AWDP-Bangladesh is pleased to draw the attention of all concerns, especially the organizations working for promoting the rights of people with disabilities to go through the existing "National ICT Policy 2002" reviewing and making valuable contribution to make it more comprehensive, universal with special focus on disability so that the nation can have an accessible ICT legislation for all people including people disabilities of all categories.
For National "ICT Policy 2002" please visit: http://www.sdnbd.org/sdi/issues/IT-computer/itpolicy-bd-2002.htm
Your opinion can be sent directly through the address mentioned on this circular.
ictpolicybd@yahoogroups.com, ictpolicybd@googlegroups.comAWDP-Bangladesh facilitates all relevant assistance in this regard.
For assistance please contact through awdpbd@gmail.com
Md. Mahbubul Ashraf
Coordinator, AWDP-Bangladesh
Member, ICT Thematic Group, National Disability Forum-NFOWD, Bangladesh
Monday, June 2, 2008
Urgent Attention!
Give your opinion
Review of National ICT Policy 2002 is going on. It will be continued till 13 June 2008. In this regard Ministry of Science and ICT , Government of Bangladesh solicits opinion from all people. 
RTI Ordinance
The Draft Right to Information Ordinance 2008
Translated by Asif Nazrul with Paul La Porte
Preamble:
The desire to know is people’s natural drive. The eagerness to know information has gradually developed into the right to information.
Whereas the right to know is recognised in the constitution and the empowerment of the citizens of a democratic country is necessary to exercise right to information;
And whereas transparency and accountability of all public and private institution will be ensured if right to information is established;
And whereas some special types of information should be preserved under the control of the government;
And whereas it is necessary to enact this ordinance for ensuring peoples right to know by harmonising on the one hand security and secrecy of the state and public interest, and on the other hand the right to information of the public;
Therefore, the President, unde the power provided by Article 93(1) of the Constitution, enact and publish the following Ordinance:
(1) (a) Short title:
This Ordinance will be called the Right to Information Ordinance, 2008.
(b) Scope and effectiveness: It extends to the whole of Bangladesh; and it shall come into force within 120 days of notification in the gazette
(2) In this Ordinance,
unless contrary to the subject or context—
(a) "information" means any material existing in any form, including advice, circulars, orders, contracts, statistics, e-mail, logbooks, materials, model, memos, opinion, papers, press releases, records, reports, samples, material held in any electronic form , correspondences, memorandums, books, plans, maps, drawings, diagrams, photographs, films, microfilms, sound recordings, VDO tapes, records readable in machine, any certified materials irrespective of its condition and nature, and its reproduction, and any information obtained under any law for the time being in force about any authority.
(b) “Information Officer" means any Officer designated under this ordinance or any officer or employee of public authority empowered to perform the functions and carry out the responsibilities described in this Ordinance, and in the absence of any designated offices or employee, the head of concerned public authority, any branch, directorate, wing, department, or its administrative unit shall be regarded as information officer.
(c) "Authority" means
(i) any ministry or public or semi-public office, department, directorate, institution or local or other statutory bodies or offices, or or bodies constituted under public or private ownership or bodies administered with public finance which are established under any law, Ordinance or Notification.
(ii) Any company, corporation, trust, firm, society, co-operative society, private body, association, organisation registered under any existent law of Bangladesh ;
(iii) which conducts public work on behalf of the government or under contract with any body of the government;
(iv) other authorities designated , from time to time, by gazette notification of the government;
(d) "right to information" means the right to obtain information from any public authority and it includes taking notes and obtaining photocopies or certified copy of any document or record, taking certified sample of any materials, obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device;
(e) “Third party” means any person who is not a citizen or any institution including any public authority who is interested to obtain information
(3) Primacy of Ordinance:
After entry into force, the provisions of this Ordinance shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and any other law for the time being in force
(4) Right to Information:
(a) Every citizen shall have the right to information and every citizen, through application or request, shall know any decision, written proceedings of or any work performed or proposed to be performed by any authority
(b) Every public authority shall have the responsibility to maintain all its records duly catalogued and indexed in an appropriate manner so as to facilitate the right to information from any authority under this ordinance or any other law for the time being in force; this right shall not delimit denial to furnish information or the availability of information [sic].
(c) The Information Commission shall prepare a guideline to be followed by all authorities in maintaining and managing information held by them.
(5) Publication by authority:
Every public authority must publish at least once in every two years a report containing the following information-
(a) the particulars of its organisation, activities, duties of its officers and employees and the process of decision making
(b) the categories of record held by the authority including list of laws, rules, regulations, instructions, manuals used by its employees
(c) the description of conditions under which any citizen can obtain any licence, permit, grant, allocation, approval, or any other facilities, and the conditions which are required for any transaction or execution of any contract.
(d) the particulars of facilities available for ensuring peoples’ right to information
(e) the names, designations and other particulars of the Information Officers to whom the application for information should be made.
(6) The procedure of requesting and receiving information
(a) A person, who desires to obtain any information under this Ordinance, shall make an application to the designated officer or to the Head of the Office describing the nature of the information sought and the procedure of obtaining information meaning inspection, copy or taking note etc.
(b) The application shall be made in the application form printed by the authority and with prescribed fee.
(c) The authority on receipt of an application under sub section (a) shall furnish the information applied for within 20 days of receipt of the application.
Provided that the concerned authority shall fix additional fee depending on the actual cost of providing information.
(d) if the concerned officer or the head of the office does not agree to provide the information, he shall inform the applicant the reasons thereof within 20 days of receiving the application.
(7) The procedure of providing information:
(a) Subject to the conditions set forth in section (8), the Information Officer, on receipt of an application under section 6(a) shall, as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within twenty days of the receipt of the application, either provide the information on payment of prescribed fee or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in sections 8.
Provided that where the information sought for concerns the life-death or liberty of a person from jail, the information shall be provided on considering the importance of the information, within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the application.
(b) If the Information Officer fails to provide information within the stipulated period mentioned in clause (a), he shall be deemed to have refused the request.
(c) Where access to the record or a part thereof is required to be provided under this Ordinance to a person who is sensorily disabled, the Information Officer shall provide assistance to enable access to the information, including providing such assistance as may be appropriate for the inspection.
(d) if the information is provided in print or in any electronic format, the applicant shall, without prejudice to subsection (?), pay the fixed fee.
Provided the fees determined under section 6(a) and 7(a) and (e) shall be reasonable and it shall not exceed the actual cost of the photocopies and the highest amount of fees shall be determined according to rules.
(e) the information shall be generally provided in the format it is requested.
(8) Exemptions from publication of information
Application for access to information under this law may be rejected
if :-
(a) there is apprehension that disclosure of information would prejudicially affect the sovereignty, honour, foreign policy, defence or relation with foreign State or organisations, or
(b) information connected with commercial, trade or strategic scientific interests of the authority and disclosue of which would harm such interests, or
(c) the disclosure of Information is likely to disturb the economic management of the government or likely to benefit or harm any particular person or organisation financially, or
(d) the information relates to the income tax of any person or authority, custom tax and tariff or exchange rate of currencies, and interest rate or the monitoring and administration of economic organisations, or
(e) information, the disclosure of which would impede the legal process or encourage crime, or would endanger the safety of any person or public at lagre, impede proper adjudication of any case under trial, the process of investigation or arrest of the accused, violate the secrecy of an information or influence or impede the decision making process or
(f) the disclosure of the information would cause an unjustified breach of privacy of any person, or
(g) information the disclosure of which shall be a violation of orders given by any appropriate court or special proceedings of the parliament, or
(h) information which is already available for sale after its publication, or
(i) information, disclosure of which is against public interests
(9) publication of partial information:
partial information may be furnished to the applicant subject to the exceptions set forth in section 8
(10) Disclosure in public interests:
Notwithstanding anything contrary in any other law or in any of the provisions in this Ordinance, the government/authority may disclose information in public interest.
(11) Impunity:
No suit, prosecution, punitive measure or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or any rule made thereunder.
(12) Information Commission
(a) The Government shall, through Gazette Notifications, establish a body known as information commission to exercise the authority and perform the functions described in the Ordinance.
b) The commission shall be established comprising i) a Chief Information Commissioner and ii) maximum two other Information Commissioners
c) The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be appointed by the President on recommendation of the following committee. But at least one of the commissioners shall be a female.
d) The members of the committee are as follows
(i) A judge of Appellate Division nominated by the Chief Justice - Chairperson
(ii) Chairman, Public Service Commission- Member
(iii) Cabinet Secretary- Government of Bangladesh - Member
(iv) Chairman, University Grant Commission
e) The Chief information commissioner, with cooperation from other information commissioner, shall perform the responsibilities of general supervision, management and administration of the Commission as an autonomous body.
f) The chief information commissioner and other commissioners shall not be member of national parliament or political party or they shall not hold office of profit.
g) The Conditions of appointment of the Chief information commission and information commissioners
(1) The term of office of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner shall be for 4 years or up to 65 years whichever is earlier, and no one of them can not be re-appointed in the respective position.
