary health care and sanitation for all will be ensured. Average longevity will be increased to seventy years, and efforts will be made for the reduction of child and maternal mortality. 

Industry : A strong foundation for industrialization will be established by 2021. Contribution of the industrial sector to national GDP will be doubled. 

Housing : By 2015 housing for all will be ensured. 

Commodity price hike : Measures will be taken to reduce the unbearable burden of price hike and keep it within the limit of purchasing power of the people. 

Agriculture : Subsidy for agricultural inputs will be enhanced and availability of inputs will be made easier. The amount of agricultural loan will be increased. 

Bangladesh as a country with 150 million people has huge potential, despite having many problems. Currently, the people of Bangladesh remain far away from using ICT, when the whole world is getting developed with the blessing of ICT. due to poverty and illiteracy, use of ICT is beyond imagination, and some of them consider it nothing but mere a fashion. In the era of globalization, ICT is a crosscutting issue as well as an essential tool for economic development. It can play an important role in creating employment, raising work skill and production. The adoption of ICT can bring corruption free, citizen-centric and forward-looking governance in the country. 

Conclusion : It is the expectation of the mass people that government will take all possible steps to create a SMART (Simple, Measurable, Accountable, Responsive and Transparent) ‘Digital Bangladesh’ and establish a knowledge-based society within 50 years of her independence in 2021.


Same composition collected from another book


Digital means using a system of receiving and sending information as a series of the numbers one and zero, showing that an electronic signal is there or is not there. The sue of digital information and technology has been playing a vital role in the field of communication in the 21st century due to globalization. Bangladesh is resounding with target of achieving of Digital Bangladesh.

The present AL democratic government has declared the “Vision 2021” in the election manifesto which targets establishing of a resourceful and modern country by 2021 through effective use of information and communication technology – a “Digital Bangladesh”.

One may assume it wrong that digitalization could be gained through enormous (এনারমাস্-প্রচুর) use of computers in every possible aspect of our lives. But the idea is totally wrong. Perhaps it means the modern philosophy of effective and useful use of technology in terms of implementing the promises in education, health, job placement, poverty reduction, etc. Therefore, the government underscores a changing attitude, positive thinking and innovative ideas for the success of “Digital Bangladesh”.

The philosophy of “Digital Bangladesh” comprises ensuring people’s democracy and rights, transparency, accountability, establishing justice and ensuring delivery of government services in each door through maximum use of technology-with the ultimate goal to improve the daily lifestyle of general people. Government’s “Digital Bangladesh” includes all classes of people and does not discriminate people in terms of technology. Hence, government have emphasized on the four elements of “Digital Bangladesh Vision” which are human resource development, people involvement, civil services and using of information technology in business.

The improvement has already been visible. The government offices are being computerized. We can now pay our bills through online. Even train tickets can now be booked from a single SMS. In rural areas, we see a satisfactory availability for internet connection. Farmers are now being instructed by phone calls. Even medical assistance is a available through mobile. We no longer have to wait for exam results in any notice board, as it is published in internet. So, is not it just awesome (অসাম্-ভয়ানক)?

Who doesn’t want to be the happiest person in the world? Indeed a fool. But, we the ordinary human expect to have the perfect life, without any drawback (ড্রব্যাক-অসুবিধা/বাধা), in the simplest way. And, so do we are walking forward to that door where we can do our all the toughest jobs in simplest manner.

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