Mobile phones in every hand, high-speed mobile internet and e-services that seemed like distant dreams 20 years ago have been turned into reality over the last 15 years as the country made unprecedented strides in the ICT sector.
This digital revolution was achieved under the Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina but the person who has perhaps contributed the most to this endeavour is Sajeeb Wazed Joy. The prime minister’s son and her ICT Affairs Adviser Joy is a dreamer like his grandfather, Bangladesh’s founding father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.
Bangladesh achieved independence in 1971 under the leadership of Bangabandhu. He embarked on a journey to build a ‘Golden Bengal’ or ‘Sonar Bangla’. With the changing times, the current context of that golden Bengal is perhaps ‘Smart Bangladesh’.
Joy, the visionary of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ was born on July 27, 1971, to renowned scientist Wazed Mia and Sheikh Hasina in the year Bangabandhu dreamed of his ‘Sonar Bangla’. Once the dream of a ‘Digital Bangladesh’ was realised, Joy is now dreaming of transforming the country into a ‘Smart Bangladesh’.
The ‘Digital Bangladesh‘ dream started in 2008 when the Awami League announced its election manifesto ‘Vision 2021’ under the leadership of Hasina, aiming to build a golden Bengal of Bangabandhu’s dream. The manifesto promised to make the country a ‘Digital Bangladesh’ in 2021, within 50 years of independence.
At the time, many scoffed at the idea, calling it a ‘daydream’. The naysayers have already been proven wrong. Bangladesh today has seen a revolution in modern information technology. Digital Bangladesh is no longer a dream but a reality. And this reality has been made possible by Sajeeb Wazed Joy, the pride of the Bengali nation.
Achievements of Digital Bangladesh
Bangladesh has become technology-dependent in various fields, including education, health, agriculture and trade. Almost everyone now has smartphones with which they can keep themselves updated. All government service forms are available online.
Everything, from admission to educational institutions, job application, payment for various services including electricity, gas and phone bills, mobile money transfer, banking, passport application, visa processing, air ticket, railway ticketing, e-tendering, TIN certificate, income tax return, driving license application, police complaint, birth and death registration, business and commerce, is being done digitally.
Read more: Smart education system must for smart country: Dipu Moni
These are the achievements of the present government and the person who has played the biggest role in them is Sajeeb Wazed Joy.
Bangabandhu’s daughter Sheikh Hasina, while referring to Joy’s contribution to Digital Bangladesh, said, “Today I am talking to you in Digital Bangladesh. It is Joy’s brainchild.
“I was repeatedly arrested and put under house arrest in 1981 during my fight for democracy. Then my father’s friend Aziz Sattar enrolled Joy and Putul in school. Joy studied computers in school. When he came on vacation, he brought a computer. I learned computers from him. In 1991, when we bought a computer at a very high price for the party, we discussed ways to roll out computer education in the country.”
She said, “When we formed the government in 1996, Joy suggested waiving taxes on computers to make them affordable. It should be made available to people and they should be trained. Only then will the people learn. That’s how our Digital Bangladesh journey began.”
Sheikh Hasina said, when she returned to power, she found that no one used it. “I ordered that all files be computer composed before they were forwarded to me. Now we are enjoying that benefit.”
By fulfilling the goal of Digital Bangladesh, the country is now moving towards Smart Bangladesh.
‘Smart Bangladesh’ is the goal
Last year, Joy said in a post on his verified Facebook page that after the successful implementation of ‘Digital Bangladesh’, now the government’s target is ‘Smart Bangladesh‘.
But many were unfamiliar with the concept. Joy clarified the idea of Smart Bangladesh.
In a recent roundtable with businessmen of the US Chamber of Commerce titled ‘US-Bangladesh Economic Partnership: Goals for Smart Growth’, Joy said that the concept of ‘Smart Bangladesh’ emphasises digitising the government system.
Highlighting the concept of ‘Smart Bangladesh‘, Joy said, “In short, it is a concept that will benefit the citizens of Bangladesh. We estimate that this will save the citizens billions of dollars every year, especially through digital services.”
He said, “This concept emphasises the digitisation of everything. Special emphasis is given to digitising government systems. Besides, it will also stop the opportunity for corruption in all sectors.”
Recently, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak said that Joy wants to build Bangladesh into a cost-effective, intelligent, knowledge-based and innovative Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