Provided that every Information Commissioner shall, on vacancy of the office of chief information commission shall be eligible for appointment as the Chief Information Commissioner.
Provided further where the Information Commissioner is appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner, his term of office shall not be more than four years in aggregate as the Information Commissioner and the Chief Information Commissioner.
(2) They shall have vast experience and expertise in the field of law, science, technology, information, social work, management or public administration.
(13) Resignation of Commissioners:
The Chief Commissioner and Commissioners can resign from their respective positions by tendering resignation letter to the President. They may also be removed under the procedure described in section 16. (14). Remuneration and allowances
a) Remuneration and allowances for Chief Information Commissioner shall be equivalent to those of a judge of the Appelllate Division of the Supreme Court
b) Remuneration and allowances of the Information Commissioners shall be equivalent to those of a judge of the High Court Division.
(15) Staffs of the Commission:
In order to carry out the functions of this commission effectively, the government shall arrange those numbers of officers and employees as are necessary. The conditions of their service shall be determined by the government.
(16) Removal from Office:
a) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3?), the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner shall be removed from his office by the President through the same procedure under Article 96 of the Constitution which the President may apply for removing any judge of the Supreme Court
b) The President may suspend any commissioner from office in respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court under sub-section (a) until the President has passed orders on receipt of the report of the Supreme Court on such reference.
c) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the President may by order remove from office the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner if the Chief Information Commissioner or a Information Commissioner, as the case may be,—
(1) is adjudged an insolvent; or has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the President, involves moral turpitude; or
(2) is unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body; or
(3) has been guilty of gross misconduct
17. Powers and functions of the Information Commissions, appeal and penalties:
(a) Power and functions of the Information commission:
Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, it shall be the duty of the Information Commission to receive, inquire and dispose of a complaint if it is made by any person on the following grounds,—
(1) he has been unable to submit a request to an application by reason that no designated officer has been appointed under this ordinance or Act, or he has failed to submit the application as the authority has refused to accept his or her application for information.
(2) he has been refused access to any information requested under this Ordinance;
(3) he has not been given a response to a request for information or access to information within the time limit specified under this Ordinance;
(4) he has been required to pay an amount of fee which he considers unreasonable;
(5) who believes that he has been given incomplete, misleading or false information under this Ordinance; or
(6) in respect of any other matter relating to requesting or obtaining access to records under this Ordinance.
(b) Where the Information Commission is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to inquire into the subject matter of the complaint, it may initiate an inquiry in respect thereof.
(c) If any complaint is lodged against any information officer or the authority, the Commission shall, in appropriate cases, enquire into the matter and it may also, if necessary, can initiate an enquiry suo moto.
(d)The Information Commission shall, while inquiring, have the powers as are vested in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, in respect of the following matters, namely:—
(1) summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and compel them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce the documents or things;
(2) requiring the discovery and inspection of documents;
(3) receiving evidence on affidavit;
(4) requisitioning any public record or copies thereof from any court or office;
(5) issuing summons for examination of witnesses or documents; and
(6) any other matter which may be prescribed by the Government.
(e) The Information Commission may, by official notification, make any necessary regulations for implementing the provisions of this Ordinance without affecting the generality of the above mentioned powers.
Notwithstanding anything inconsistent contained in any other law, the Information Commission may, during the inquiry of any complaint under this Act, examine any record held by any authority to which this Ordinance applies.
(19) Appeal:
(a) Any person who, does not receive a decision within the time specified in sub-section (a) of section 7, or is aggrieved by a decision of the Information Officer may within thirty days from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision prefer an appeal to such senior officer who is acting as Head of the administrative unit in the authority:
Provided that such superior authority may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of thirty days if he is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
Provided that an appeal may be preferred directly to the information commission by a persons aggrieved by the decision of an information officer who himself is the head of administrative unit.
As the appellate authority, the Head of the administrative unit shall, within 15 days of recieveing the appeal, instruct the information officer to provide the requested information or reject the appeal.
(b) A second appeal against the decision under sub-section (a) shall lie within sixty days from the date on which the decision should have been made or was actually received, with the information Commission.
Provided that the Information Commission may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of sixty days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
(c) Where an appeal is preferred against an order made by a Information Officer which relates to a third party, the commission shall give an opportunity of being heard to that third party.
(d) In any appeal proceedings, the onus to prove that a denial of a request was justified shall be on the Information Officer who denied the request.
(e) An appeal under sub-section (a) or sub-section (c) shall be disposed of within thirty days of the receipt of the appeal or within such extended period not exceeding a total of forty-five days from the date of filing thereof, as the case may be, for reasons to be recorded in writing.
(f) The decision of the Information Commission shall be binding.
(g) In its decision, the Information Commission has the power to—
(1) require the authority to take any such steps as may be necessary to secure compliance with the provisions of this Ordinance, including—
(i) by providing access to information, if so requested, in a particular form;
(ii) appointing a Information Officer
(iii) publishing certain information or categories of information;
(iv) making necessary changes to its practices in relation to the maintenance, management and destruction of records;
(v) enhancing the provision of training on the right to information for its officials;
(vi) providing it with an annual report in compliance with clause (b) of section 26;
(vii) require the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered;
(2) impose any fine provided under this Ordinance;
(3) reject the application. (h) The Information Commission shall give notice of its decision, (mentioning any right of appeal, if there is any) both to the complainant and the public authority.
(i) The Information Commission shall decide the appeal in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.
(20) Representation during Appeal:
In order to present their statements, the parties to the appeal shall appear in person or nominate lawyer or officer in their behalf. The commission shall, as far as possible, work like an enquiry committee in which in stead of unpleasant argument, preference shall be placed on revealing the truth.
(21) Offences and penalty:
(a) Where the Information Commission, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that the Information Officer has, without any reasonable cause, refused to receive an application for information or has not furnished information within the time specified, or malafidely denied the request for information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the information, it shall impose a specified penalty for each day till application is received, so however, the total amount of such penalty shall not exceed twenty-five thousand takas.
Provided that the designated information Officer shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before any penalty is imposed on him:
Provided further that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the Information Officer.
(b) Where the Information Commission, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that the Information Officer has, without any reasonable cause and persistently, failed to receive an application for information or has not furnished information within the time specified or malafidely denied the request for information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed information which was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the information, it shall recommend for disciplinary action against the Information Officer under the service rules applicable to him.
(22) The applications of the Limitation Act of 1908: subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, the provisions of the Limitation Act of 1908 shall be applied, as far as possible, to an appeal preferred under this Ordinance.
(23) Realisation of Fines: Any fine of compensation to be imposed under this ordinance shall be realized from the salary of the concerned officer or through the procedure through which outstanding land tax and revenue is collected under the Public demand recovery act of 1913.
(24) No court shall entertain any suit, application or other proceeding in respect of any order made under this Ordinance and no such order shall be called in question otherwise than by way of an appeal under this Ordinance.
The information Commission shall prepare its own budget and shall submit it to the government for its presentation before the Parliament. The parliament shall allocate necessary budget to the information commission.
(26) Annual Report:
a) The Information Commission shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each year, prepare a report within February on the implementation of the provisions of this Act during that year and forward a copy thereof to the Government and publish another copy for peoples access in various medium including in its website (if such website exits).
b) Each Ministry or Department shall, in relation to the authorities within their jurisdiction, collect and provide such information to the Information Commission as is required to prepare the report under this section and comply with the requirements concerning the furnishing of that information and keeping of records for the purposes of this section. c) Each report shall state in respect of the year to which the report relates,—
(1) the number of requests made to each public authority;
(2) the number of decisions where applicants were not entitled to access to the documents pursuant to the requests, the provisions of this Act under which these decisions were made and the number of times such provisions were invoked;
(3) the number of appeals referred to the Information Commission for review, the nature of the appeals and the outcome of the appeals;
(4) particulars of any disciplinary action taken against any officer in respect of the administration of this Act;
(5) the amount of charges collected by each public authority under this Act;
(6) any facts which indicate an effort by the public authorities to administer and implement the spirit and intention of this Act;
(7) recommendations for reform, including recommendations in respect of the particular authorities, for the development, improvement, modernisation, reform or amendment to this Act or other legislation or common law or any other matter relevant for operationalising the right to access information.
(8) The Government may, as soon as practicable after the end of each year, instruct the information commission to submit its report mentioned in clause (1) on 1 march for causing it to be laid before the Parliament,
(9) If it appears to the Information Commission that the practice of a public authority in relation to the exercise of its functions under this Act does not conform with the provisions or spirit of this Act, it may give to the authority a recommendation specifying the steps which ought in its opinion to be taken for promoting such conformity.
(27) The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. For Original Bangla version of RTI please visit:http://www.moi.gov.bd/RTI.doc/
Translated by Asif Nazrul with Paul La Porte
Preamble:
The desire to know is people’s natural drive. The eagerness to know information has gradually developed into the right to information.
