Cyber Communities of Bangladesh -- Mustafa Jabbar

a. Infrastructure

First of all we can utilize the presently available infrastructures like the fiber optics backbone of Railway and BTTB to create the network. Radio Links can also be used in remote areas. Mobile phone networks can be a good choice for Internet connectivity.

b. Educating People

Bangladesh has got a good number of small Computer Training Centers. There are a large number DTP houses also. These centers can be utilized for educating people to use Internet. These centers will also be able to give service to the rural people. Schools can also be used for training the people. Students can help the rural people to find information and send/receive e-mails.

c. Development of Contents

Development of contents in Bangla is not also a big problem. With the new technologies like Windows XP & Unicode, local language can be used for domain names too. A planned effort to develop contents on specific sector can help in providing information to the rural people. Information of the Govt and its bodies should be in Bangla.

d. Job creation

But the real benefit can be achieved by creating job opportunities. Durgapasha, a village in Sunamgonj district has proved that rural youth can be trained and utilized for ICT enabled services. If a large number of Durgapasha can be created, people will not have to come to the urban areas in search of jobs. Bangladesh has been very successful in using the uneducated young girls by training them to work in the Readymade Garments sectors. Internet facilities can give the same benefit to the educated young girls and boys of the rural areas. One of the advantages of ICT is that it is not to be located in an industrial zone or urban area. By having a VSAT or any other connection any village can be a hub of international communication.

There is Internet in Bangladesh’s main cities. Internet is also penetrating in the sub urban and semi urban areas of the country. We shall have to take this technology to the rural areas. We shall have to remember that 85% people of the country are still in the rural areas. If Internet can not reach them, Bangladesh can not prosper.