Bangla Press Desk: Legal and regulatory reforms of the digital governance landscape in Bangladesh can pledge a more interoperable and investor-friendly ecosystem as digital transformation no longer rests solely on the automation of services.
Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser for ICT Division, laid out an ambitious vision to this end at a session of digital economy on the last day of the much-hyped investment summit hosted in a city hotel on Thursday.
He underscored an urgent need to build strong foundational layers beneath those services — from legal framework to data infrastructure — to unlock the country’s full potential.
“Over the past 15 years, we have tried to solve digital problems in silos — in passports, financial services, weather data, agriculture and transportation. These silos have cost us scalability, interoperability and efficiency.”
“But now,” continued Mr Taiyeb, “we’re changing course. The new government is committed to building digital public infrastructure that is inclusive, interoperable and ready for global investment.”
Highlighting a series of promises to investors, he said the government was prioritising legal and regulatory reforms to attract and protect investments in the digital economy.
The administration plans to finalise and gazette a new Cyber Safety Act by April to respect human rights and freedom of expression, in sharp contrast to earlier regulations criticised for curbing civil liberties, according to the official.
“We’ve consulted civil society, human rights activists and digital rights organisations. The new act will not repress citizens or undermine democratic values. If a platform is ordered to block content, the government must publish that order — and anyone can sue the government over it. That’s the level of accountability we’re committing to.”
Another major promise involved the overhaul of Bangladesh’s personal data protection regime.
According to Mr Taiyeb, a new Digital Personal Data Protection Act is in the works, with a restructured oversight authority that will operate under the Chief Adviser’s Office and also under the supervision of the Supreme Court to ensure transparency and security in the digital environment.
The government is also focusing heavily on skills development to prepare the workforce for the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
“A massive upskilling initiative is part of the national digital transformation master plan, alongside commitments to ethical internet and data use across society and industry,” said Mr Taiyeb.
“Bangladesh has stood firm after its political transition. Unlike many countries where systems collapse following a revolution, we are hosting this vibrant investment summit just six months later,” he mentioned.
“This resilience — along with a clear, structured plan for digital governance — is what we offer to the global investment community.”
As the country seeks to break free from fragmented systems and align with international digital norms, it is ready to lay the groundwork for scalable, secure and ethical digital infrastructure.
In his remarks, Citi Country Officer for Citibank N.A., Bangladesh Moinul Huq highlighted the digital economy’s resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic.
By 2030, according to Mr Huq, Bangladesh also targets to rank among top 15 nations in e-Government Development index, nurture and grow 7-8 million skilled ICT professionals, increase startup funding by 50 per cent and also to boost ICT exports to $5 billion. Source: FE
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