Bridging the Digital Divide: Inclusive ICT Policies for Sustainable Development

Summary

This discussion, led by Dr. Hakikur Rahman from International Standard University and Dr. Anujit Kumar Dutta from City University Bangladesh, focused on bridging the digital divide through inclusive ICT policies for sustainable development, presented as part of celebrating 20 years of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). The presenters highlighted that over 2.6 billion people remain offline globally, with significant barriers including affordability, lack of digital literacy, and inadequate infrastructure particularly affecting marginalized communities. They proposed a three-pillar framework for addressing these challenges: inclusion, ethics, and sustainability.

The inclusion pillar emphasized universal connectivity through affordable broadband, community networks, local content in multiple languages, and capacity building programs, citing successful examples like India’s Digital India initiative and Kenya’s Community Networks. The ethics pillar focused on data rights, privacy protection, transparent AI systems, and human rights-based technology design, referencing the EU AI Act and UNESCO AI Ethics guidelines as positive examples. The sustainability pillar addressed green ICT practices, energy-efficient infrastructure, e-waste management, and equitable public-private partnerships, highlighting Rwanda’s green ICT strategy and Estonia’s e-residency program.

Dr. Dutta provided detailed statistics about Bangladesh’s digital landscape, showing significant urban-rural gaps in internet access, gender disparities in ICT participation, and growing but uneven digital infrastructure development. The presentation concluded with policy recommendations including multi-stakeholder collaboration, embedding human rights in technology design, supporting innovation in safe environments, and developing regional frameworks for coordinated policy implementation. The speakers emphasized that creating inclusive, ethical, and sustainable ICT ecosystems requires collective action to ensure digital transformation benefits all communities rather than widening existing divides.

Keypoints

**Major Discussion Points:**

– **Digital Divide and Global Connectivity Gaps**: The presenters highlighted that over 2.6 billion people remain offline globally, with significant barriers including affordability, lack of digital literacy (one in four people lack basic digital skills), and inadequate infrastructure, particularly affecting marginalized communities.

– **Three-Pillar Framework for Inclusive ICT Policies**: The discussion centered on a comprehensive approach involving: (1) Inclusion through universal connectivity and meaningful access, (2) Ethics-centered digital governance with human rights focus, and (3) Sustainability through green ICT and equitable growth strategies.

– **Bangladesh’s Digital Landscape and Challenges**: Extensive analysis of Bangladesh’s ICT development, including urban-rural digital gaps (92% internet access in urban areas vs. 50-58% in rural areas), gender disparities in internet usage, and the growth of ICT sector employment from 165,000 jobs in 2022 to 310,000 in 2024.

– **Policy Examples and Best Practices**: Discussion of successful international initiatives including India’s Digital India program, Kenya’s Community Networks, EU AI Act, Rwanda’s Green ICT Strategy, and Estonia’s e-residency program as models for inclusive digital transformation.

– **Environmental and Ethical Concerns in ICT**: Address of sustainability challenges including e-waste management (Bangladesh generates 600 kilotons with only 3% recycled), carbon emissions from ICT sectors, and the need for ethical AI governance and data privacy protection.

**Overall Purpose:**

The discussion aimed to present research findings and policy recommendations for bridging the digital divide through inclusive, ethical, and sustainable ICT policies, specifically in the context of celebrating 20 years of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) and addressing ongoing global digital inequalities.

**Overall Tone:**

The discussion maintained a formal, academic tone throughout, characteristic of a research presentation or conference session. The tone was collaborative and solution-oriented, with both presenters working together to deliver comprehensive findings. While technical and data-heavy, the presentation remained accessible and focused on practical policy implications. The tone remained consistently professional from introduction through conclusion, with expressions of gratitude toward organizers and participants at the end.

Speakers

– **Hakikur Rahman** (also referred to as “Haktikur Rahman” in transcript)

– Title: Dr./Professor

– Role: Representative from International Standard University, Bangladesh

– Area of expertise: ICT policies, digital divide, sustainable development

– **Ranojit Kumar Dutta** (also referred to as “Anujit Kumar Dutta” in transcript)

– Title: Dr.

– Role: Representative from City University, Bangladesh

– Area of expertise: ICT infrastructure, digital literacy, data governance

**Additional speakers:**

– **Ms. Kitanjali**

– Title: Ms.

– Role: Team member/organizer (mentioned in closing remarks)

– Area of expertise: Not specified

– **Mr. Ruth**

– Title: Mr.

– Role: Team member/organizer (mentioned in closing remarks)

– Area of expertise: Not specified

# Bridging the Digital Divide Through Inclusive ICT Policies for Sustainable Development

## Executive Summary

This presentation, delivered as part of session 413 of the 20th anniversary celebration of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), examined policy solutions for bridging the global digital divide. Dr. Hakikur Rahman from International Standard University, Bangladesh, presented a comprehensive three-pillar framework for inclusive ICT policies, while Dr. Ranojit Kumar Dutta from City University Bangladesh provided detailed empirical analysis of Bangladesh’s digital landscape as a developing nation case study.

