Highlights

• ICT sector plagued by corruption
• Hi-Tech parks fail to attract investors
• Lack of transparency in project implementation
• Misuse of funds to benefit preferred vendors
• Calls for robust project evaluations

The White Paper on the State of the Bangladesh Economy, submitted to the Chief Adviser today (1 December), identified the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector as one of the most affected by corruption.

“The review of the White Paper puts the banking sector on top of the most corruption-ravaged sectors, followed by physical infrastructure, and energy and power,” it reads.

ICT was also identified as one of the most corruption-affected sectors by its operational and technological novelty, it added.

The White Paper committee’s comment highlights years-long corruption allegations in the key sector the Awami League pledged to improve during the 2008 election for the sake of national progress.

And the story later frustrated the youth and technology experts due to huge waste of taxpayers’ money in improper projects. These lacked transparencies and were alleged to benefit people close to the then regime.

In the one and half decades of Sheikh Hasina’s ruling, the state spent nearly Tk29,000 crore to build “Digital Bangladesh” and later “Smart Bangladesh by 2041.”

Most of the funds were allocated to infrastructure projects, which still require justification from sector experts. For instance, Hi Tech parks outside major cities barely attracted investors.

Government-funded projects aimed at youth ICT training, women empowerment, and local app and game development, costing hundreds of crores of Taka, appear to have primarily benefited officials and their preferred vendors, reveals the gradually unfolding facts.

The interim government in August formed a committee to evaluate the ongoing projects already recommended to downsize them in lots of unjustified cases. It will also dig deeper to find the anomalies in the already finished projects.

In an example of how the government projects were being justified in questioned ways, the white paper mentioned a 2013-18 ICT Division project “Leveraging ICT for Growth, Employment, and Governance Projects” that had a 43% cost increase to Tk774 crore, from its original budget of Tk521.97 crore.

According to the White Paper, the large capacity-building initiative aimed to promote the IT sector and train 30,000 individuals for employment within it. The evaluation report from the Planning Ministry’s Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation Division showed strong satisfaction with the project’s success.

However, it overlooked the contributions of training institutions, colleges, and universities that also played a role in advancing the sector, the White Paper stated.

Additionally, the quality of the evaluation report was inadequate, as it failed to distinguish the marginal impacts of training 30,000 individuals on the entire IT sector.

This analytical weakness in assessing the project’s impacts has contributed to the continuation of various ICT and other projects that lack tangible benefits.

“It highlights the need for more robust evaluations to ensure that future initiatives are grounded in a clear understanding of their actual contributions to the sector,” said the White Paper.

Bangladesh lags behind many comparator countries in a number of technological indexes, despite the digital and smart nation narratives.

ICT Advisor Nahid Islam has said due to ‘irregularities’, Bangladesh has not realised the full benefits of the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ initiative despite a substantial investment of Tk 650 billion in the telecommunications and ICT sectors under the Awami League government.

Speaking at an ADP review meeting at the Posts and Telecommunication Division on Monday, Nahid criticised the execution of numerous costly projects under the ‘Digital Bangladesh’ banner which, according to him, failed to deliver their promised impact.

From fiscal year 2010-11 to 2024-25, the ICT Division implemented projects worth Tk 250 billion, while the Posts and Telecommunications Division accounted for projects totaling Tk 400 billion.

Despite these investments, Bangladesh scored a modest 62 out of 100 in the June 2024 edition of the ICT Development Index by the United Nations International Telecommunication Union, trailing behind nations such as Myanmar, Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Vietnam, and Bhutan.

Highlighting the country’s technological lag, Nahid referenced the May 2024 Ookla Speedtest Global Index, where Bangladesh ranked 109th out of 147 countries in internet speed, below Kenya.

Also, Bangladesh placed 108th in broadband internet performance, with India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Rwanda, and Ghana all performing better.

In the realm of artificial intelligence, the IMF’s June 2024 Artificial Intelligence Preparedness Index placed Bangladesh 113th, again behind India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Rwanda, and Ghana.

The Digital Quality of Life Index 2023 by cybersecurity firm Surfshark saw Bangladesh drop five notches to 82nd among 121 countries, with internet speed 5 percent below the global average.

Rankings in the Key Government Index, e-security, and internet purchasing capacity were similarly below par.

Nahid also pointed out that Bangladesh lags in freelancing, ranked 29th among the top 30 global destinations, as per an April 2024 report by US-based CEOWORLD magazine, trailing behind India and Pakistan.

These indicators, according to Nahid, reflect not just the failure to enjoy the full benefits of digital initiatives but also suggest pervasive irregularities in the sector.

He criticised the frequent delays and the need for repeated extensions in project timelines, calling for more sensible proposals regarding extensions.

Nahid emphasised that timely and proper project completion could significantly propel the nation’s progress in internet and telecommunication sectors, benefitting all Bangladeshis.

The meeting disclosed that nine projects are currently underway within the four offices of the Posts and Telecommunications Division for the fiscal year 2024-25, involving entities such as Bangladesh Telecommunications Company Limited, or BTCL, Teletalk Bangladesh Limited, the Directorate of Posts, and Bangladesh Submarine Cables PLC.

