The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) jointly organized a 3-day-long 18th Bangladesh Governance Forum 2023 started at BTRC conference Hall on Thursday.
The program will have 8 sessions.
Around 200 participants from different stakeholders took part in the program with the support of UN-IGF, The Asia Foundation, Internet Society Foundation, and Google, read a press release.
Khair Mahmud, Associate Professor at the Law Faculty of Jagannath University presented the keynote paper in a session titled “Internet Becomes a Human Right in Smart Bangladesh”.
In his keynote paper, Mahmud mentioned that the enjoyment of the internet nowadays has become a human right and many countries. The state should not restrict this right. Many countries adopted it as a fundamental right and included new laws.
Rumky Farhan, Senior Program Officer, ARTICLE 19 South Asia and Zulkarin Jahangir, Specialist –Minimising, a2i &, director, Senior Assistant Professor, North South University, also spoke in the session.
In her speech, Rumky mentioned we need information for informed decision-making, supporting, protesting and protecting. Without the internet now it is not possible. We are working with female madrasa to connect them to the internet. They use smartphones, Facebook, and access to YouTube. But they do not have email. If they do not know the use of email, they cannot apply it to their communication and career.
Zulkarin in his speech mentioned, that when we say rights to the internet, what does it mean? Is it just to get service or access to information/data? Or bring people under the internet network? We should have a rational justification, which may deferent group to group or community to community.
As a guest of honour, Mainul Alam, Executive Editor, Daily Amader Shomoy addressed the conference.
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In his speech, Mainul mentioned, that without the internet we are not in a position to generate information. All news media, print or electronic depended on the internet. Sometimes misinformation and misinformation confuse us. So it is important to have cyber security and regulation. The media has a role to protect and prevent misinformation. The government is responsible for formulating rules and regulations. However, it is the responsibility of all stakeholders to implement those and implement.
BTRC Commissioner Abu Syed Diljar Hussain, in his speech as chief guest, expressed that the keynote presentation was very much articulated, researched, and informative.
He also said that we need to change our legislation according to present demand and changes in the world. Digital law was formulated in 2001 and has changed recently. Many British laws in Bangladesh transforming according to present needs and demands.
He also uttered that the internet is a need in daily life. It is important to ensure safe internet for all its users. He said 62 per cent of people in Bangladesh use smartphones. BTRC provided license to 15 phone companies to manufacture smartphones in Bangladesh to make phones affordable for people here.
Diljar said that now 90 per cent of demand in the country for smartphones phone fulfilled by these companies mentioning misinformation, misconception, and social taboos sometimes mislead young people.
“We have developed guidelines on safe internet use for all including youth and children safe internet. We have also developed cyber security OTT regulations. It will reduce misinformation in social media,” he added.
He expects BGF will play a vital role in including the internet as a fundamental right.
The opening was graced by Hon’ble Minister Mustafa Jabbar, Post and Telecommunications Division, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, and chaired by Shyam Sunder Sikder, Chairman (Senior Secretary), BTRC while K M Abdus Salam, Senior Secretary, Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat was the guest of honour.
Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu, Secretary General, Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) gave the welcome address while Rased Mehedi, Editor, Views Bangladesh; Kazi Faisal Bin Seraj, Country Representative, The Asia Foundation, Bangladesh and Lt Col Mohammad Zulfikar (Retd), Secretary General, Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB) were the guest speakers. AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer, of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) was the Moderator of the opening session.
Chief Guest, Mustafa in his speech mentioned that the use of mobile phones proved that Bangladesh is not left behind.
“Bangladesh is towards 5th industrial revolution. Our rural people use mobile phones and the internet even many of them are not literate,” he said.
In 2041 Bangladesh will be led by children who are age 10 now, we should introduce them to the internet and all digital platforms as development, education and health everything will be internet-based. They will lead the smart Bangladesh,” he added.
The minister also added that it is not understood why there will time limitation for mobile data. Buyer will use their mobile data according to their needs, not with time bound imposed by the providers.
He mentioned that for smart Bangladesh all people should be covered by the internet, not only institutions, media, or the corporate world.
He said BTRC should be given the credit for the progress of Smart Bangladesh. They do not have enough manpower to cover the whole country and some other limitations.
Mustafa gave emphasis on preventing the smuggling of smartphones which reduced local phone production in the country.
“Internet must be available everywhere in the country as it is now a part of our life.”
Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) is a multi-stakeholder organization aimed to illuminate issues and create ideas on internet usage in Bangladesh in association with the UN Internet Governance Forum (UN IGF).