Whereas the right to know is recognised in the constitution and the empowerment of the citizens of a democratic country is necessary to exercise right to information;
And whereas transparency and accountability of all public and private institution will be ensured if right to information is established;
And whereas some special types of information should be preserved under the control of the government;
And whereas it is necessary to enact this ordinance for ensuring peoples right to know by harmonising on the one hand security and secrecy of the state and public interest, and on the other hand the right to information of the public;
Therefore, the President, unde the power provided by Article 93(1) of the Constitution, enact and publish the following Ordinance:
(1) (a) Short title:
This Ordinance will be called the Right to Information Ordinance, 2008.
(b) Scope and effectiveness: It extends to the whole of Bangladesh; and it shall come into force within 120 days of notification in the gazette
(2) In this Ordinance,
unless contrary to the subject or context—
(a) "information" means any material existing in any form, including advice, circulars, orders, contracts, statistics, e-mail, logbooks, materials, model, memos, opinion, papers, press releases, records, reports, samples, material held in any electronic form , correspondences, memorandums, books, plans, maps, drawings, diagrams, photographs, films, microfilms, sound recordings, VDO tapes, records readable in machine, any certified materials irrespective of its condition and nature, and its reproduction, and any information obtained under any law for the time being in force about any authority.
(b) “Information Officer" means any Officer designated under this ordinance or any officer or employee of public authority empowered to perform the functions and carry out the responsibilities described in this Ordinance, and in the absence of any designated offices or employee, the head of concerned public authority, any branch, directorate, wing, department, or its administrative unit shall be regarded as information officer.
(c) "Authority" means
(i) any ministry or public or semi-public office, department, directorate, institution or local or other statutory bodies or offices, or or bodies constituted under public or private ownership or bodies administered with public finance which are established under any law, Ordinance or Notification.
(ii) Any company, corporation, trust, firm, society, co-operative society, private body, association, organisation registered under any existent law of Bangladesh ;
(iii) which conducts public work on behalf of the government or under contract with any body of the government;
(iv) other authorities designated , from time to time, by gazette notification of the government;
(d) "right to information" means the right to obtain information from any public authority and it includes taking notes and obtaining photocopies or certified copy of any document or record, taking certified sample of any materials, obtaining information in the form of diskettes, floppies, tapes, video cassettes or in any other electronic mode or through printouts where such information is stored in a computer or in any other device;
(e) “Third party” means any person who is not a citizen or any institution including any public authority who is interested to obtain information
(3) Primacy of Ordinance:
After entry into force, the provisions of this Ordinance shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent therewith contained in the Official Secrets Act, 1923, and any other law for the time being in force
(4) Right to Information:
(a) Every citizen shall have the right to information and every citizen, through application or request, shall know any decision, written proceedings of or any work performed or proposed to be performed by any authority
(b) Every public authority shall have the responsibility to maintain all its records duly catalogued and indexed in an appropriate manner so as to facilitate the right to information from any authority under this ordinance or any other law for the time being in force; this right shall not delimit denial to furnish information or the availability of information [sic].
(c) The Information Commission shall prepare a guideline to be followed by all authorities in maintaining and managing information held by them.
(5) Publication by authority:
Every public authority must publish at least once in every two years a report containing the following information-
(a) the particulars of its organisation, activities, duties of its officers and employees and the process of decision making
(b) the categories of record held by the authority including list of laws, rules, regulations, instructions, manuals used by its employees
(c) the description of conditions under which any citizen can obtain any licence, permit, grant, allocation, approval, or any other facilities, and the conditions which are required for any transaction or execution of any contract.
(d) the particulars of facilities available for ensuring peoples’ right to information
(e) the names, designations and other particulars of the Information Officers to whom the application for information should be made.
(6) The procedure of requesting and receiving information
(a) A person, who desires to obtain any information under this Ordinance, shall make an application to the designated officer or to the Head of the Office describing the nature of the information sought and the procedure of obtaining information meaning inspection, copy or taking note etc.
(b) The application shall be made in the application form printed by the authority and with prescribed fee.
(c) The authority on receipt of an application under sub section (a) shall furnish the information applied for within 20 days of receipt of the application.
Provided that the concerned authority shall fix additional fee depending on the actual cost of providing information.
(d) if the concerned officer or the head of the office does not agree to provide the information, he shall inform the applicant the reasons thereof within 20 days of receiving the application.
(7) The procedure of providing information:
(a) Subject to the conditions set forth in section (8), the Information Officer, on receipt of an application under section 6(a) shall, as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within twenty days of the receipt of the application, either provide the information on payment of prescribed fee or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in sections 8.
Provided that where the information sought for concerns the life-death or liberty of a person from jail, the information shall be provided on considering the importance of the information, within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the application.
(b) If the Information Officer fails to provide information within the stipulated period mentioned in clause (a), he shall be deemed to have refused the request.
(c) Where access to the record or a part thereof is required to be provided under this Ordinance to a person who is sensorily disabled, the Information Officer shall provide assistance to enable access to the information, including providing such assistance as may be appropriate for the inspection.
(d) if the information is provided in print or in any electronic format, the applicant shall, without prejudice to subsection (?), pay the fixed fee.
Provided the fees determined under section 6(a) and 7(a) and (e) shall be reasonable and it shall not exceed the actual cost of the photocopies and the highest amount of fees shall be determined according to rules.
(e) the information shall be generally provided in the format it is requested.
(8) Exemptions from publication of information
Application for access to information under this law may be rejected
if :-
(a) there is apprehension that disclosure of information would prejudicially affect the sovereignty, honour, foreign policy, defence or relation with foreign State or organisations, or
(b) information connected with commercial, trade or strategic scientific interests of the authority and disclosue of which would harm such interests, or
(c) the disclosure of Information is likely to disturb the economic management of the government or likely to benefit or harm any particular person or organisation financially, or
(d) the information relates to the income tax of any person or authority, custom tax and tariff or exchange rate of currencies, and interest rate or the monitoring and administration of economic organisations, or
(e) information, the disclosure of which would impede the legal process or encourage crime, or would endanger the safety of any person or public at lagre, impede proper adjudication of any case under trial, the process of investigation or arrest of the accused, violate the secrecy of an information or influence or impede the decision making process or
(f) the disclosure of the information would cause an unjustified breach of privacy of any person, or
(g) information the disclosure of which shall be a violation of orders given by any appropriate court or special proceedings of the parliament, or
(h) information which is already available for sale after its publication, or
(i) information, disclosure of which is against public interests
(9) publication of partial information:
partial information may be furnished to the applicant subject to the exceptions set forth in section 8
(10) Disclosure in public interests:
Notwithstanding anything contrary in any other law or in any of the provisions in this Ordinance, the government/authority may disclose information in public interest.
(11) Impunity:
No suit, prosecution, punitive measure or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything which is in good faith done or intended to be done under this Act or any rule made thereunder.
(12) Information Commission
(a) The Government shall, through Gazette Notifications, establish a body known as information commission to exercise the authority and perform the functions described in the Ordinance.
b) The commission shall be established comprising i) a Chief Information Commissioner and ii) maximum two other Information Commissioners
c) The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners shall be appointed by the President on recommendation of the following committee. But at least one of the commissioners shall be a female.
d) The members of the committee are as follows
(i) A judge of Appellate Division nominated by the Chief Justice - Chairperson
(ii) Chairman, Public Service Commission- Member
(iii) Cabinet Secretary- Government of Bangladesh - Member
(iv) Chairman, University Grant Commission
e) The Chief information commissioner, with cooperation from other information commissioner, shall perform the responsibilities of general supervision, management and administration of the Commission as an autonomous body.
f) The chief information commissioner and other commissioners shall not be member of national parliament or political party or they shall not hold office of profit.
g) The Conditions of appointment of the Chief information commission and information commissioners
(1) The term of office of the Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioner shall be for 4 years or up to 65 years whichever is earlier, and no one of them can not be re-appointed in the respective position.
Provided that every Information Commissioner shall, on vacancy of the office of chief information commission shall be eligible for appointment as the Chief Information Commissioner.
Provided further where the Information Commissioner is appointed as the Chief Information Commissioner, his term of office shall not be more than four years in aggregate as the Information Commissioner and the Chief Information Commissioner.
(2) They shall have vast experience and expertise in the field of law, science, technology, information, social work, management or public administration.
(13) Resignation of Commissioners:
The Chief Commissioner and Commissioners can resign from their respective positions by tendering resignation letter to the President. They may also be removed under the procedure described in section 16. (14). Remuneration and allowances
a) Remuneration and allowances for Chief Information Commissioner shall be equivalent to those of a judge of the Appelllate Division of the Supreme Court
b) Remuneration and allowances of the Information Commissioners shall be equivalent to those of a judge of the High Court Division.
