Category: Bangladesh & the Digital Future
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As Bangladesh enters the final leg of its “Smart Bangladesh” roadmap, the national budget for fiscal year 2025–26 reveals both ambition and ambiguity in its treatment of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector. While some allocations signal continuity with digital transformation goals, others suggest fiscal hesitation at a moment when the country needs bold…
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A big headline is making waves this week: Google Pay is reportedly launching in Bangladesh next month. At first glance, it sounds like a major win for our digital economy. But if you’re like most people, you’re probably asking: “Didn’t we already have digital payments?” “Will this be any different from bKash or Nagad?” “Can…
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Drafted in 2019 with the support of a2i, UNDP, and the Cabinet Division, Bangladesh’s National AI Strategy was built through months of research, dialogue, and vision. Five years later, it remains unlaunched—this is my personal reflection on that journey, the delays, and what must happen next The Journey We Began with Hope In 2019, I…
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With Elon Musk’s Starlink in Bangladesh, the promise of rural connectivity is real—but so are the challenges to affordability, ISP survival, and national digital strategy. I. A Sky-Born Promise In the floodplains of Sunamganj or the remote hills of Bandarban, a stable internet connection remains a dream. On May 20, 2025, that dream edged closer…