The session highlighted that over 2.6 billion people remain offline globally, with significant barriers including affordability constraints, inadequate digital literacy, and insufficient infrastructure particularly affecting marginalized communities. The speakers presented both theoretical frameworks and statistical evidence demonstrating the multi-dimensional nature of digital inequalities and the need for comprehensive policy responses.

## Dr. Rahman’s Three-Pillar Framework for Inclusive ICT Policies

### The Scale of the Digital Divide

Dr. Rahman opened by establishing the magnitude of the global digital divide, citing International Telecommunication Union (ITU) statistics showing that over 2.6 billion people remain offline as of 2024. He emphasized that affordability remains a primary barrier, with internet access still out of reach for many, while digital literacy presents an equally significant challenge, with one in four people lacking basic digital skills necessary for meaningful participation in the digital economy.

### Three-Pillar Policy Framework

Dr. Rahman presented a comprehensive framework addressing digital inequalities through three interconnected pillars:

**Pillar 1: Inclusion Through Universal Connectivity**

This pillar emphasized universal connectivity through affordable broadband access, community networks, and local content development in multiple languages. Dr. Rahman highlighted successful international examples, including India’s Digital India initiative and Kenya’s Community Networks programme, demonstrating how locally-managed networks can serve underserved communities effectively. He stressed that meaningful access requires capacity building programmes that develop digital skills across different demographic groups.

**Pillar 2: Ethics-Centered Digital Governance**

The ethics pillar focused on protecting data rights, ensuring privacy protection, developing transparent AI systems, and embedding human rights considerations in technology design. Dr. Rahman referenced the European Union AI Act and UNESCO AI Ethics guidelines as positive examples of regulatory frameworks that prioritize ethical considerations in technology deployment.

**Pillar 3: Sustainability Through Green ICT Practices**

The sustainability pillar addressed environmental concerns through green ICT practices, energy-efficient infrastructure development, comprehensive e-waste management, and equitable public-private partnerships. Dr. Rahman highlighted Rwanda’s green ICT strategy and Estonia’s e-residency programme as innovative approaches that balance technological advancement with environmental responsibility.

### Policy Recommendations

Dr. Rahman outlined five key challenges and risks, including unintended consequences such as widening the divide and digital colonialism. His policy recommendations emphasized:

– Multi-stakeholder collaboration across government, private sector, civil society, and international organizations

– Human rights integration in technology design and deployment

– Innovation sandboxes for testing new technologies with appropriate safeguards

– Development of regional and global frameworks for coordinated policy implementation

## Dr. Dutta’s Bangladesh Case Study

### Infrastructure and Connectivity Patterns

Dr. Dutta provided extensive statistical analysis of Bangladesh’s digital transformation. The data revealed significant urban-rural disparities in internet access, with over 90% connectivity in urban areas compared to approximately 50-58% in rural regions. Broadband penetration showed remarkable growth from 5% in 2010 to 86% currently, indicating rapid infrastructure development while highlighting persistent geographic inequalities.

### Gender Disparities in Digital Participation

The presentation revealed persistent gender gaps across all aspects of digital participation. National internet usage statistics showed 67% participation among males compared to 47% among females. Urban areas showed male internet usage at 72% versus female usage at 58%, while rural areas demonstrated even starker differences with 61% male usage compared to only 38% female usage.

Despite these challenges, positive trends emerged in ICT education, with female enrollment in ICT-related higher education increasing from 22% in 2020 to 38% in 2024, suggesting that targeted interventions could effectively address gender disparities.

### Digital Literacy and Employment

Age-related digital literacy gaps presented significant challenges, with 72% digital literacy among the 15-20 age group compared to only 31% among those aged 45 and above. The ICT sector showed impressive employment growth, nearly doubling from 165,000 jobs in 2022 to 310,000 in 2024. However, barriers to ICT employment remained significant, with 46% of potential workers citing lack of advanced skills and 39% identifying poor internet infrastructure as primary obstacles.

### Cultural Representation and Indigenous Rights

Dr. Dutta’s analysis revealed disparities in cultural representation within digital media platforms. While mainstream entertainment content achieved 60% representation and news content reached 70%, indigenous content remained at only 5-15%. Government digital services showed partial indigenous language support, indicating ongoing challenges in ensuring that digital transformation serves all cultural communities effectively.

### Ethics and Environmental Challenges

The data showed significant gaps in ethical governance and data protection awareness, with Bangladesh’s data privacy awareness at 41% compared to the European Union’s 82%. The AI policy transparency index showed Bangladesh at 45% compared to the EU’s 88%.

Environmental concerns presented additional challenges, with Bangladesh generating 600 kilotons of e-waste with only a 3% recycling rate and 80% informal handling. Renewable energy adoption in ICT infrastructure showed 60% reliance on grid electricity, 28% solar power adoption, and 7% utilization of wind and other renewable sources.

