The Way Forward

In search of a roadmap for ICT

Mahboob Zaman

We live in a new world today. This is a world of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Everything is changing, lifestyle in particular. ICT has changed the mode of communication, that of entertainment, standard of education and research, efficiency as well as productivity of enterprises and establishments. You can call it an IT revolution, a dotcom revolution, a cyber revolution, whatever you like! Virtually, this planet has experienced a real revolution in the last decade.

But where are we?
Obviously, we are beneficiaries of these glorious changes; we are trying to utilise all its beauty and bounty. We are having internet, mobile phone, SMS, online banking, satellite TV, digital lifestyle and what not? We were expecting that IT would be the lifeline of our economy. IT will create a new job market, will open up a wide range of opportunities for economic growth. However, nobody would perhaps disagree that the ground realities are lagging behind our expectations. But, were the expectations unrealistic ?

Dream vs reality
As it happened all over the world, there was a wave of IT usage and awareness during the late 90's, Bangladesh being also wafted by that wind of change. Maybe it was due to the scare of millennium bugs or maybe due to the advent and sweep of internet technology that we felt a bit overwhelmed initially.

There was a lot of activity, especially outsourcing job to combat Y2K bugs and also a lot of jobs on e-commerce and dotcom. The wave also reached Bangladesh shores; there was a mushroom of training centres, foreign and local. Most private universities opened computer science & engineering departments, all roads were leading to ICT. Government declared IT as the thrust sector and declared zero duty on hardware, accessories and peripherals.

Hopes and despair
While initial bubbles have fizzled out, we are now in a state of swing between hope and despair. Software companies have passed through a lot of hurdles and pain over the years. There are success stories, there were disappointments.

What contributed to the current situation where concerns about the future of ICT industry overwhelm our hopes and optimism? Many believe, it is mainly due to lack of discernment and sagacity. To summarise some other factors:
1.We did not connect ourselves to information superhighway in early 90's on a flimsy ground of “national security”. Now, the submarine cables are being installed at Cox's Bazar in the Bay of Bengal. But we never know when it will connect Chittagong.

2. Although declared a thrust sector, nothing concrete has been done for putting the thrust in place. A high level task force headed by the honorable Prime Minister exists, but where is the road map? Where is the direction?

3. We don't have a clear vision about where we want to go. There can be many options. To mention a few of them:

(a) Should we try to become an outsourcing powerhouse like India?

(b) Can we become an efficient, transparent and productive nation using software that will create a huge local market for software development?

(c) Should we try to be a hub of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) for back office support, call centre, telemedicine etc.?

(d) Should we be a resource centre for IT-enabled services such as 2D-3D games, internet and telephony games, pre-press and graphic jobs, etc.?

(e) Should we try for software products which are bought and used by people around the world?

(f) Should we develop resource centre of consultants targeting niche market?

For any of the above paths chosen, very specific and focused efforts have to be made. Before we go to the specifics, let us review the present situation and sort out a few immediate mandatory and common tasks which are as follows:

1. As it is a knowledge based industry, a sweet blending of university and industry is important. Unfortunately, at the moment, a wide gap exists between the requirement of the industry and the knowledge and skill our IT graduates can offer. For this sort of disconnect, computer science graduates are not getting proper jobs, while the industry is not getting the IT profile it is looking for. As a result admission to computer science in almost all the universities has decreased recently. This should be taken seriously as a wake-up call for this industry!

2. Access to finance for IT companies is difficult. There is no venture capital concept developed here in Bangladesh. Banks are not interested in these types of intangible assets like brainpower. Moreover, none of the big corporate houses and groups are interested in long-term investment plan for this prospective, rewarding and time relevant sector of software development and IT enabled services. Only a few of them have stepped into franchise of training centers and into internet service providing business.

Furiously creative

3. To make government services efficient, transparent and productive, use of IT is highly imperative. IT could be a breeding ground for software engineers and professionals if a phase-wise plan for implementation of IT and its services could be adopted in public and private sectors. Without a realistic roadmap for IT implementation the sporadic efforts of different ministries and departments will fail to produce any real good for the industry.

4. Countries like Malaysia, Indonesia, Sri Lanka took a different path of creating a local market and also attracting the non-resident resources for their respective countries. Even India is now attracting NRIs (Non Resident Indians) to come back and set up industries in India. Virtually brain-drain of the past has become brain-gain for future development.

5. At present, plenty of financial and technical supports is coming from development partners, donors and international organisations to promote the growth of IT in public sector. Most of these funds are eluding us due to improper planning or non-planning. If this aspect were streamlined, it would have made a big difference. Recently PSD programme of Denmark has proved its worth. It has already had their positive foot prints in IT sector of Bangladesh.

In Denmark- it's a different Bangladesh
Bangladesh is usually known to the Danish people as a flood and poverty stricken country where corruption is creeping into every nook and corner of the society. Still, with their tax payers' money they are operating Private Sector Development (PSD) pro-gramme in developing countries. In Bangladesh they have been operating PSD programme for the last five years.

Recently, in IT sector few outsourcing jobs have been awarded to some software companies in Bangladesh. After completion of these contracts they are discovering a different Bangladesh now! They are visiting in big numbers, signing new contracts with more companies, their engineers are staying here and feeling comfortable working here. They are impressed to see how the private sector players make things happen despite public sector inefficiency as well as macro-environmental impediments.

Bangladesh's software company DataSoft has developed a web-based collaboration tool for GroupCare, a Danish company. Interestingly, existing user of this web solution is around half a million, whereas the total population of Denmark is five million. That means every one out of 10 Danes is using software which has been developed in Bangladesh. What a great achievement! This Danish company GroupCare has been adjudged “Best IT user" in the category of Software export and outsourcing. This award in return, brings great recognition not only for DataSoft, but also for Bangladesh's software industry.

E- Governance may be a big opening!
E-Governance can be a key IT development issue for Bangladesh. If planned properly and has a dynamic direction, it can bring a sea change in governance. It can even change the national image by attaining efficiency, enhancing productivity and creating transparency. It will also help local software companies to grow, improve the process and quality. It will also create positive atmosphere for building competence and capability, to follow more structured and methodical approach of developing software and a competitive environment for local companies. At the moment, e-governance is merely a popular slogan! Let's bring it out of the box!

Charting a roadmap
In the late 90's a thorough and comprehensive study was conducted by a committee headed by Professor Jamilur Reza Chowdhury which is popularly known as JRC report.

That committee dealt with all the major concerns, constraints, advantages and disadvantages related to the growth of IT industry. They also gave 45 recommendations- most of which have been addressed and severally fulfilled. We have passed through a decade of experience. Now we need a roadmap for IT in Bangladesh. Without a well charted roadmap, we will be only chasing a mirage.

We should start working on a blueprint without further ado in order that we catch up with the rest of the world on a double-quick-basis.

Illustration: Sabyasach Mistry

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The author is Managing Director, DataSoft Systems Bangladesh Ltd.