Dhaka: The interim government of Bangladesh has made significant progress in creating a robust interoperable digital framework aimed at unifying fragmented digital systems to transform governance. This initiative comes one year after a mass uprising that changed the political landscape, ending Sheikh Hasina’s nearly 16-year rule.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant on the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, emphasized that the government’s vision of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) is revolutionizing governance. This new system enables seamless data exchange, coordinated service delivery, and data-driven decision-making across various ministries and agencies. Interoperability is identified as the first of four philosophical pillars guiding the government’s digital transformation strategy.
The initiative seeks to replace fragmented services with a unified, citizen-centric platform, enabling seamless data sharing and decision-making. Taiyeb highlighted the importance of engaging donor and data partners to eliminate isolated digital systems. The government has identified gaps in legal frameworks, such as the absence of a Cyber Safety Ordinance, Personal Data Protection Act, National Cloud Policy, and policies on Blockchain and AI, which are currently being addressed.
The special assistant explained that the previous administration had developed numerous digital silos, with each ministry independently managing its own systems. The current government aims to connect these isolated systems and establish interoperability as a foundational pillar of its digital transformation strategy.
To advance this goal, the government has committed to building interoperable platforms, engaging all donor and data partners to move away from isolated digital systems. As the initiative progressed, the absence of necessary legal frameworks was identified as a critical gap. While the Digital Security Act (DSA) exists, it lacks provisions for a comprehensive Cyber Safety Ordinance, Personal Data Protection Act, and other essential policies.
Taiyeb noted that the government is reforming the existing ICT and Telecom Acts, including licensing policies. Once interoperability is established, services will be delivered more effectively to the people. However, the government also recognized that data costs were disproportionately high, prompting a nationwide fiberization initiative as a strategic target.
Extensive consultations with mobile network operators and Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have led to commitments for fiberization and service improvements. The government is also focusing on elevating interoperability to enable institutions to make data-driven decisions, requiring high-quality data and robust interoperability.
The government has examined five key economic entities for data management improvements and is planning to implement interoperability in two distinct layers. This involves direct API exchanges among core economic entities and establishing a National Data Governance and Interoperability Authority encompassing all ministries and departments.
The Digital Public Infrastructure consists of two layers: the first layer focuses on legal frameworks, while the second manages interoperability exchanges for both the digital economy and national-level interoperability. These exchanges aim to generate quality data for decision-making and organize national data governance.
Taiyeb mentioned that the government is working on a comprehensive system for citizen identification with the European Union and has launched a citizen service phase of interoperability to simplify public service delivery. This phase integrates various services into a unified digital platform, known as the Citizen Phase of Interoperability.
The government is also expanding key infrastructure components, supporting startups, and enacting major reforms in entities like a2i and the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC). Efforts are underway to build long-term technical capacity for the National Cyber Security Center and establish a national Security Operations Center (SOC).
Taiyeb stated that the government has reassessed and discontinued several ICT projects, focusing on optimizing existing programs. In the telecom sector, submarine cable capacity has been increased, and new policies are being enacted to reduce dependency on India.
Finally, the government plans to digitize Bangla content to build a Bangla Large Language Model (LLM), making the language accessible for AI development. The digital strategy is structured around four key frameworks, with the next step being the transformation of ICT facilities into training and development centers.
Collaborating with NSDA, the government is designing modern training curricula to be completed by August, launching certificate-based programs in entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, Python programming, and other ICT-relevant skills.