## Key Findings and Implications

The presentation demonstrated that bridging the digital divide requires comprehensive approaches addressing multiple dimensions simultaneously. The theoretical framework presented by Dr. Rahman, combined with the empirical evidence from Dr. Dutta’s Bangladesh analysis, illustrated both the complexity of digital inequality challenges and the potential for targeted policy interventions.

The Bangladesh case study revealed that while significant progress has been made in expanding digital infrastructure and access, persistent disparities remain across geographic, gender, age, and cultural dimensions. The rapid growth in ICT employment and female participation in ICT education suggested positive trends, while the low rates of data privacy awareness and e-waste recycling highlighted areas requiring immediate policy attention.

## Conclusion

This session provided both theoretical frameworks and practical evidence for addressing digital divide challenges through inclusive ICT policies. Dr. Rahman’s three-pillar approach of inclusion, ethics, and sustainability offers a comprehensive foundation for policy development, while Dr. Dutta’s detailed statistical analysis of Bangladesh demonstrates both the opportunities and challenges facing developing nations in digital transformation.

The presentation emphasized that successful digital inclusion requires moving beyond simple connectivity metrics to address the quality and meaningfulness of digital access, while ensuring that technological advancement serves all communities equitably and sustainably. The combination of international best practices and local empirical evidence provides valuable insights for policymakers working to bridge digital divides in diverse national contexts.

Hakikur Rahman: This is Dr. Haktikur Rahman from International Standard University and with me Dr. Anujit Kumar Dutta from City University, Bangladesh. I hope the host will allow me to start our session, session number 413. Please. Dr. Haktikur Rahman In our introduction, we like to talk about celebrating 20 years of WSIS, which is a milestone in advancing the information society, recognizing the ongoing digital divide that still leaves billions of blind. This presentation explores inclusive, ethical and sustainable ICT policies to bridge these divides and shape a fairer digital future. As I told you with me, I am Dr. Haktikur Rahman, representing International Standard University, Bangladesh, and with me, Dr. Anujit Kumar Dutta, City University, Bangladesh. Recording in progress. Good morning again. Let me introduce again myself for the session 413. I am Dr. Haktikur Rahman, representing International Standard University, Bangladesh, and Dr. Anujit Kumar Dutta, City University, Bangladesh. Our title is Bridging the Digital Divide, Inclusive ICT Policies for Sustainable Development. This session will try to foster a critical dialogue on the urgent need to design, implement and monitor ICT policies that leave no one behind. For example, from India’s Digital India, Kenya’s Community Networks, the EU AI Act, and Rwanda’s Green ICT Strategy, this session will highlight best practices and offer policy recommendations to ensure that digital transformation is inclusive, ethical and sustainable. As introduction, we would like to say that we are celebrating 20 years of WSIS, which is a milestone in advancing the information society, and it recognizes the ongoing digital divide that still leaves billions of clients. And this presentation explores inclusion, ethical and sustainable ICT policies to bridge this divide and shape a fairer future. So why this matters? We are critical about the digital divide because over 2.6 billion people still remain offline, according to a study by ITU in 2024. And affordability, access to affordable internet is still out of reach for many. At the same time, literacy, one in four lack basic digital skills, limiting meaningful participation, and a sustainable digital future demands inclusive and right-based policies. So there are policy gaps, we like to point out. Lack of inclusivity, policies often overlook marginalized groups, and ethics in emerging tech, rapid AI and IoT deployment is happening across the globe without adequate safeguards and fragmented approaches. Sometimes some national and regional policies often lack coordination, leaving gaps in global governance. In the meantime, I think I should share my screen. Let me see. We are talking about mostly three pillars of our view. These are inclusion, ethics, and sustainability. Inclusion is the universal connectivity and meaningful access. Ethics, we call it human rights and accountability in tech. And sustainability, it should be the green ICT and equitable growth. The pillar one, inclusion or inclusivity, trust in the ICT framework. We research that universal connectivity is the past. Affordable broadband and community networks, large-scale solutions are there. And local content and multilingual tech to empower communities with relevant information in their languages. And capacity building, digital literacy, gender-sensitive programs, and skill training. Examples, we collected two successful examples. One is India’s Digital India, which is giving rural connectivity and governance at the grassroots. And Kenya’s Community Networks, which is bridging access in the underserved areas. Pillar two, ethics-centered digital governance. This is the second pillar of our three pillars. Data rights and privacy, people-first data governance, it should be. And transparent AI, which should be explainable, accountable, and bias our systems. And right-based design, embedding human rights and equity in technology deployment. For example, we researched and pointed out two examples, which are EU AI Act, EU Artificial Intelligence Act, working to enforce accountability and transparency. And at the same time, UNESCO AI Ethics is also working towards global guidance on ethical AI development. Now I’ll talk about the pillar three, which is sustainability and equity intake. At first comes the green ICT, energy-efficient infrastructure, we should have energy-efficient infrastructure, and we should have a growth in e-waste management system. At the same time, we need a human capital investment, empowering digital skills and local tenants, and we need a public-private people partnership model to share benefits equitably. For example, Rwanda’s green ICT service is working to reduce e-waste and promoting eco-design. Estonia’s e-residency is working towards digital transformation with inclusivity at its core. We collected and researched several policy recommendations towards visiting the digital divide and to make inclusive ICT policies for sustainable development. They are for fostering multi-stakeholder collaboration across sectors, embed human rights and ethics in design, deployment, and evolution, support innovations and boxes for safe environment, and develop regional and global frameworks to align policies and share best practices, integrate gender, youth, and marginalized voices. So there are some calls to action. What are these? These are let’s go create inclusive, ethical, and sustainable ICT ecosystems, build partnerships that prioritize solidarity over silos, mainstream ethics, and inclusion in every digital policy. So let us work together, and in this way, we can bridge digital divides, and we can bridge, we can, but at the same time, we can empower communities. Of course, there will be, and there are some challenges and risks. There are unintended consequences, such as widening the divide and digital colonialism, bias and discrimination that we are a little bit worried about, and this is an important challenge. We need to avoid it, and in data algorithm, there are algorithm bias, and there could be some discrimination, and in terms of surveillance and privacy needs, there may be abuse of digital technologies. In terms of environmental impact, there are e-waste management and energy-intensive tech. So these are, and at the last but not least, the resistance to change. The policy inertia and vested interests. So these are the five challenges and risks that we have found in our research. At the conclusion, I like to highlight digital inclusion. So everyone, everywhere, are meaningfully connected. It should be ethical in terms of technology. So the policy should be people-centered, right-based, transparent, and at the same time, it should be sustainable ICT, like green ICT, equitable, and future-proof. So let us work together, let’s harness technology to empower communities and build a better future. At this moment, to attend some of our local problems and points, I invite Dr. Dutta to take the floor, and I am stopping my share. I will start my sharing again. Dr. Dutta, you can join the session as our co-organizer, and welcome Dr. Dutta. Thank you, Professor. I want to share a screen, and I am to…

