Digital inclusion challenges in Bangladesh: the case of the National ICT Policy

ABSTRACT

This study assesses the impact and effectiveness of the National Information and Communications Technology Policy (NIP) in Bangladesh, which is a key legal framework for ‘Vision 2021’ and ‘Digital Bangladesh’. It investigates the extent to which digital inclusion can be achieved by the NIP strategies, as well as exploring the conceptualisation of digital inclusion, which undergirds the contemporary debate on the digital divide and inclusion. The study employs a qualitative approach using policy goal-means analysis to explore critical scrutiny of the internal rationality and logic of the NIP based on three distinct criteria of the digital inclusion analytical framework: ICT access, use and skills. The analysis argues that the policy is ambiguous and techno-centric, with a narrow digitisation frame of reference, which does not comprehensively address the issues associated with digital inclusion. Policy needs to be consistent and relevant to a person’s daily life, giving the user a sense of empowerment and skill. The article concludes that a focus on a skill-based approach and the context of societal challenges of Bangladesh is crucial to ensuring digital inclusion.

KEYWORDS:

• ICT policy
• ICT4D
• digital inclusion
• ICT access
• engagement
• skills
• Bangladesh

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Prof. Leo Van Audenhove (VUB), Ass. Prof. Maier-Rabler Ursula (U Salzburg), Prof. Jean Burgess and Assoc. Prof. Michael Dezuanni (QUT) for their supervision and mentorship during conducting this research. The author is indebted to Ass. Prof. Sameena Azhar (Fordham University) and Umma Naima as well as the editor and two anonymous referees of this journal for their valuable comments and feedback. This work was part of the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) in Digital Communication Leadership (DCLead).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Notes

1 This study considers the latest version of National ICT Policy, 2015 that is published in Bangla language. The policy texts are analysed with additional consultation of NIP 2009, which is written in English.

2 It was previously known as Union Information and Service Centre (UISC).

3 In 2011, the Ministry of ICT was established and later merged with the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and re-named as the MoPTIT in February 2014. The ministry works with the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) as key agencies for policy implementation.

4 The system that carries telecommunications between Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt, Italy, Tunisia, Algeria and France.

5 Strategic theme is defined in the policy as ‘a broad recommendation to guide the development and implementation of specific action items’ (National ICT Policy, MoPTIT 2015, 7).

6 Action item is defined in the policy as ‘a particular implementation task under a strategic theme with clearly specified outcomes, time limits and actors’ (MoPTIT 2015, 7).

Additional information

Funding

This research carried out while being a recipient of an E+ scholarship financed by the Education, Audiovisual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Union.

Notes on contributors

Abdul Aziz

Abdul Aziz is a PhD candidate at Digital Media Research Centre and School of Communication, Queensland University of Technology, Australia. He holds a master’s degree from at University of Salzburg, Austria and Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium under the Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in Digital Communication Leadership (DCLead). His research focuses on digital and cultures practices of everyday life with particular emphasis on diaspora, religion, gender, ethnic identity and inclusion. His current research focuses on understanding the Rohingya diaspora: the identity construction and integration in the age of digital media.