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, Dhaka with 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. 

Despite the increase in the number of internet users in the country, the use of information technology is very limited. Experts say that it is necessary to ensure maximum use of information technology if Bangladesh is to move forward on the fourth industrial highway. At the same time, the participation of women, knowledge of rich technology, and security will be ensured.

The speakers of the seminar said these things in the discussion of the third annual Bangladesh Women Internet Governance Forum 2023, a joint initiative of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BRTC) and Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) at Agargaon in the capital.

Nasreen Jahan Lipi, Deputy Information Officer of the Press Information Department (PID) called for the effective use of the Internet and the inclusion of marginalized women to increase knowledge in Internet use. Shee said, information means power. If women can use Facebook and YouTube, why not positive use of the Internet?

In the speech of the chief guest, Aparajita Haque, MP, and member of the Parliamentary Committee on Postal Telecommunication and ICT, said that the government has taken various steps to ensure the safety of women using the Internet. But these are not effective enough. The government has taken initiatives to store information domestically to reduce dependence on foreign data stores.

Aparajita Haque said we need to prepare for machine-driven AI or artificial intelligence to control after a few days. We have to prepare from now on keeping in mind that there are various challenges in entering the major platforms of the internet world. She said we have various obstacles in entering the vast technological world.

For this, there should be a strong cyber security group, but she also expressed hope that positive achievements will be possible in the best use of information technology by encouraging people to use cyber. Brigadier General Khalil Ur Rahman, Director General of System and Service Department of BTRC, said that digital literacy is very important in the development of information technology.

There is Internet connectivity in the country, but without knowledge of usage, the use of information technology will not increase. Noor e Nusrat said in a written speech at the seminar urging to increase the involvement of women with information technology, if information technology-dependent employment and new information ideas are given, it will be helpful to create a rich technical knowledge-dependent women's society.

Sierra Perry, Manager of Communication and Online Community APNIC joined the online seminar from Australia. She said, there is an opportunity to be skilled through various fellowships to increase more skills in information technology. In this case, there is an opportunity to get those fellowships in different streams.

Bangladesh Women Internet Governance Forum chairperson Shamima Akhtar presided over the session. Bangladesh Women Internet Governance Forum Vice-Chairperson Ms. Jannatul Bakeya Keka welcomed the participants. She said that the women of Bangladesh have proved that they can take all responsibilities and contribute to all development initiatives.

Tashmi Chowdhury, Joint Editor, of Bangladesh Women's Internet Governance Forum moderated the meeting. Noor-e-Nusrat Zereen, Assistant Professor of the English Department at Stamford University Bangladesh, in her keynote presentation, pointed out that women are not behind men. 

Women are now engaged in all professions. Women's participation in internet governance is a great example of women's development and empowerment. Rural women need to access the internet and learn how to use it. Mr. Saif Rahman, Chief Operations Officer, Gennext Technologies Limited, noted that Bangladesh has made tremendous progress in the digital and internet sectors.

Many countries follow Bangladesh. He said the government is developing a curriculum, providing research grants and working to ensure cyber security. He also mentioned that Bangladesh is creating its own cloud called Meghna Cloud. Sharmin Israil Tanya, Joint Editor, of Bangladesh Women Internet Governance Forum presented its progress in the last 3 years.

Zakia Akhtar, Manager and Team Lead of Customer Support, Technology, Bracknet said, “We provide Internet services to all types of people. We are not facing any problems in the corporate sector, but we face a lot of challenges for the common people as the common people are not focused on using the internet.

Bangladesh Supreme Court advocate Sohana Tahmina said in her speech, that we need to empower grassroots women and make them use the internet. Women can do anything given the chance. We should create opportunities for them.

Chairperson of the meeting Shamima Akhtar, Chairperson, of Bangladesh Women Internet Governance Forum thanked all the guests and speakers for their valuable remarks and suggestions and for taking the time to attend the session.

Meaningful Internet connectivity in rural Bangladesh
Eng. Sheikh Riaz Ahmed Commissioner, BTRC attended the session as the chief guest and the session was moderated by Md. Mizanur Rahman, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Cultural Affairs of Bangladesh. Mr. Khan Mohammad Kaiser, DGM, Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited (BTCL) and Mr. Azhar H Chowdhury, Chief Operating Officer, ADN Telecom Limited addressed the session as panel speakers.

Mr. Azhar H. Chowdhury said that Bangladesh has made significant progress in the Internet sector in the last 10 years. We have come a long way since the launch of 4G. We need to improve and expand rural connectivity. Now 4G facilities are required equally in all areas. He said the cost of the Internet is higher in rural areas than in urban areas. A commission headed by BTRC needs to look into the matter.

Special guest Brig. General Md Ehsanul Kabir, Director General, Engineering and Operations Department, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission said 4G has covered 96% of the geographical area of Bangladesh. 3G will not come out anymore. Now 4G will be more advanced. BTRC is making more efforts to ensure stable internet across the country. The One Country One Rate initiative will be further reviewed.

Chief Guest Engr. BTRC Commissioner Sheikh Riaz Ahmed mentioned in his speech that BTRC is using Bangabandhu satellite or internet service. He said we reduced 300 packages to 40 packages. Now the service is easy to use. He said we are moving from 4G to 5G. Now smartphones are being produced in our country which fulfill more than 60% of demand.

Now anyone from a rural area can use the internet for many essential services like passport, admission, money transfer etc. The sustainability and development of the Internet require the collective efforts of all.

Accountability of social media platforms
Professor of Mass Communication and Journalism Department of Dhaka University Dr. SM Shamim Reza presided over the session. Md. Minhaj Uddin, Assistant Professor, Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Jagannath University participated in the main discussion. He said we are now living in two worlds, one real world and another virtual world.

Bangladesh has 12.61 crore internet subscribers and 11.40 crore mobile phone internet users. 60 million people use Facebook. He noted that fake news spreads six times faster than true news. We need to know how to fight fake news. Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) presented his speech on the Governance of Digital Platform.

He said that governance is very important in the global context. We cannot control social platforms without the support of all world leaders. We must have our own safety and security strategy. He suggests that BTRC can take the initiative to make our internet users safer.

Brigadier General Mohammad Khalil-ur-Rehman, NDC, Director General, Systems and Services Division, BTRC, said we are trying to provide internet and a stable service for all. Chief guest Dr. Musfiq Mannan Chowdhury, FIDM, FCIM, Commissioner, BTRC said that the use of technology is very important.

Must know how to use technology. There has been a lot of research on social media over the years. He said that the use of social media in marketing is a very popular type of media. It's marketing for business. Social media gives us freedom and influences us in many ways. We must learn how to use it to our advantage.