ICT policy reform planned to boost digital economy in Bangladesh
ICT policies to be overhauled by June for digital growth.
Bangladesh is set to overhaul key ICT and telecom policies by June to eliminate major barriers to digital growth, according to Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications and ICT.
Taiyeb noted that for over 15 years, fragmented digital initiatives have led to isolated systems with little integration or interoperability.
However, this lack of coordination has weakened citizen services and digital payments, and the government now aims to fix these issues as a top priority. The goal is to empower the country’s vast youth population through technology.
Several major reforms are currently in progress. The Cyber Security Ordinance, set to be finalised by the end of April, will introduce new transparency measures by requiring the government to disclose information about online content restrictions, giving citizens the right to legally challenge them.
Changes to the telecom licensing framework and network infrastructure are also moving forward.
At the summit’s digital growth panel, international experts called for easier cross-border e-commerce and fewer restrictions on digital transactions.
Bangladesh Bank plans to introduce full interoperability in digital payments by next year, and Grameenphone’s CEO highlighted how mobile connectivity continues to drive economic transformation.
For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.