Bangladesh Data Center Company Limited (BDCCL) and Oracle have jointly introduced Bangladesh Government Cloud, marking a significant step towards the nation's digital transformation initiative, Smart Bangladesh Vision 2041.
BDCCL, country’s government-owned data storage and disaster recovery services provider, launched Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Dedicated Region in its data centres. The launching ceremony was held at InterContinental Dhaka on Monday.
This new initiative will enable the government to manage its cloud infrastructure and data locally, ensuring compliance with digital sovereignty requirements. This sovereign cloud will cater to crucial systems such as national security, e-governance, and public services within Bangladesh's borders, benefiting over 30 government agencies.
In addition, OCI Dedicated Region will allow BDCCL with significant agility and cost benefits by enabling users to bring new applications and services online quickly and efficiently with the same services, continuous updates, low prices, and comprehensive SLAs as OCI public cloud regions.
As a chief guest at the launching programme, Prime Minister’s Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman F Rahman said, “The establishment of Bangladesh Government Cloud, powered by Oracle, is a substantive public-private partnership move in boosting the agility of government bodies to respond to the needs of citizens and businesses. I hope a transformation of government services using this cloud will accelerate Bangladesh's journey towards prosperity and help attain the dream of a smart and developed Bangladesh by 2041."
State Minister for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, “Bangladesh Government Cloud, which has been developed through Oracle OCI Dedicated Region, will serve as the main foundation for achieving this goal. It will help strengthen our digital infrastructure and cyber security capabilities for a modern economy. With the help of Oracle, we hope to build a truly smart government.”
“The government sovereign cloud will manage important systems like national security, e-governance, and health and social services including e-filing from within the borders of Bangladesh. More than 30 government agencies in Bangladesh now have access to all of Oracle’s cloud services through the OCI Dedicated Region, which will simultaneously ensure good governance, regulatory compliance and data security,” he added.
About artificial intelligence (AI), he said that AI has potential but it also has serious risks. “By analysing security threats we are making an outline. We want to bring an AI policy into the cabinet. Drafting is in progress. Hopefully, we can make the first draft of the AI law by September,” he remarked.
Oracle’s Executive Vice-President and General Manager (Japan and Asia Pacific) Garrett Ilg said, “A cloud-first policy has become important to governments as a secure approach to increasing efficiency, scalability and cost savings.”
“With cloud computing, governments can unlock innovation and enable civil servants to serve the communities better. OCI Dedicated Region offers the government of Bangladesh a complete cloud solution within their own data centre,” he added.
US Ambassador to Bangladesh Peter Haas stated, “BDCCL is working with Oracle to achieve the goal of building a Smart Bangladesh by 2041, which is very encouraging. If the competitive environment prevails, US companies will play a major role in Bangladesh’s digital transformation process due to their high-quality technological expertise. The US government will continue to be active in highlighting the need for smart policies and laws for a smart Bangladesh.”