Ranojit Kumar Dutta: Okay. We have three three plan inclusion and ICT frameworks and local content. I want to talk about the local content in a Bangladesh, it’s a is a located in a South Asia and covering on luck 48,460 square kilometers, this is the area of Bangladesh, and it’s a population is more than 173 million and it’s a location in the South Asian and a regular it’s a density per square kilometer 1333 and urban area living 42% and globally it’s a ranking eight and per capita 3.8 GDP. So our internet access and reason by Bangladesh in 2024, more than 2092% in urban area and rural area, less than 50% or 58% ICT infrastructure is scored by reason in Bangladesh. In Bangladesh, more than 92% in Dhaka infrastructure is scored, score is also a key parameter used in ICT infrastructure, internet penetration rate, broadband subscription and density mobile network coverage, electricity access, number of public ICT facilities, and etc. The digital literacy rate by age group in Bangladesh is group is 15 to 2020 is more used in 72% and more than 45 years is group less use is 31% gender gap in internet use in Bangladesh urban area 72% male and female 58% rural area 61% and female 38% national 67% and female 40 47% student internet access at home by region in Dhaka 82% and Chittagong 76% and less around poor is 41% female enrollment in ICT related higher education in 2019 80% and then later increases 2020 22% and now 2024 38% gradually increases in female enrollment in ICT related higher education. The broadband penetration in Bangladesh has grown rapidly 5% to 86% 5% in 2010 and now is more than 86%. Penetration of participation of women in ICT workforce by sector software development 50% network and and IT support 22%, admin and HR, ICT 48% and others cyber security 10%. Barrier to women ICT participation, lack of digital literacy and social norms restriction 36%, high cost of device and internet 52%, limited female role model 21%, youth participation in freelancing digital work, male urban 38%, female 22%, male 22%, 28%, ICT sector employment growth in Bangladesh from 2018 to 2024, 2022 ICT related job 1,65,000 and now 2024 3,10,000 ICT contribution to ICT GDP in 2015 1.2% but now is 3.6%. Barrier to ICT division employment in Bangladesh, lack of advanced skill 46% and poor internet infrastructure 39%, language and communication gap 24%, lack of awareness 28%. Expansion of ICT infrastructure in Bangladesh, broadband coverage 51% into 2022 and 2024 78%. Number of growth of tech park and innovation hub, 2022 number of tech park 5 and active innovation hub 8 but 2024 18 and number of tech innovation hub 25. Digital literacy by geographical location urban 74% and semi-urban 55% and rural 39%. Smart device adaptation and measure Bangladesh cities, Dhaka is the capital so it’s a more adaptation 76% and Chittagong 68%, less CILIT 45%. Wi-Fi and ICT infrastructure by cities, urban 71% and pre-urban 42%, rural town 21%. The e-government adaptation and Bangladesh, so Dhaka is 92% and Borishal 60%. Growth in learning using user in Bangladesh, in 2015 1.2 million and 2024 11.5 million approximately. The key ICT application for development in Bangladesh, ICT solution governance, e-services portal and outcome achieved faster services delivery, reduced corruption, education digital classroom, remote access our rural and urban students. Health, telemedicine platforms and affordable remote consulting. Regional e-services penetration, Dhaka e-government governance 92%, e-learning 90%, e-health 88%, Polna 74%, e-learning 70% and e-health 65%. Then less CILIT 65% and 60% e-learning and e-health 58%. Multilingual digital platform access by region, Dhaka 92% and Borishal 69%, 59%. Cultural representation in digital media platform, new entertainment 60% and news 70% and indigenous 5% and 15%. Availability of government services in local language, birth registration, tax services, education portal, e-health and land recorded also available but indigenous language is partial. Awareness of ethical and ICT practices by digital literacy level, a low literacy is 28% and moderate 62% and high literacy 88%. Role of media and channels spreading digital ethics awareness, social media 38%, television 5%, online news portal 20% and community radio 10%, print media 10%. So this is the first part, first pillar inclusion of ICT framework and local content. And we have some barriers, poor infrastructure, high cost device and rural or urban gap, a digital skill, low digital literacy, weak education and language gap, lack of training and centers. Number two, pillar two, ethics concepting digital and governance data rights to privacy. Public awareness of data privacy right, EU region 82%, USA 70%, Rwanda 53%, Kenya 47%, Bangladesh 41%. Comparison between Bangladesh and other states, other countries. AI policy transparency index by country, EU 88% and USA 75% and Kenya 62% and Rwanda 58% and Bangladesh 45%.

