icegov2012 proceedings

program and the Ministry of Local Government is responsible for
coordinating the overall activities and building capacity by
training relevant personnel [14] the sustainability of the scheme
has been taken care of by involving local youths who run the
centres and charge a modest fee for the services rendered.
It is pertinent to note that a number of non-governmental
initiatives have already laid the foundation for schemes like
UISCs. NGO initiatives have demonstrated success in reaching
out to the unreachable in the countryside. The GramenPhone
Community Information Centres (GCIS) and Pallitathya Kendra
(Village Information Centres) are among the leading nongovernmental
initiatives in this area. GrameenPhone has set up
over 500 information centres in remote locations seeking to
enhance the rural communities’ access to internet and multi-media
services. Managed by local entrepreneurs, who receive training
and initial support from GrameenPhone, these centres offer wide
range of off-line and on-line services. Usual GrameenPhone
services (e.g., payphones and electronic recharge for prepaid
mobile accounts services) aside, these centres provide internet
surfing and emailing, chatting, computer composing, scanning and
printing and information on health and education. Plans are
underway to expand the range of services available via such
centres. Similarly the initial success of the Pallitathya Kendra
project of Development Research Network (D.Net) has led to its
subsequent expansion. Currently, there are over 100 Pallitathya
Kendras around the country that provide IT skills, training in
computer operations, advanced IT courses, ancillary services and
livelihood information. Citizens use these centres to access variety
of information from common agricultural problems, socio-legal
advice and financial services to medical issues [14]. An important
feature of the PK is that mobile InfoLadies help make services
available to those who cannot physically reach the centres. These
Infoladies on their bicycles carry notes, phones and medical
equipment thus making the services to those most disadvantaged
and in the remotest corners of the country.
The other initiatives that seek to address digital divide and make
the benefits of ICT available to the disadvantaged groups include
e-huts and Tathya Toris. BracNet - an affiliate of the Bangladesh
Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) established e-huts with
the aim of making internet accessible to those living in rural areas
at an affordable price. Currently e-huts provide technological
solutions for small businesses and local people. BracNet aims to
expand the scope and reach by multiplying the number of e-huts
to 1000 - each serving as a one-stop shop for various types of
digital services including internet browsing, basic computer
training, broadband internet services, photocopying and scanning
[6]. Likewise, Tathya Tori (information boat) project of the
GrameenPhone is an innovative scheme that seeks to educate and
empower river-based people with information and services [15].
Under the support from CARE Bangladesh Tathya Toris are
equipped with digital content and serve as mobile centres to
provide internet and associated services to the people living in
haor areas. Besides the provision of periodic medical services
and computer training, Tathya Toris also make available
information on agriculture, fisheries and other livelihood matters.
6. MAJOR CONSTRAINTS &
CHALLENGES
It is obvious from the preceding discussions that Bangladesh has
made slow but steady progress towards implementation of e-
276
government. Wide variety of measures undertaken and
implemented in various spheres has helped raise country’s eprofile
and readiness. However, still the overall progress is rather
modest when considered against other countries around the world.
The 2010 e-government survey ranks Bangladesh at 134position
out of 185 nations globally [19]. Although Bangladesh has
advanced from the earlier position of 142 in 2008 and placed
herself ahead of Bhutan and Pakistan, on the whole this progress
is far from satisfactory given the fact that compared to many other
countries around the world and some of her neighbours (e.g. India,
Sri Lanka and Maldives) this rank is abysmally low and the level
of preparedness is far from what is required to provide integrated
services to the citizens. Table 3 shows the current state of ICT
infrastructure in Bangladesh and the nation’s overall position in
World E-government Index. Currently, governmental drives for
expanding the benefits of e-government are handicapped by a
range of challenges and constraints:
Table 3: Bangladesh’s Position in World E-Government
Development Index, 2010
World E-Government Development
Index Rank
Online Service Component (Rank 60)
a. Points for emerging
information service
b. Points for enhanced
information services
c. Points for transaction services
d. Points for connected
approach
Telecommunication Infrastructure
Component (Rank 161)
a. Estimated user per 100
inhabitants
b. Fixed telephone lines per 100
inhabitants:
c. Mobile subscriber per 100
inhabitants
d. Personal computers per 100
inhabitants:
e. Total fixed broadband per
100 inhabitants:
Human Capital Component (Rank 167)
a. Adult literacy rate:
a. Combined gross enrolment
ratio for
primary, secondary and
tertiary schools:
E Participation index (Rank 102)
Source: [17: p. 117]
2010 2008
134 out
of 190
48
44
05
15
0.32
0.84
27.90
2.25
0.03
53.50
48.46
0.1000
142 out
of 192
NA
NA
NA
NA
0.31
0.79
13.25
2.42
0.00
47.50
56.01
Rank 78
6.1 Infrastructural Challenges
The infrastructure serves as the backbone of e-government. It
encompasses computers and telecommunications capacity in terms
of wireless and broadband networks. In order to avail the fruits of
ICT revolution compatible ICT infrastructure must be in place.
Viewed from this perspective, the overall situation in Bangladesh
is hardly satisfactory. Computer Ownership per 100 people is