(15) Staffs of the Commission:
In order to carry out the functions of this commission effectively, the government shall arrange those numbers of officers and employees as are necessary. The conditions of their service shall be determined by the government.
(16) Removal from Office:
a) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3?), the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner shall be removed from his office by the President through the same procedure under Article 96 of the Constitution which the President may apply for removing any judge of the Supreme Court
b) The President may suspend any commissioner from office in respect of whom a reference has been made to the Supreme Court under sub-section (a) until the President has passed orders on receipt of the report of the Supreme Court on such reference.
c) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the President may by order remove from office the Chief Information Commissioner or any Information Commissioner if the Chief Information Commissioner or a Information Commissioner, as the case may be,—
(1) is adjudged an insolvent; or has been convicted of an offence which, in the opinion of the President, involves moral turpitude; or
(2) is unfit to continue in office by reason of infirmity of mind or body; or
(3) has been guilty of gross misconduct
17. Powers and functions of the Information Commissions, appeal and penalties:
(a) Power and functions of the Information commission:
Subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, it shall be the duty of the Information Commission to receive, inquire and dispose of a complaint if it is made by any person on the following grounds,—
(1) he has been unable to submit a request to an application by reason that no designated officer has been appointed under this ordinance or Act, or he has failed to submit the application as the authority has refused to accept his or her application for information.
(2) he has been refused access to any information requested under this Ordinance;
(3) he has not been given a response to a request for information or access to information within the time limit specified under this Ordinance;
(4) he has been required to pay an amount of fee which he considers unreasonable;
(5) who believes that he has been given incomplete, misleading or false information under this Ordinance; or
(6) in respect of any other matter relating to requesting or obtaining access to records under this Ordinance.
(b) Where the Information Commission is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds to inquire into the subject matter of the complaint, it may initiate an inquiry in respect thereof.
(c) If any complaint is lodged against any information officer or the authority, the Commission shall, in appropriate cases, enquire into the matter and it may also, if necessary, can initiate an enquiry suo moto.
(d)The Information Commission shall, while inquiring, have the powers as are vested in the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, in respect of the following matters, namely:—
(1) summoning and enforcing the attendance of persons and compel them to give oral or written evidence on oath and to produce the documents or things;
(2) requiring the discovery and inspection of documents;
(3) receiving evidence on affidavit;
(4) requisitioning any public record or copies thereof from any court or office;
(5) issuing summons for examination of witnesses or documents; and
(6) any other matter which may be prescribed by the Government.
(e) The Information Commission may, by official notification, make any necessary regulations for implementing the provisions of this Ordinance without affecting the generality of the above mentioned powers.
(18). Examination of records:
Notwithstanding anything inconsistent contained in any other law, the Information Commission may, during the inquiry of any complaint under this Act, examine any record held by any authority to which this Ordinance applies.
(19) Appeal:
(a) Any person who, does not receive a decision within the time specified in sub-section (a) of section 7, or is aggrieved by a decision of the Information Officer may within thirty days from the expiry of such period or from the receipt of such a decision prefer an appeal to such senior officer who is acting as Head of the administrative unit in the authority:
Provided that such superior authority may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of thirty days if he is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
Provided that an appeal may be preferred directly to the information commission by a persons aggrieved by the decision of an information officer who himself is the head of administrative unit.
As the appellate authority, the Head of the administrative unit shall, within 15 days of recieveing the appeal, instruct the information officer to provide the requested information or reject the appeal.
(b) A second appeal against the decision under sub-section (a) shall lie within sixty days from the date on which the decision should have been made or was actually received, with the information Commission.
Provided that the Information Commission may admit the appeal after the expiry of the period of sixty days if it is satisfied that the appellant was prevented by sufficient cause from filing the appeal in time.
(c) Where an appeal is preferred against an order made by a Information Officer which relates to a third party, the commission shall give an opportunity of being heard to that third party.
(d) In any appeal proceedings, the onus to prove that a denial of a request was justified shall be on the Information Officer who denied the request.
(e) An appeal under sub-section (a) or sub-section (c) shall be disposed of within thirty days of the receipt of the appeal or within such extended period not exceeding a total of forty-five days from the date of filing thereof, as the case may be, for reasons to be recorded in writing.
(f) The decision of the Information Commission shall be binding.
(g) In its decision, the Information Commission has the power to—
(1) require the authority to take any such steps as may be necessary to secure compliance with the provisions of this Ordinance, including—
(i) by providing access to information, if so requested, in a particular form;
(ii) appointing a Information Officer
(iii) publishing certain information or categories of information;
(iv) making necessary changes to its practices in relation to the maintenance, management and destruction of records;
(v) enhancing the provision of training on the right to information for its officials;
(vi) providing it with an annual report in compliance with clause (b) of section 26;
(vii) require the public authority to compensate the complainant for any loss or other detriment suffered;
(2) impose any fine provided under this Ordinance;
(3) reject the application. (h) The Information Commission shall give notice of its decision, (mentioning any right of appeal, if there is any) both to the complainant and the public authority.
(i) The Information Commission shall decide the appeal in accordance with such procedure as may be prescribed.
(20) Representation during Appeal:
In order to present their statements, the parties to the appeal shall appear in person or nominate lawyer or officer in their behalf. The commission shall, as far as possible, work like an enquiry committee in which in stead of unpleasant argument, preference shall be placed on revealing the truth.
(21) Offences and penalty:
(a) Where the Information Commission, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that the Information Officer has, without any reasonable cause, refused to receive an application for information or has not furnished information within the time specified, or malafidely denied the request for information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the information, it shall impose a specified penalty for each day till application is received, so however, the total amount of such penalty shall not exceed twenty-five thousand takas.
Provided that the designated information Officer shall be given a reasonable opportunity of being heard before any penalty is imposed on him:
Provided further that the burden of proving that he acted reasonably and diligently shall be on the Information Officer.
(b) Where the Information Commission, at the time of deciding any complaint or appeal is of the opinion that the Information Officer has, without any reasonable cause and persistently, failed to receive an application for information or has not furnished information within the time specified or malafidely denied the request for information or knowingly given incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or destroyed information which was the subject of the request or obstructed in any manner in furnishing the information, it shall recommend for disciplinary action against the Information Officer under the service rules applicable to him.
(22) The applications of the Limitation Act of 1908: subject to the provisions of this Ordinance, the provisions of the Limitation Act of 1908 shall be applied, as far as possible, to an appeal preferred under this Ordinance.
(23) Realisation of Fines: Any fine of compensation to be imposed under this ordinance shall be realized from the salary of the concerned officer or through the procedure through which outstanding land tax and revenue is collected under the Public demand recovery act of 1913.
(24) No court shall entertain any suit, application or other proceeding in respect of any order made under this Ordinance and no such order shall be called in question otherwise than by way of an appeal under this Ordinance.
(25) Annual Budget:
The information Commission shall prepare its own budget and shall submit it to the government for its presentation before the Parliament. The parliament shall allocate necessary budget to the information commission.
(26) Annual Report:
a) The Information Commission shall, as soon as practicable after the end of each year, prepare a report within February on the implementation of the provisions of this Act during that year and forward a copy thereof to the Government and publish another copy for peoples access in various medium including in its website (if such website exits).
b) Each Ministry or Department shall, in relation to the authorities within their jurisdiction, collect and provide such information to the Information Commission as is required to prepare the report under this section and comply with the requirements concerning the furnishing of that information and keeping of records for the purposes of this section. c) Each report shall state in respect of the year to which the report relates,—
(1) the number of requests made to each public authority;
(2) the number of decisions where applicants were not entitled to access to the documents pursuant to the requests, the provisions of this Act under which these decisions were made and the number of times such provisions were invoked;
(3) the number of appeals referred to the Information Commission for review, the nature of the appeals and the outcome of the appeals;
(4) particulars of any disciplinary action taken against any officer in respect of the administration of this Act;
(5) the amount of charges collected by each public authority under this Act;
(6) any facts which indicate an effort by the public authorities to administer and implement the spirit and intention of this Act;
(7) recommendations for reform, including recommendations in respect of the particular authorities, for the development, improvement, modernisation, reform or amendment to this Act or other legislation or common law or any other matter relevant for operationalising the right to access information.
(8) The Government may, as soon as practicable after the end of each year, instruct the information commission to submit its report mentioned in clause (1) on 1 march for causing it to be laid before the Parliament,
(9) If it appears to the Information Commission that the practice of a public authority in relation to the exercise of its functions under this Act does not conform with the provisions or spirit of this Act, it may give to the authority a recommendation specifying the steps which ought in its opinion to be taken for promoting such conformity.