Hakikur Rahman: Global trades in ethical AI policy adaptation. In 2018, 26% six country, 2020, 41 country and 2022, 58 countries and 2024, 76 countries in global trade ethical AI policy adaptation. Key data protection laws and rules and regulation, laws and regulation. Country, EU national law exist, yes. GDPR, yes. And Bangladesh also draft stage and GDPR, no. And enforcement strength is weak. Then other countries. Global statistics on data privacy awareness, EU 85%, Europe data rights, privacy policies, EU 42%, trust digital services, 58%. Asia Pacific 60% and rate privacy policies, 24% and trust digital services 75%. Key principles in ethics and constitutive digital governance, transparency, a clear disclosure of how data and algorithm functions, and privacy protection and human overrides. Major framework and their focus area. UNESCO AI ethics, human rights, inclusivity, environmental sustainability, and EU AI Act, European Union, risk-based regulation, transparency-based and harmful AI. Pillar three, sustainability and equity intake. EU generation and disposal. Bangladesh, EU has 600 kiloton, recycled 3% and informal handing 80%. Kenya, 180 and recycled 60%. And EU advanced 9,500 and recycled 42%. US collection and recycle. Bangladesh 12% and recycled 3%. Kenya 15% and recycled 6%. Rwanda 10% and recycled 4%. Nepal 8% and recycled 2%. And EU 60% collected and recycled 42%. Sustainability, ICT sector, carbon emission by region, North America, maximum Asia Pacific 45%, and North America 12% and European Union 80% of global ICT carbon emission, impacting climate change, CO2, carbon dioxide output in 2024. US generation and per capita. US per capita rising globally, highest in Europe and then America and Asia after Oceania and others, rest of the world. Green ICT strategies in Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Kenya, and Rwanda. Nepal is medium and solar telecom high and US policy medium and digital skill program high and urban private partnership medium. Say Bangladesh high, energy efficient data high and solar telecom hours is medium, US policy medium and digital skill program high. This is the radar figure illustrate the infrastructure availability region in Bangladesh. Urban area how the highest availability in 95% internet access and 98% mobile coverage. Semi-urban region follow with the moderate level. 35% projected ICT investment allocation in 2025. 35% of projected funding in targeted at a rural network with a significant investment also planned for digital education and sustainable infrastructure. Renewable energy use in ICT infrastructure in Bangladesh, grid electricity 60%, solar power 28%, wind and other renewable 7% and diesel backup 5%. US generation by recycle in Bangladesh, mobile devices 12,000, US generated 12,000 ton, recycled 2,200 ton, computer 9,000 and television 6,000 and recycled 1,200. Approximately, green ICT policies and initiative in Bangladesh, green data center guideline, BCC, Bangladesh Computer Council, reduce energy use in Sarbar, ongoing solar town program, solar tower program, BRTC, power telecom towers, solar energy expanded, and US management rules, department of environmental regulate electronic waste disposal and enforced. Our digital inclusion, ethics, technology, and sustainable ICT are essential pillar for the just and resilient digital society. Together, we must create a future where every community is improved through safe, inclusive, and sustainable digital solutions. Thank you, Dr. Dutta. Thank you, Dr. Dutta. Let me say the closing words. I will share my, you can stop sharing your screen. I will share my screen and give thanks to all the participants. I am sharing my screen. Please stop your sharing. Okay. Thank you, sir. You are most welcome. So, finally, we are here. We are the concluding. But before that, I must thank Ms. Kitanjali, Mr. Ruth, and the other team member working very hard for the long session, for a long time. And we congratulate them at the same time to have this successful and beneficial session for the global community, and especially for us, the marginalized community. I am here, Dr. Hakikuraman, and with me, Dr. Ranajit Kumar Dutta. I am from International Standard University, and Dr. Dutta is from City University, Bangladesh. We thank you very much. I appreciate our host to provide us this opportunity to have this session successfully and in coordination. Thank you very much. Bye-bye. You may stop the recording. Thank you, sir. Sir, take a picture. You can. Yes. Okay. Thank you, sir. Okay. I think we can leave. They are recording still.