As of August 2024, national-level project progress for the fiscal year was reported at 1.02 percent, with the Posts and Telecommunications Division achieving a progress rate of 3.84 percent.

Investigative journalism is the guardian angel of public interest—it digs deep, asks the uncomfortable questions, and pulls back the curtain on misdeeds. In Bangladesh’s tech and telecom sectors, where billions in public funds flow into infrastructure, procurement, and innovation, investigative ICT journalism becomes not just relevant—but vital. It’s the only line of defense against shady contracts, overpriced gadgets, and decisions that serve the powerful instead of the people.

At the center of this mission stands one relentless figure: Md. Mojahidul Islam, known to many as “Dheow.” A rare breed in the newsroom jungle, he’s not just another tech writer reviewing the latest gadgets—he’s the only investigative ICT journalist in Bangladesh with two decades of daring behind him. Fluent in both “geek” and “government,” he bridges the worlds of code and policy like no one else.

His story began in the late 1990s, when the concept of “digital Bangladesh” was still just a dream. In 1999, Mojahidul joined The New Nation as a part-time associate editor, just as the paper was launching a tech page. Then, in 2002, he led the launch of Online, the first weekly Bangla tech page in Ajker Kagoj. By 2003, he was Assistant Editor at E-Biz, rising quickly through the ranks to Acting Editor. In 2006, he joined The Daily Ittefaq, one of the country’s most respected newspapers, where he became the face of tech journalism, managing sections like Daily IT Corner, Education, Jobs, and Corporate. By 2009, he was officially crowned as Technology Editor.

But journalism isn’t his only arena—Mojahidul is also a prolific author of Bangla tech books. His writing demystifies the digital world for Bengali-speaking readers in Bangladesh and across West Bengal, India. His books are more than bestsellers—they’re tools of empowerment, translated into practical knowledge for students and tech lovers alike.

To sharpen his blade, Mojahidul has traveled the globe—receiving elite training in Artificial Intelligence, Internet Resource Management, and financial journalism. He earned a prestigious fellowship from the Thomson Reuters Foundation in London and continues to apply international insights to local issues.

In 2007, he took on a leadership role as General Secretary of the Bangladesh ICT Journalists Forum (BIJF), the only organization of its kind. Through columns, roundtables, and relentless advocacy, he championed ICT awareness, government accountability, and journalists’ rights. In 2019, he was elected President of BIJF, becoming a vocal force for media freedom and journalistic protection.

Why did he choose tech journalism, especially when it was a road rarely traveled?

“In a country of 150 million Bangla speakers, I wanted to make technology accessible in our own language,” Mojahidul explains. Back in the early 2000s, English-language tech books were rare and elitist—available only in a few shops in Dhaka’s New Market. Most people thought computers were mysterious tools for scientists. But Mojahidul saw the future: he believed ICT would revolutionize education, agriculture, healthcare, and communication.

“So I picked up my pen,” he says. Even while juggling his studies in computer science, he began writing articles that resonated far and wide. Readers wrote back, hungry for more. Their curiosity fueled his passion.

In his own words: “Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a powerful tool for human resource development and national progress.” He knew Bangladesh needed a digital awakening—and he intended to help spark it.

His most significant contributions, however, lie in tech investigative journalism.

In 2002, Bangladesh unveiled its first national ICT policy—a bold attempt to modernize government, empower youth, and digitize the future. Around that time, Mojahidul dropped a bombshell: an exposé that revealed the urgent need to computerize all government offices. The report sent ripples across ministries and helped spark actual reform.

That same year, the government launched the Support to ICT Programme (SICT) under the Planning Division, backed by over BDT 83 crore. Mojahidul published an in-depth report dissecting the project—highlighting risks, procurement flaws, and opportunities for improvement.

And did the government listen?

“Sometimes, yes,” he says. After his report exposing corruption in the procurement of 80,000 laptops, projectors, and network devices by the Ministry of Education, an investigative committee was formed. Some officials lost their jobs—others were quietly reinstated. But the mastermind behind the scam walked free, protected by political connections.

Another investigation into under-invoicing tech imports from Hong Kong—essentially tax evasion through smuggling—triggered policy-level discussions. Though action is slow, it’s coming.

Of course, none of this comes easy. Investigative tech journalism in Bangladesh is a high-stakes game. “If you just write about product launches, no one bothers you. But if you expose corruption, you face real pressure,” Mojahidul says. Still, he remains undeterred.

In recent years, new digital platforms have popped up, offering safe havens for hard-hitting stories. “It’s getting harder—but it’s also getting louder,” he believes.

For his courage, Md. Mojahidul Islam has earned a constellation of awards:
Pioneer IT Journalist of Bangladesh
Excellence in Technology Reporting
15 Years in ICT Journalism
Digital Bangladesh Award (2022)
Best Author Award
Prominent IT Journalist Award from the Ministry of ICT

His journalism doesn’t stop at exposure—it drives change. He demands accountability, ethics in tech procurement, and a future where public funds uplift citizens, not line private pockets.

Md. Mojahidul Islam isn’t just reporting the digital revolution—he’s making sure it stays honest.