(27) The Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules to carry out the provisions of this Act. For Original Bangla version of RTI please visit:http://www.moi.gov.bd/RTI.doc/
Sunday, June 1, 2008
National ICT Policy
National Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Policy (October : 2002)
Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Preamble
2.0 Vision and Objectives
2.1 Vision
2.2 Objectives
3.0 Policy Statements
3.1 Training and Human Resources Development
3.2 ICT Infrastructure
3.3 Research and Development in ICT
3.4 ICT Industry
3.4.1 Software Industry
3.4.2 Hardware Industry
3.4.3 Services Industry
3.5 E-Commerce
3.6 E-Government/E-Governance
3.7 Legal Issues
3.8 Health Care
3.9 Agriculture and Poverty Alleviation
3.10 Social Welfare
3.11 Transportation
3.12 Tourism
3.13 Environment
3.14 Judiciary
3.15 Regional and International Cooperation
4.0 Implementation and Monitoring
4.1 Funds and Resources
4.2 Institutional Arrangement for ICT Policy Updating, Standardizing, Implementing and Monitoring
ADP Annual Development Program
BAC Bureau of Anti-Corruption
BCC Bangladesh Computer Council
BIT Bangladesh Institute of Technology
BTTB Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board
CD Compact Disc
ERD Economic Relations Division
GIS Geographic Information System
HRD Human Resource Development
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IT Information Technology
ISP Internet Service Provider
IT Information Technology
MOSICT Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology
MW Micro Wave
NAPE National Academy for Primary Education
NBR National Board of Revenue
NII National Information Infrastructure
PDB Power Development Board
PTI Primary Teachers Training Institute
R&D Research and Development
RD & COOP Rural Development & Cooperative
TTC Teachers Training College
UHF Ultra High Frequency
VAT Value Added Tax
WAN Wide Area Network
1.1 Information Communication Technology (ICT) encompasses the broad fields of data/information processing, transmission and communications by means of computer and telecommunication techniques and these modern tools are being increasingly used for organizational/personal information processing in all sectors of economy and society. This document presents the policy guidelines for the development of the ICT sector in Bangladesh.1.2 A dependable information system is essential for efficient management and operation of the public and private sectors. But there is a shortage of locally generated information needed for efficient performance of these sectors. In order to meet this objective, ICT use in every sector shall have to be accelerated in terms of information generation, utilization and applications. Considering the gravity and importance of ICT Hon’ble Prime Minister has already declared ICT as the thrust sector. 1.3 Over the last few years, many nations have taken advantage of the opportunities afforded by ICT within a policy framework, laid down guidelines and proceeded with the formulation of a national ICT strategy as a part of the overall national development plan. Bangladesh intends to use ICT as the key-driving element for socio-economic development.
2. 0 Vision and Objectives
2.1 Vision
This Policy aims at building an ICT-driven nation comprising of knowledge-based society by the year 2006. In view of this, a country-wide ICT-infrastructure will be developed to ensure access to information by every citizen to facilitate empowerment of people and enhance democratic values and norms for sustainable economic development by using the infrastructure for human resources development, governance, e-commerce, banking, public utility services and all sorts of on-line ICT-enabled services..
2.2.1 In order to give a thrust to the ICT sector and expeditious development of Software industry and its export required infrastructural facilities and legal framework will be created..
2.2.2 Provide effective incentives for development of ICT sector to both local and foreign entrepreneurs;
2.2.3 Develop an efficient ICT infrastructure that provides open access to international and national network;
2.2.4 Promote and facilitate use of ICT in all sectors of the economy for transparency, good governance and efficiency improvement;
2.2.5 Establish legislative and regulatory framework for ICT issues like IPR, data security and protection, digital signature, e-Commerce, ICT education etc. as well as to ensure quality ICT education provided by different private organizations
2.2.6 Set up national databases that are reliable and easily accessible to all the people of the country;
2.2.7 Promote use of ICT by providing special allocations for ICT project implementation in the public sector. Train the decision makers in ICT use and promote a ICT culture;.
2.2.8 Develop a large pool of world class ICT professionals to meet the needs of local and global markets
2.2.9 Set up a very high quality ICT institution to continuously promote and foster ICT Industry;
2.2.10 Enact Laws and Regulations for uninterrupted growth of ICT, in conformity with World Trade Organization (WTO) stipulations.
3.1 Training and Human Resources Development
Bangladesh must prepare itself to compete effectively in the global ICT market. As the demand for skilled manpower in ICT is growing world-wide, the country needs to produce a large number of ICT professionals. The specific policy statements are:
3.1.1 Widespread introduction of ICT education in public and private educational institutions is a prerequisite for producing skilled ICT manpower. Facilities shall be built to promote ICT training and computer aided training at all levels of education including Primary Schools and Madrasahs. Donor agencies, non-government organizations and other development partners of the country shall be encouraged to help build the necessary capacity in this area.
3.1.2 Universities, Bangladesh Institutes of Technology and colleges, both in the public and private sectors, shall be strengthened to produce ICT graduates in four-year Computer Science and/or Engineering courses. Necessary resources will be allocated to these institutions.
3.1.3 Out of the three Science and Technology universities proposed in the Fifth Five-Year Plan, one will be established as center of excellence in ICT by giving higher allocation of resources.
Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 Preamble
2.0 Vision and Objectives
2.1 Vision
2.2 Objectives
3.0 Policy Statements
3.1 Training and Human Resources Development
3.2 ICT Infrastructure
3.3 Research and Development in ICT
3.4 ICT Industry
3.4.1 Software Industry
3.4.2 Hardware Industry
3.4.3 Services Industry
3.5 E-Commerce
3.6 E-Government/E-Governance
3.7 Legal Issues
3.8 Health Care
3.9 Agriculture and Poverty Alleviation
3.10 Social Welfare
3.11 Transportation
3.12 Tourism
3.13 Environment
3.14 Judiciary
3.15 Regional and International Cooperation
4.0 Implementation and Monitoring
4.1 Funds and Resources
4.2 Institutional Arrangement for ICT Policy Updating, Standardizing, Implementing and Monitoring
ABBREVIATIONS & ACRONYMS
ADP Annual Development Program
BAC Bureau of Anti-Corruption
BCC Bangladesh Computer Council
BIT Bangladesh Institute of Technology
BTTB Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board
CD Compact Disc
ERD Economic Relations Division
GIS Geographic Information System
HRD Human Resource Development
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IT Information Technology
ISP Internet Service Provider
IT Information Technology
MOSICT Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology
MW Micro Wave
NAPE National Academy for Primary Education
NBR National Board of Revenue
NII National Information Infrastructure
PDB Power Development Board
PTI Primary Teachers Training Institute
R&D Research and Development
RD & COOP Rural Development & Cooperative
TTC Teachers Training College
UHF Ultra High Frequency
VAT Value Added Tax
WAN Wide Area Network
1.0 Preamble
1.1 Information Communication Technology (ICT) encompasses the broad fields of data/information processing, transmission and communications by means of computer and telecommunication techniques and these modern tools are being increasingly used for organizational/personal information processing in all sectors of economy and society. This document presents the policy guidelines for the development of the ICT sector in Bangladesh.1.2 A dependable information system is essential for efficient management and operation of the public and private sectors. But there is a shortage of locally generated information needed for efficient performance of these sectors. In order to meet this objective, ICT use in every sector shall have to be accelerated in terms of information generation, utilization and applications. Considering the gravity and importance of ICT Hon’ble Prime Minister has already declared ICT as the thrust sector. 1.3 Over the last few years, many nations have taken advantage of the opportunities afforded by ICT within a policy framework, laid down guidelines and proceeded with the formulation of a national ICT strategy as a part of the overall national development plan. Bangladesh intends to use ICT as the key-driving element for socio-economic development.
2. 0 Vision and Objectives
2.1 Vision
This Policy aims at building an ICT-driven nation comprising of knowledge-based society by the year 2006. In view of this, a country-wide ICT-infrastructure will be developed to ensure access to information by every citizen to facilitate empowerment of people and enhance democratic values and norms for sustainable economic development by using the infrastructure for human resources development, governance, e-commerce, banking, public utility services and all sorts of on-line ICT-enabled services..
2.2 Objectives
2.2.1 In order to give a thrust to the ICT sector and expeditious development of Software industry and its export required infrastructural facilities and legal framework will be created..
2.2.2 Provide effective incentives for development of ICT sector to both local and foreign entrepreneurs;
2.2.3 Develop an efficient ICT infrastructure that provides open access to international and national network;
2.2.4 Promote and facilitate use of ICT in all sectors of the economy for transparency, good governance and efficiency improvement;
2.2.5 Establish legislative and regulatory framework for ICT issues like IPR, data security and protection, digital signature, e-Commerce, ICT education etc. as well as to ensure quality ICT education provided by different private organizations
2.2.6 Set up national databases that are reliable and easily accessible to all the people of the country;
2.2.7 Promote use of ICT by providing special allocations for ICT project implementation in the public sector. Train the decision makers in ICT use and promote a ICT culture;.
2.2.8 Develop a large pool of world class ICT professionals to meet the needs of local and global markets
2.2.9 Set up a very high quality ICT institution to continuously promote and foster ICT Industry;
2.2.10 Enact Laws and Regulations for uninterrupted growth of ICT, in conformity with World Trade Organization (WTO) stipulations.
