E-Governance: A Way Forward to Digital Bangladesh

Abstract

Digital governance models bring with them the potential to result in far-reaching changes in governance structures in developing countries. The approach to it however has to be cautious and well-thought, and should take into consideration the existing situation in developing countries, such as high rates of illiteracy, lack of private means to own an ICT connection, and poor infrastructure availability. Simple replication of popular e-governance models of the North will not be effective and may end up marginalizing people who are on the wrong side of the digital divide.The creativity lies in the use of information and blending it with the potential offered by ICT to create customized low-cost digital governance models. Understanding of the political environment is therefore a must. Solutions may often emerge by analysis of reasons behind governance failures by the people themselves and then imaginatively using digital governance models to focus on the weakest spot in the bad governance cycle to bring gradual improvements. Small successes therefore become significant landmarks in the path to transformation to good governance. Last but not the least, the existence of a civil society that is intolerant to bad governance is of no less importance. A civil society which is content or tolerant to the ways of current governance processes and refuses to engage in the political change process will find digital governance models to be of little use. “Digital Bangladesh” in its current iteration would benefit the urban middle classes and could bring significant progress. But this should not be at the expense of other provisions, which must be a priority in any event: including rural schools (chairs and tables and books and pens and fans and light bulbs and all), as well as other essential services the rural poor have been denied for so long. The two types of project are not mutually exclusive, nor need they be in competition with each other. In fact, a successful “Digital Bangladesh” would need a more literate population. A mass computer-literacy program or even a government-sponsored computer course, offered perhaps as an incentive for every student who completes his or her secondary-school education, would benefit everyone. If there is will - backed by investment - there is a way.