Agreement points

Digital divide requires comprehensive policy framework addressing multiple dimensions

Speakers

– Hakikur Rahman
– Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Arguments

Three-pillar approach needed: inclusion (universal connectivity), ethics (human rights in tech), and sustainability (green ICT)

Internet access shows significant urban-rural divide: 92% in urban areas vs 58% in rural areas

Gender gap in internet usage exists across all regions, with national averages of 67% for males and 47% for females

Summary

Both speakers agree that digital divide is a multi-faceted problem requiring systematic approaches that address geographic, gender, and socioeconomic disparities through comprehensive policy frameworks

Topics

Development | Human rights | Infrastructure

Significant barriers exist preventing meaningful digital participation

Speakers

– Hakikur Rahman
– Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Arguments

Over 2.6 billion people remain offline globally, with affordability and digital literacy being major barriers

Digital literacy varies significantly by age group: 72% for 15-20 age group vs 31% for 45+ age group

Barriers to ICT employment include lack of advanced skills (46%) and poor internet infrastructure (39%)

Summary

Both speakers identify that digital literacy gaps, affordability issues, and infrastructure limitations are major obstacles to digital inclusion, requiring targeted interventions

Topics

Development | Digital access | Capacity development

Need for ethical governance and privacy protection in digital transformation

Speakers

– Hakikur Rahman
– Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Arguments

Policy gaps exist due to lack of inclusivity, inadequate safeguards for emerging technologies, and fragmented approaches

Bangladesh lags behind in data privacy awareness (41%) compared to EU (82%) and USA (70%)

AI policy transparency index shows Bangladesh at 45% compared to EU’s 88%

Summary

Both speakers emphasize the critical need for stronger ethical frameworks, data privacy protection, and transparent AI governance to ensure responsible digital development

Topics

Human rights | Privacy and data protection | Legal and regulatory

Environmental sustainability must be integrated into ICT development

Speakers

– Hakikur Rahman
– Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Arguments

Five major challenges identified: unintended consequences, bias and discrimination, surveillance and privacy issues, environmental impact, and resistance to change

Bangladesh generates 600 kilotons of e-waste with only 3% recycling rate and 80% informal handling

Green ICT initiatives include solar tower programs and e-waste management regulations

Summary

Both speakers recognize environmental impact as a critical concern in ICT development, highlighting the need for green ICT strategies and proper e-waste management

Topics

Development | E-waste | Sustainable development

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers advocate for inclusive approaches that prioritize marginalized groups, particularly women and youth, in digital policy development and implementation

Speakers

– Hakikur Rahman
– Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Arguments

Multi-stakeholder collaboration and human rights embedding in technology design are essential

Female enrollment in ICT-related higher education has increased from 22% in 2020 to 38% in 2024

Topics

Human rights | Gender rights online | Development

Both speakers emphasize the importance of preventing digital technologies from reproducing existing inequalities and the growing global recognition of need for ethical AI governance

Speakers

– Hakikur Rahman
– Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Arguments

Need to avoid digital colonialism and algorithm bias while ensuring meaningful participation for marginalized communities

Global trend shows increasing adoption of ethical AI policies from 26 countries in 2018 to 76 countries in 2024

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory | Data governance

Unexpected consensus

Strong emphasis on environmental sustainability in ICT development

Speakers

– Hakikur Rahman
– Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Arguments

Three-pillar approach needed: inclusion (universal connectivity), ethics (human rights in tech), and sustainability (green ICT)

Renewable energy use in ICT infrastructure includes 60% grid electricity, 28% solar power, and 7% wind/other renewables

Explanation

While the session focused on digital divide and ICT policies, both speakers unexpectedly gave significant attention to environmental sustainability, treating it as equally important to access and ethics concerns

Topics

Development | Sustainable development | Infrastructure

Detailed focus on gender disparities across all aspects of digital participation

Speakers

– Hakikur Rahman
– Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Arguments

Multi-stakeholder collaboration and human rights embedding in technology design are essential

Gender gap in internet usage exists across all regions, with national averages of 67% for males and 47% for females