3.0 Policy Statements
3.1 Training and Human Resources Development
Bangladesh must prepare itself to compete effectively in the global ICT market. As the demand for skilled manpower in ICT is growing world-wide, the country needs to produce a large number of ICT professionals. The specific policy statements are:
3.1.1 Widespread introduction of ICT education in public and private educational institutions is a prerequisite for producing skilled ICT manpower. Facilities shall be built to promote ICT training and computer aided training at all levels of education including Primary Schools and Madrasahs. Donor agencies, non-government organizations and other development partners of the country shall be encouraged to help build the necessary capacity in this area.
3.1.2 Universities, Bangladesh Institutes of Technology and colleges, both in the public and private sectors, shall be strengthened to produce ICT graduates in four-year Computer Science and/or Engineering courses. Necessary resources will be allocated to these institutions.
3.1.3 Out of the three Science and Technology universities proposed in the Fifth Five-Year Plan, one will be established as center of excellence in ICT by giving higher allocation of resources.
3.1.4 Establish multimedia institutes upto district level to start with to produce skilled human resources to exploit the opportunity offered by the growing multimedia-market.
3.1.5 Diploma and Trade Certificate in ICT will be offered in both public and private institutes including Polytechnics. The continual skill upgrading of existing professionals working in public and private sectors shall be ensured by in-service training programmes.
3.1.6 The shortage of trained and qualified teachers and trainers for ICT training is a bottleneck to the HRD plan. To address the issue, IT-Capacity-Building of the Teachers Training Institutes (TTI) including TTCs, NAPE, PTI will be taken up. To teach the teachers and trainers, intensive post-graduate diploma courses will be introduced in TTIs. Training programmes to train and retrain them periodically to keep them up-to-date with the technological progress in the area of ICT will be introduced. ICT literacy will be a desirable requirement in the recruitment and selection of teachers. Divisional training centers of BCC will provide TOT (Training for the Trainers) to build up sufficient number of skilled trainers.
3.1.7 As it would be difficult to train teachers in ICT in large number using the present infrastructure, deploy virtual ICT trainers wherever possible. CD and web based course ware development and use shall be encouraged to promote computer-aided education at all level of education.
3.1.8 To address the issue of deficiency in English and mathematics education, a crash programme shall be taken up to train teachers. To ensure standard and quality of ICT education, a national certification and accreditation system shall be developed and implemented.
3.1.9 Take up programmes to develop quality ICT professionals and skilled personnel to ensure success in the global software and ICT-enabled services market. Encourage and support formal and informal sector to adopt internationally accepted standards in training programs and to introduce globally acceptable standards.
3.1.10 Use the potential of ICT for delivery of distance education to help stretch the country’s limited teaching resources and ensure quality education to all.
3.1.11 Qualified and skilled teachers will be brought in from abroad in the fields where local teachers are not available.
3.1.12 Syllabus and Course Curricula for all levels of Computer Science training will be updated continuously
3.1.5 Diploma and Trade Certificate in ICT will be offered in both public and private institutes including Polytechnics. The continual skill upgrading of existing professionals working in public and private sectors shall be ensured by in-service training programmes.
3.1.6 The shortage of trained and qualified teachers and trainers for ICT training is a bottleneck to the HRD plan. To address the issue, IT-Capacity-Building of the Teachers Training Institutes (TTI) including TTCs, NAPE, PTI will be taken up. To teach the teachers and trainers, intensive post-graduate diploma courses will be introduced in TTIs. Training programmes to train and retrain them periodically to keep them up-to-date with the technological progress in the area of ICT will be introduced. ICT literacy will be a desirable requirement in the recruitment and selection of teachers. Divisional training centers of BCC will provide TOT (Training for the Trainers) to build up sufficient number of skilled trainers.
3.1.7 As it would be difficult to train teachers in ICT in large number using the present infrastructure, deploy virtual ICT trainers wherever possible. CD and web based course ware development and use shall be encouraged to promote computer-aided education at all level of education.
3.1.8 To address the issue of deficiency in English and mathematics education, a crash programme shall be taken up to train teachers. To ensure standard and quality of ICT education, a national certification and accreditation system shall be developed and implemented.
3.1.9 Take up programmes to develop quality ICT professionals and skilled personnel to ensure success in the global software and ICT-enabled services market. Encourage and support formal and informal sector to adopt internationally accepted standards in training programs and to introduce globally acceptable standards.
3.1.10 Use the potential of ICT for delivery of distance education to help stretch the country’s limited teaching resources and ensure quality education to all.
3.1.11 Qualified and skilled teachers will be brought in from abroad in the fields where local teachers are not available.
3.1.12 Syllabus and Course Curricula for all levels of Computer Science training will be updated continuously
3.2 ICT Infrastructure
3.2.1 To ensure capacity building of the nation in the field of Information Technology and to attain a sustainable growth of the ICT sector of Bangladesh and to help compete in the expanding global ICT market, Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology and BCC should be appropriately strengthened.
3.2.2. To support the growing demand of the ICT sector, appropriate ICT infrastructure to be established immediately both in public and private sector. As telecommunication infrastructure is an integral part of ICT, so the telecommunication sector should be deregulated and made open to private sector investors as early as possible.
3.2.3. In order to establish direct connectivity with international information and communication backbone Bangladesh will join Fiber Optic Submarine Cable network.
3.2.4 Development of telecommunication infrastructure should be considered as Infrastructure Development Industries like Development of Road, Electricity, Power, Computer/ICT Industry etc.
3.2.5. Facilitate development of telecommunication infrastructure at the least possible cost with little or no customs duty during construction of the infrastructure up to June , 2006.
3.2.6 As telecommunication infrastructure [Telephone Exchange, Towers, Radio/Telephone Transmission Lines etc.] are similar to electric power infrastructure [Generator, Pylons, Power Grid and Gas Transmission Lines], so Customs Duty & Tax etc. should be amended accordingly in the same line .
3.2.7 Cellular telephone handsets are being increasingly used as terminals for emailing and other ICT uses. Customs duty & tax etc. of cellular mobile telephone handsets should be brought down to a reasonable level.
3.2.8 The use of ICT and information services should be affordable to the people; and therefore the cost (and hence the price) of carriage. Infrastructure & Services should be provided by a multiplicity of enterprises like the BTTB, Railways, Electricity and Gas Companies.
3.2.9 Bangladesh Telegraph and Telephone Board (BTTB) has resources like land, MW/UHF Towers all over the country which should be shared with other Private sector companies for augmenting Information Infrastructure. BTRC should take the leadership to coordinate the activities of Public Utility sectors [BTTB, PDB, Gas, Railway etc.] and make their existing dormant/underutilized infrastructure and resources (land, Microware/UHF Towers building, Radio Towers, Power Pylons, Cable Duct etc.) for the promotion of ICT. BTRC should encourage cooperation between BTTB, Railways, PDB, REB Power Grid Company, Oil and Gas Companies, etc., which have right of way and infrastructure to build digital microwave and optical fiber based photonic information transport systems for use by ICT service providers.
3.2.9 BTTB should cooperate with Private Licensed ICT service providers to transform its underutilized resources into countrywide Information Infrastructure on commercial bassis To this end, BTTB should make joint venture agreements with Private Lincensed ICT service providers where BTTB will make available its resources like land, Microware/UHF Towers, Cable Duct etc. on a commercial basis under existing rules and practice.The Licensed Private ICT service providers shall provide necessary finance and technology to construct countrywide National Information Infrastructure (NII) for use of all Telecommunication and Internet Service Providers (ISP).
3.2.10 BTTB will increasingly shift its role from Service Provider to individual subscribers Infrastucture Provider to all other Telecommunication Service Providers and ISPs on commercial basis.
3.2.11 Socio-economic development can be accelerated if more people can have access to information. Teledensity is important in this respect and it will be increased to broaden the coverage, which will improve the socio-economic condition of the people through ICT-related activities in line with experience of developed countries.
3.2.12 Basic telecommunication facilities will be extended to the rural and under-served areas to bring the greater mass into the stream of ICT activities both by the public and private sector.
3.2.13 Advanced and new technologies will be introduced to expand the existing network and will be extended gradually to the rural and under served areas.3.2.14 Telecommunication facility will be made available to all segments of the society and all of the present and emerging services will be provided at an affordable cost.
3.2.15 To provide dial-up Internet access from local telephone calls ISPs will be provided with relevant technological facilities .
3.2.16 The Internet facility will be extended to all the district headquarters and subsequently to its adjacent areas upto Upzila levels. Internet will be provided to the educational institutions and libraries .
3.2.17 To ensure public access to information, Cyber Kiosks will be set up in all Post offices, Union complex and Upzila complex. Private sector participation will be encouraged to set up these facilities.
3.2.18 To support the installation of ISPs in the country national high speed communication backbone for Internet will be developed and international high-speed gateway facilities for ISPs will be provided on commercial basis.
