Tk 65,000cr invested in telecom, ICT sectors but expected progress not achieved

Taka 65,000 crore was invested in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division and Posts and Telecommunications sectors from 2010 to 2024 but expected progress was not achieved.

The information was revealed in the ADP review meeting of Posts and Telecommunications Division for Fiscal 2024-25 at the division's conference room.

Posts and Telecommunications Adviser Md. Nahid Islam joined the meeting as the chief guest with Secretary Dr. Md. Mushfiqur Rahman in the chair.

Nahid Islam said since 2010 many projects were taken in the name of Digital Bangladesh by spending a lot of money, but the people didn't get the benefits.

Of the Taka 65,000 crore investments, ICT Division took projects involving Taka 25,000 crore and Posts and Telecommunications Division took projects involving Taka 40,000 crore, he said.
 
Even after that Bangladesh scored 62 out of 100 in the June, 2024 edition of the ICT Development Index of the United Nations International Telecommunication Union and Bangladesh's position was behind Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Vietnam and Bhutan, he said.

Nahid Islam said in the list of internet speed of Ookla Speedtest Global Index May, 2024, Bangladesh ranked 109th among 147 countries in internet index while Kenya also ranked ahead of Bangladesh.

Besides, Bangladesh ranked 108th in broadband internet index as India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Rwanda and Ghana also ranked ahead of Bangladesh in the list, he said.

In the IMF's Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index, June 2024, Bangladesh ranked 113th while India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Rwanda and Ghana also ranked ahead of Bangladesh in the list, he said.

The adviser said in the Digital Quality of Life Index, 2023 of the cyber security institution Surfshark, Bangladesh ranked 82nd in the list of 121 countries as the country dropped five notches compared to previous year.

According to the index, internet speed in Bangladesh is 5 percent lower than the global average, Nahid said, adding, Bangladesh ranked 73rd in the Key Government Index, which is below the global average, 85th in e-security ranking and 77th in internet purchasing capacity.

The adviser said according to the April 2024 report of the US based magazine CEOWORLD, Bangladesh is also lagging behind in freelancing since Bangladesh is ranked 29th in the list of 30 best destinations in this regard.

Bangladesh was ranked after India and Pakistan in the list, Nahid added.

These indexes clearly showed that the people of the country have not enjoyed the real benefits of the 'Digital Bangladesh' rather there have been widespread irregularities in this regard, he said.

Nahid said it is noticed that the project is not completed on time almost everywhere and even after extending time for one or two times, it needs to extend the time again.
 
Therefore, the proposal for the time extension of the projects should be made sensibly, he added.

The adviser said if projects are completed timely and properly, there will be a lot of progress in the internet and telecommunication sector in Bangladesh, the benefits of which will be enjoyed by the countrymen.

He put emphasize on reducing project costs, avoiding procrastination, always providing project updates on software and completing projects within stipulated time.

The meeting was informed that a total of nine projects have been taken under the four offices of the Posts and Telecommunications Division in the current financial year 2024-25.

Of them, Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) has taken up five projects, Teletalk Bangladesh Limited one project, Directorate of Posts two projects and Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC has taken up one project.

The overall project review showed that the national level progress in the fiscal year 2024-25 till August 2024 is 1.02 percent and the progress of the Posts and Telecommunications Division is 3.84 percent.

In the meeting, the heads of departments and offices as well as managers of different projects under the Posts and Telecommunications Division presented the implementation plans and latest progress of their respective projects.