Explanation

Both speakers consistently highlighted gender gaps across internet access, digital literacy, ICT education, and workforce participation, showing unexpected comprehensive focus on gender equality as central to digital inclusion

Topics

Human rights | Gender rights online | Development

Overall assessment

Summary

The speakers demonstrated strong consensus on the multi-dimensional nature of digital divide challenges, the need for comprehensive policy frameworks addressing inclusion, ethics, and sustainability, and the importance of protecting marginalized groups while ensuring environmental responsibility

Consensus level

High level of consensus with complementary perspectives – Rahman provided theoretical framework and global context while Dutta offered detailed empirical evidence from Bangladesh. Their agreement on core principles and shared emphasis on holistic approaches suggests strong foundation for collaborative policy development and implementation in digital inclusion initiatives.

Different viewpoints

Unexpected differences

Overall assessment

Summary

No significant disagreements were identified between the speakers. Both Dr. Hakikur Rahman and Dr. Ranojit Kumar Dutta presented complementary perspectives on bridging the digital divide through inclusive ICT policies.

Disagreement level

Minimal to no disagreement. The speakers operated in a collaborative framework where Dr. Rahman presented the theoretical policy framework and Dr. Dutta provided supporting empirical evidence from Bangladesh. This high level of agreement suggests strong consensus on the fundamental approaches to addressing digital divide issues, though it may also indicate limited critical examination of alternative policy approaches or potential trade-offs in implementation strategies.

Partial agreements

Similar viewpoints

Both speakers advocate for inclusive approaches that prioritize marginalized groups, particularly women and youth, in digital policy development and implementation

Speakers

– Hakikur Rahman
– Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Arguments

Multi-stakeholder collaboration and human rights embedding in technology design are essential

Female enrollment in ICT-related higher education has increased from 22% in 2020 to 38% in 2024

Topics

Human rights | Gender rights online | Development

Both speakers emphasize the importance of preventing digital technologies from reproducing existing inequalities and the growing global recognition of need for ethical AI governance

Speakers

– Hakikur Rahman
– Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Arguments

Need to avoid digital colonialism and algorithm bias while ensuring meaningful participation for marginalized communities

Global trend shows increasing adoption of ethical AI policies from 26 countries in 2018 to 76 countries in 2024

Topics

Human rights | Legal and regulatory | Data governance

Key takeaways

Digital divide remains a critical global challenge with 2.6 billion people still offline, requiring urgent policy intervention through a three-pillar framework of inclusion, ethics, and sustainability

Bangladesh demonstrates significant digital infrastructure growth but faces persistent urban-rural and gender gaps in access and participation

Successful examples exist globally (India’s Digital India, Kenya’s Community Networks, EU AI Act, Rwanda’s Green ICT Strategy) that can serve as models for inclusive ICT policies

Multi-stakeholder collaboration and human rights-centered approach are essential for bridging digital divides effectively

Environmental sustainability through green ICT practices and proper e-waste management is crucial for long-term digital development

Digital literacy and skills development programs must be tailored to different demographic groups to ensure meaningful participation

Data privacy awareness and ethical AI governance frameworks need strengthening, particularly in developing countries like Bangladesh

Resolutions and action items

Foster multi-stakeholder collaboration across sectors for inclusive ICT policy development

Embed human rights and ethics in technology design, deployment, and evolution processes

Support innovation sandboxes to create safe environments for testing new technologies

Develop regional and global frameworks to align policies and share best practices

Integrate gender, youth, and marginalized voices into digital policy formulation

Mainstream ethics and inclusion in every digital policy initiative

Build partnerships that prioritize solidarity over silos in addressing digital divides

Unresolved issues

Specific implementation mechanisms for bridging the urban-rural digital divide in Bangladesh and similar developing countries

Concrete strategies to address the 46% skills gap barrier in ICT employment

Detailed approaches to improve Bangladesh’s low data privacy awareness (41%) and AI policy transparency (45%)

Specific solutions for improving e-waste recycling rates from the current 3% in Bangladesh

Methods to overcome policy inertia and vested interests that resist change

Strategies to prevent digital colonialism while promoting inclusive technology adoption

Approaches to ensure meaningful participation of marginalized communities beyond basic connectivity

Suggested compromises

Public-private-people partnership models to share benefits equitably while leveraging different sector strengths

Gradual implementation of green ICT strategies balancing environmental concerns with development needs

Phased approach to digital literacy programs targeting different age groups and skill levels

Regional coordination frameworks that respect national sovereignty while promoting global best practices

Flexible policy frameworks that can adapt to rapid technological changes while maintaining ethical standards

Over 2.6 billion people still remain offline, according to a study by ITU in 2024. And affordability, access to affordable internet is still out of reach for many. At the same time, literacy, one in four lack basic digital skills, limiting meaningful participation

Speaker

Dr. Hakikur Rahman

Reason

This comment is insightful because it quantifies the scale of the digital divide with concrete statistics, moving beyond abstract concepts to demonstrate the real magnitude of global digital inequality. It establishes the urgency and scope of the problem by highlighting both access and skills barriers.