3.2.19 Inter-ISP communication is time consuming and costly as there is no Internet exchange in the country at present. The problem will be solved by establishing Internet exchange.
3.2.20 An integrated flexible and reliable nation-wide information communication network capable of voice, audio, video, data and graphics transmission will be ensured. National Information Infrastructure will be developed and it will be directly connected to Global Information Infrastructure through Information superhighway to create, collect and sell software and provide ICT enabled services to the world-market through involvement of both the public and private sectors.
3.2.21 To improve the quality of present telecommunication services and to help provide value added services analog telephone-switches and transmission link of the existing telephone network will be replaced by digital switches and digital transmission link as early as possible.
3.2.22 The bandwidth capacity and availability will be ensured all over the country at a reasonable cost to encourage the growth of Internet, ICT industries, e-Commerce and e-Government
3.2.23 Development of local technological capabilities through local ICT industry will be emphasized. The service component of the ICT industry will be conducted by local private firms, in association with foreign firms as and where possible.
3.2.24 Hi-Tech Zones will be established through technology transfer with the cooperation of foreign companies and Bangladeshis working abroad. Software Technology Park with dedicated and advanced data communication facilities shall be established and software development and export companies will be encouraged to set up workspace in those parks at preferential terms.
3.2.25 A central depository for collection and dissemination of ICT information and research findings will be developed. This will be done under a network, connecting all university libraries and research organization to this central depository, which in turn will be connected to the Internet.
3.2.26 Solar power will be encouraged specially in those inaccessible areas where use of ICT is constrained due to lack of electricity
3.2.27 Use of VoIP and WLL (Wireless Local Loop) technologies will be reviewed and realistic measures taken thereafter.
3.3 Research and Development in ICT
3.3.1 Research and development in ICT will focus on need based fundamental and applied research contributing to the improvement of quality and efficiency of the application to our ICT industry.
3.3 Research and Development in ICT
3.3.1 Research and development in ICT will focus on need based fundamental and applied research contributing to the improvement of quality and efficiency of the application to our ICT industry.
3.3.2 Bangladesh Computer Council will encourage ICT R&D activities carried out by the public and private sector organisations.
3.3.3 BCC along with ICT industries, will assist in formulating plans to conduct need-based R&D activities in the Universities, BITs and public & private sector R&D institutions and encourage the younger generation in these activities. The ICT industry may fund for R&D activities for new ICT products and services through Industry-Academia collaboration.
3.3.4 A central on-line data bank for scientific and technological information will be established, which can be accessed by educational institutions and other R&D organisations.
3.3.5 R&D efforts on Bangla text processing, Bangla voice recognition, translation and synthesis will be intensified.
3.3.6 Technology Corporations such as Microsoft, IBM, Computer Associates, Oracle, SAP etc. will be approached to set up their R & D Centers in Bangladesh.
3.3.7 Contents for Internet and Intranet will be developed in Bangla
3.4.1.1 To develop and encourage the local software industry, price preference may be given to locally developed software in all public and private sector procurement.
3.4.1.2 In order to assist fast development of local Software Industries, Government will set up an ICT Incubator. The government will extend start-up financial support to the local software industry. Non-Resident Bangladeshis and experts will be encouraged to set up software development companies.
3.4.1.3 The associations of software companies and developers should be encouraged to exchange ideas, experience and organize collective operations such as seminars, training, etc. and take part in trade delegations and trade shows for acquaintance with the international market, trends and establishment of business contacts.
3.4.1.4 The Export Promotion Bureau (EPB) and Commercial wing of Bangladesh Missions abroad shall take vigorous steps to identify and explore markets for export of software, data entry services and ICT-enabled services from Bangladesh, including promotion of strategic partnership and outsourcing opportunities.
3.4.1.5 Joint ventures between local and foreign entrepreneurs in the ICT sector will be vigorously promoted.
3.4.1.6 An annual target of 3 (three) billion US dollars from earnings of export of software, data entry and IT-enabled services shall be planned up to year 2006. The target shall be revised periodically to match the growth of the market.
3.4.2 Hardware Industry
3.4.2.1 Hardware industry often requires a huge capital investment and entrepreneurs shall be encouraged to establish production facilities for components, peripherals and accessories with joint venture cooperation and technology transfer agreements. Foreign owned and multinational companies, who will establish such production facilities in Bangladesh and employ our workforce, shall be offered special incentives.
3.4.2.2 IT/ICT Laboratories and resource center in universities and other concerned institutions will be set up to develop skilled manpower required to establish and run hardware industry.
3.4.2.3 Since the local market is still small, the hardware industry may target the export market. Dependence on foreign materials should be reduced where possible by giving incentives to local companies and protecting them from unfavorable competition. Local institutions and R&D organizations shall also be encouraged for research, design, and manufacturing of specialized informatics equipment.
3.4.3 Services Industry
3.4.3.1 Bangladesh, having the advantage of cost-effective labour, must endeavor for expansion and export of ICT-enabled services such as medical transcription, data entry, data processing, call centers etc. at home and abroad.
3.4.3.2 NGOs interested to contribute for the expansion of ICT sector, will be provided with facilities.
3.5 E-Commerce
3.5.1 The Government and the private sector will promote business in electronic form and create an environment in which it will be well secured. Government will take initiative to introduce and promote Government-to-Government (G2G) transaction under the purview of e-commerce. Gradually this initiative will also be extended from G2G to Government to Business (G2B) transaction in the same line.
3.5.2 Authentication of the identities of both buyer and seller or the involved parties in an electronic transaction is crucial to promote inter-bank transaction, encryption e-commerce. Security of electronic transaction should be ensured through appropriate measures.
3.5.3 Establish immediately inter-banking payment system in electronic form.
3.5.4 Legal framework to provide the guiding principles, rules and legislation for e-Commerce shall be put in place.
3.6 e-Government/e-Governance
3.6.1 The Government shall use ICT system within the public administration to improve efficiency, reduce wastage of resources, enhance planning and raise the quality of services.
3.6.2 Government shall implement wide-spread ICT systems to provide nation wide coverage and access by any citizen to the government databases and administrative systems which can be used to extend public services to the remotest corner.
3.6.3 All Government ministries, divisions, departments, autonomous bodies and all District headquarters, Upzilla headquarters and Union Parishad offices must be networked to the National Data Resource Centre in the shortest possible time. The centre shall be a system of national databases having capacity to store and supply rapidly all necessary information on the economic, cultural and social situation of our country.
3.6.4 Each Ministry, Division, Government body shall create a ICT Cell, to be managed and run by well trained ICT professionals to plan, coordinate and implement ICT projects and services. Special compensation package comparable to that of private sector shall be introduced to encourage ICT professionals.
3.6.5 All Ministries, Divisions, agencies of government and autonomous organizations shall set up web sites where all policy documents and information relevant to the public shall be posted as early as possible and regularly updated. There will be a web portal of Bangladesh Government from which link will be provided to the web sites, like e-forms, e-procurement, e-recruitment, e-results etc.
3.6.6 Government will introduce and promote ICT based services like G2G (Government to Government), G2E (Government to Employee), G2C (Government to Customer) etc.
3.6.7 Preference shall be given to ICT literate candidates for the purpose of recruitment in public offices. ICT-literacy shall also be evaluated in the ACR of officials to ensure utilization of ICT in the public services.
3.6.8 In order to establish database on the secondary schools which are providing computers training at grass root level, MIS will be introduced.
3.7.1 Software copyright provisions embodied in the Copyright Act 2000 will be implemented by promptly setting up appropriate enforcing bodies as mentioned in the Act.
3.7.2 ICT Act should be enacted immediately to protect against computer crimes such as computer fraud, hacking and damage to programs and data and introducing/spreading computer viruses.
3.7.3 Data security and interoperability should be ensured through actions such as setting of encryption standards and international agreements on interoperability.
3.7.4 With the increase in the use of Internet and Information Technology in every sphere of human activities, formulation of new laws or amendment to the existing ones should be done as deemed necessary, to ensure security of data, freedom of information.
3.7.5 ICT will be used by the law enforcing agencies to ensure safety and security of life and property of the citizen.
3.7.6 Agencies like Police, NBR and BAC shall use ICT for quick disposal and monitoring of investigation of cases.
3.7.7 Bangladesh Armed forces should use ICT to the fullest extent to increase their efficiency and effectiveness.
3.8 Health Care.
3.8.2 Telemedicine System Network shall be introduced throughout the country for cost-effective delivery of health care services. The Telemedicine Network will be used for rural patient management, distant medical education, training of health professionals and to develop mass awareness for disease prevention.
3.8.3 Development of Bangladesh Health Portal should be given priority for appropriate growth of e-health and telemedicine referral system. International tele-consultation through telemedicine for critical patients will be promoted in both private and public sector.
