Bangladesh Roundtable Consultation  on World Summit on the Information Society
Organized By: Bangladesh Working Group on  WSIS
Collaboration with: Bangladesh Coastal NGOs Network for Radio and Communication
& Bangladesh Friendship Education Society  (BFES)


Bangladesh Working Group on WSIS has been conducted a consultation meeting on 28 December 2002 as a process of WSIS. The meeting in the beginning addressed the aims and objectives of WSIS, which will be held on December 2003. In the Summit Bangladesh will play the role to join in the global process of information to upholding country framework on
information and communication technology.

The UN General Assembly, on 21 December 2001, adopted a Resolution (A/RES/56/183) endorsing the organization of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), to be convened under the patronage of the United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, with the International Telecommunication Union taking the lead role in its preparation along with interested UN organizations and the host countries. The governing body of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Council, at its 2001 session, endorsed the holding of the World Summit on the Information Society, to be held in two phases: in Geneva from 10-12
December 2003 and in Tunis in 2005.

The World Summit on the Information Society will provide a unique opportunity for all key stakeholders to assemble at a high-level gathering and to develop a better understanding of this revolution and its impact on the international community. It aims to bring together Heads of State, Executive Heads of United Nations agencies, industry leaders, non-governmental organizations, media representatives and civil society in a single high-level event. The roles of the various partners (Member States, UN specialized agencies, private sector and civil society) in ensuring smooth coordination of the practical establishment of the information society around the globe will also be at the heart of the Summit and its preparation.

The consultation meeting organized by Bangladesh Working Group on WSIS in collaboration with Bangladesh Friendship Education Society (BFES) & Bangladesh Coastal NGOs Network for Radio and Communications (BCNNRC) was attended by the Honorable Minister for Information and Communication Technology Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan, Chairperson of
Bangladesh Working Group on WSIS and Chairman Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Syed Marghub Morshed, Co-Chairperson of working group and Secretary for Science and ICT Karar Mahmudul Hasan, Co-Chairperson of WSIS and a noted scholar Dr. Mizanur Rahman Shelley, Member Secretary of the Group and Associate Director of Bangladesh Friendship Education Society (BFES) Reza Salim and members of the WSIS Working Group while participants from civil society groups, corporate sectors and other government representative were present in the consultation with providing their active opinion about the process of how Bangladesh can actively and effectively participate in the summit.

In the discussion the role of Bangladesh has been identified and addressed how government can address integrating people of all walks of life by facilitating affordable access of information and incorporating people with technology to the community people. It has also emphasized the social responsibility of the corporate sector as well as the development practices of how the employment generation, information access, connectivity etc can be served with a proper attention to the people.

However, the issues discussed are as follows: 1. Bangladesh has properly emphasizes connectivity. It properly gives attention to the growing digital divide in the world and within the
country as well. The digital divide has been growing between men and women, between urban and rural, between rich and poor, between literate and illiterate, between social and corporate sector. To reduce the gaps the digital opportunity can properly be utilized. And Bangladesh
Government is giving proper emphasize to introduce information and communication technology at all levels.

2. In regarding connectivity, the role of both print and electronic media was emphasized. Both the media should play the role promoting and ensuring social responsibility rather than making profit only. The media can play important role disseminating information and communication technology and its benefits to the community because ICT can play vital role generating employment and building human resources.

3. The process also highlights to build up a Knowledge Society by facilitating access to information and giving proper training and orientation to build up a skill human resource. It also gives importance to local knowledge and resources mainly concentrating to promote and preserve indigenous knowledge of the community.

4. Community media requires proper attention formulating policies and implementation. Especially, community broadcasting e.g. community radio and community tele-centre can be set up at rural levels to ensure participation which will ensure access to information and thus building a knowledge society. Simultaneously, it facilitates accountable governance by participating people at decision-making process, at planning and management level.

5. Telecommunications is also an important sector that needs to be decentralized. The monopoly in the sector should be withdrawn and ensure service and facilities properly both at urban and rural levels. According to the ITU convention 10 per cent telephones should be allocated to rural level that government would try to ensure to reduce the gap exists.

6. The poor and marginalized groups, ethnic groups, disable and illiterate groups of the society should be prioritized with proper attention including people at all levels. The Government of Bangladesh is also giving stressed to macro policy issues and has relation to the global players concerning information and communication technology. It has already formulated ICT policy and started implementation. It also emphasizes building skilled manpower to compete with global information technology trend. Bangladesh is properly taken initiatives to reduce digital gap and utilize the digital opportunity. Government also is involved in bi-lateral process to ensuring people=3D3DEDs participation in information and = communication technology and thus relates society into information age.