Impact

This foundational statement set the tone for the entire presentation by establishing the critical need for their three-pillar framework. It provided the statistical foundation that justified their subsequent policy recommendations and created a sense of urgency that carried through the discussion.

There are unintended consequences, such as widening the divide and digital colonialism, bias and discrimination… algorithm bias… surveillance and privacy needs… environmental impact… resistance to change

Speaker

Dr. Hakikur Rahman

Reason

This is particularly thought-provoking because it acknowledges that ICT policies intended to bridge divides can actually create new forms of inequality and exploitation. The mention of ‘digital colonialism’ introduces a critical perspective on how technology deployment can perpetuate power imbalances rather than eliminate them.

Impact

This comment shifted the discussion from purely optimistic policy solutions to a more nuanced understanding of the complexities and potential negative consequences of digital transformation. It added critical depth to the conversation by acknowledging that good intentions don’t automatically lead to positive outcomes.

Gender gap in internet use in Bangladesh urban area 72% male and female 58% rural area 61% and female 38% national 67% and female 40 47%

Speaker

Dr. Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Reason

These specific statistics are insightful because they reveal the intersectional nature of digital divides – showing how gender, geography, and socioeconomic factors compound to create multiple layers of exclusion. The data demonstrates that digital inequality isn’t uniform but varies significantly across different demographic groups.

Impact

This granular data provided concrete evidence for the theoretical frameworks discussed earlier, moving the conversation from abstract policy concepts to specific, measurable inequalities. It demonstrated the complexity of implementing inclusive ICT policies when different groups face vastly different barriers.

Cultural representation in digital media platform, new entertainment 60% and news 70% and indigenous 5% and 15%

Speaker

Dr. Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Reason

This statistic is particularly thought-provoking because it reveals how digital inclusion isn’t just about access to technology, but about whose voices and cultures are represented in digital spaces. The stark contrast between mainstream content (60-70%) and indigenous representation (5-15%) highlights cultural marginalization in digital transformation.

Impact

This comment deepened the discussion by introducing the concept that true digital inclusion requires not just technical access but cultural representation and relevance. It expanded the conversation beyond infrastructure and skills to include questions of cultural equity and digital sovereignty.

Overall assessment

The key comments shaped this discussion by progressively building a comprehensive understanding of digital divides – starting with broad statistical foundations, moving through specific demographic data, acknowledging potential negative consequences, and ultimately revealing the cultural dimensions of digital inequality. The speakers effectively used concrete data to support their theoretical framework, creating a presentation that was both academically rigorous and practically grounded. However, the discussion remained largely one-directional as a presentation format, limiting the potential for interactive dialogue that might have further developed these insights. The most impactful aspect was how the comments collectively demonstrated that bridging digital divides requires addressing not just technical barriers, but also social, economic, cultural, and ethical dimensions of technology deployment.

How can policies better address the needs of marginalized groups who are often overlooked in ICT policy development?

Speaker

Dr. Hakikur Rahman

Explanation

This was identified as a critical policy gap where policies often overlook marginalized groups, requiring further research on inclusive policy design

What adequate safeguards are needed for rapid AI and IoT deployment globally?

Speaker

Dr. Hakikur Rahman

Explanation

The presentation highlighted that rapid AI and IoT deployment is happening without adequate safeguards, indicating need for research on appropriate regulatory frameworks

How can national and regional policies be better coordinated to address gaps in global governance?

Speaker

Dr. Hakikur Rahman

Explanation

Fragmented approaches and lack of coordination between policies was identified as a major challenge requiring solutions

What are the most effective strategies to prevent digital colonialism and avoid widening the digital divide?

Speaker

Dr. Hakikur Rahman

Explanation

This was mentioned as an unintended consequence and challenge that needs to be researched and addressed

How can algorithm bias and discrimination in data systems be effectively eliminated?

Speaker

Dr. Hakikur Rahman

Explanation

Algorithm bias was identified as a significant challenge requiring further research on mitigation strategies

What are the best practices for e-waste management and reducing energy-intensive technology impacts?

Speaker

Dr. Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Explanation

Environmental impact through e-waste and energy consumption was presented as a major sustainability challenge requiring research solutions

How can policy inertia and vested interests resistance to change be overcome?

Speaker

Dr. Hakikur Rahman

Explanation

This was identified as one of the five key challenges that requires research on change management strategies

What specific interventions can increase women’s participation in ICT workforce beyond the current levels shown in Bangladesh?

Speaker

Dr. Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Explanation

The data showed varying levels of women participation across ICT sectors, indicating need for targeted research on increasing participation

How can indigenous language support be expanded from partial to full availability in government digital services?

Speaker

Dr. Ranojit Kumar Dutta

Explanation

The presentation showed indigenous language support is only partial in government services, requiring research on expansion strategies