3.8.4 All public hospitals and medical research centers shall be linked by computer networks with Medical center of excellence as the central hub in order to make expert services available throughout the country. This network may be gradually extended to the local level.
3.9.1 Agriculture including fisheries and livestock is the main source of earnings for the majority of the people of Bangladesh and hence use of ICT systems in these sectors are very much essential to reap its unutilized potentials and thereby improving the socio economic conditions particularly of the rural people. Proper initiatives will be taken to utilize ICT systems in agro-based industries, agricultural research, and dissemination of agricultural technology, agri-business development to the farmers and preparation and maintenance of agricultural database.
3.10.1 Nation-wide ICT systems will be implemented for rural development activities, agricultural, horticulture, fisheries and livestock extension for farmers, career guidance for youth, technology guidance for rural enterprises, micro level planning etc. Communities and user groups or beneficiaries would be actively encouraged to participate in all such activities.
3.10.2 Public grievance redressal will be incorporated in the ICT-based system to facilitate access to citizens through any of the kiosks, public facilitation centers or Government offices. It would be made email based and strengthened to facilitate monitoring and on-line responses.
3.10.3 Non-government organizations will be encouraged to establish centers at the village level for providing hardware/software or other support services. At the same time the Government will use both the formal and non-formal channels to disseminate information about the application, advantages to communities of the use of ICT.
3.11.1 The government will introduce an ICT-based integrated transport management system.
3.7 Legal Issues
3.7.1 Software copyright provisions embodied in the Copyright Act 2000 will be implemented by promptly setting up appropriate enforcing bodies as mentioned in the Act.
3.7.2 ICT Act should be enacted immediately to protect against computer crimes such as computer fraud, hacking and damage to programs and data and introducing/spreading computer viruses.
3.7.3 Data security and interoperability should be ensured through actions such as setting of encryption standards and international agreements on interoperability.
3.7.4 With the increase in the use of Internet and Information Technology in every sphere of human activities, formulation of new laws or amendment to the existing ones should be done as deemed necessary, to ensure security of data, freedom of information.
3.7.5 ICT will be used by the law enforcing agencies to ensure safety and security of life and property of the citizen.
3.7.6 Agencies like Police, NBR and BAC shall use ICT for quick disposal and monitoring of investigation of cases.
3.7.7 Bangladesh Armed forces should use ICT to the fullest extent to increase their efficiency and effectiveness.
3.8 Health Care.
3.8.1 The main focus in the use of ICT and communication technologies in Healthcare will be to deliver new capabilities for hospitals and healthcare providers. ICT should be used to develop such capabilities specifically in the areas of electronic medical records, telemedicine, medical and health education, etc.
3.8.2 Telemedicine System Network shall be introduced throughout the country for cost-effective delivery of health care services. The Telemedicine Network will be used for rural patient management, distant medical education, training of health professionals and to develop mass awareness for disease prevention.
3.8.3 Development of Bangladesh Health Portal should be given priority for appropriate growth of e-health and telemedicine referral system. International tele-consultation through telemedicine for critical patients will be promoted in both private and public sector.
3.8.4 All public hospitals and medical research centers shall be linked by computer networks with Medical center of excellence as the central hub in order to make expert services available throughout the country. This network may be gradually extended to the local level.
3.9 Agriculture and Poverty Alleviation
3.9.1 Agriculture including fisheries and livestock is the main source of earnings for the majority of the people of Bangladesh and hence use of ICT systems in these sectors are very much essential to reap its unutilized potentials and thereby improving the socio economic conditions particularly of the rural people. Proper initiatives will be taken to utilize ICT systems in agro-based industries, agricultural research, and dissemination of agricultural technology, agri-business development to the farmers and preparation and maintenance of agricultural database.
3.10 Social Welfare
3.10.1 Nation-wide ICT systems will be implemented for rural development activities, agricultural, horticulture, fisheries and livestock extension for farmers, career guidance for youth, technology guidance for rural enterprises, micro level planning etc. Communities and user groups or beneficiaries would be actively encouraged to participate in all such activities.
3.10.2 Public grievance redressal will be incorporated in the ICT-based system to facilitate access to citizens through any of the kiosks, public facilitation centers or Government offices. It would be made email based and strengthened to facilitate monitoring and on-line responses.
3.10.3 Non-government organizations will be encouraged to establish centers at the village level for providing hardware/software or other support services. At the same time the Government will use both the formal and non-formal channels to disseminate information about the application, advantages to communities of the use of ICT.
3.11 Transportation
3.11.1 The government will introduce an ICT-based integrated transport management system.
3.11.2 Commercial transport agencies will be encouraged to deploy Information Technology for dynamic route planning and traffic management.
3.11.3 ICT will be used for online booking and ticketing services of all public and private transport companies.
3.12 Tourism
To harness the potential of the tourism industry in Bangladesh, Information Technology should be strengthened aggressively :
To harness the potential of the tourism industry in Bangladesh, Information Technology should be strengthened aggressively :
3.12.1 Information Technology should be used to project tourists‘ attractions in Bangladesh through the Internet.
3.12.2 A reliable, comprehensive, on-line information system to satisfy the needs of the tourists for travel and accommodation to deliver instant and up-to-date information will be developed.
3.12.3 The partnership with both the local and foreign agencies relevant to tourism will be strengthened and encouraged to introduce on-line reservation for travel and accommodation, booking and ticketing for arts and entertainment events and shopping.
3.13 Environment
The growing environmental pollution has endangered all forms of lives including the human existence. In this era of wired world, the Information Technology can help build the capabilities to fight against the environmental degradation.
3.13.1 Information Technology will be deployed to collect and disseminate information on environmental problems and their causes in order to create awareness about environment among the common people.
3.13.2 Information system for making a complete inventory of existing flora & fauna of Bangladesh, their habitats and other natural communities whose existence has been endangered will be created.
3.13.3 GIS and other ICT-based systems will be set up for planning at the national level, for agricultural crops estimation, for conservation of nature while accommodating compatible land use to maintain the ecological balance.
3.13.4 Information and Communication Technology will be used to help solve the most pressing problems of environment in the urban areas like toxic emissions from vehicles, industries and other sources.
3.14 Judiciary
3.14.1 To enhance the capacity of the judiciary, computer based Management Information System (CMIS), with suitable Wide Area Network (WAN) and Local Area Network (LAN), will be established for the Supreme Court and for the District Courts and Tribunals. It may consists of three inter-related modules, namely,
(i) a case management module,
(i) a case management module,
(ii) a legal framework module, essentially covering two basic sources of updates, namely the Bangladesh legislative code and the Bangladesh case law (reported Supreme Court rulings) database and
(iii) a court administration module, whose areas of application may include court inspection, planning and budgeting, transactions, financial accounts, staff-related information and reporting, statistical applications and records management.
3.15 Regional and International Cooperation
3.15.1 The Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology and BCC will be the focal point for the regional and international cooperation in the area of Information and Communication Technology.
3.15.2 The Ministry of Science and ICT shall explore Regional, Sub-Regional and International cooperation and execute collaborative agreements on ICT with developed and developing countries as well as with relevant international agencies and development partners.
3.15.3 The Ministry of Science and ICT will facilitate participation in the regional and international forum to reap benefit for the country’s economy.
4.0 Implementation and Monitoring
4.1 Funds and Resources
4.1.1 Government spending in ICT shall be increased to at least 2% of ADP by 2006.
4.1.2 New budget provision for ICT should be created for all Ministries, Divisions, Departments and Bodies and all Autonomous sectors should be encouraged to make their own investment in the application of ICT in production, trade and services. ERD should explore external assistance for necessary infrastructure and human resources development conforming to the ICT Policy.
4.1.3 Those ICT companies will get preferential terms, which will be able to meet up 20 percent of its revenue expenditure from the earnings of export of software and ICT-enabled services.
4.1.4 A centralized fund for R&D and HRD will be created within BCC. It will be encouraged to contribute 1% of all profits from Software and ICT-enabled services to the R&D and HRD fund.
4.2 Institutional Arrangement for ICT Policy Updating, Standardizing, Implementing and Monitoring
4.2.1 In order to make best utilization of ICT and exploit its immense potential in the economic, social, commercial, and scientific fields a National ICT Task Force headed by the Hon’ble Prime Minister has already been formed. This apex national body will guide in updating, standardizing, implementing, and monitoring the ICT policy.
4.2.2 The Ministry of Science and Information & Communication Technology will collaborate with all Ministries/Divisions/Departments/Autonomous Bodies including Banks and Insurances to promote and use ICT in respective areas of operation.
4.2.3 MOSICT shall remain alert and apprise the Government on the progress and development of ICT sector both at home and abroad.
4.2.4. MOSICT will work in unison with the private sector and Universities as promoter of ICT activities and business.
4.2.5 MOSICT and BCC will be reorganized and strengthened in phases to cope with the present need and future requirement of ICT.
For Original version of "National ICT Policy 2002" please visit:
For Original Bangla version of RTI please visit:
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