Speakers at a policy dialogue underscored the need for creating awareness among the common people to ensure digital safety and positive use of digital platforms. “Due to lack of awareness, many people are being victims of the cybercrimes,” said North South University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Atiqul Islam while speaking at the discussion at a hotel in the city on Saturday. Echoing the idea, Posts and Telecommunications Minister Mustafa Jabbar said there is no alternative to everyone to acquire digital skills to ensure digital security and positive use of digital platforms. Bangladesh Enterprise Institute (BEI) organised the discussion titled: Safe use of digital platforms for promoting peace and democracy in society” with BEI president ambassador M Humayun Kabir in the chair. Mustafa Jabbar said the new generation should lead the digital era and they need to be empowered with digital technology. “It is similarly important to increase the digital capacity of the parents and teachers so that they can guide the new generation in the right direction,” he added. Read: Safe Digital Space: AUW, UNDP to promote intercommunal, religious harmony Humayun Kabir laid special emphasis on the use of technology to build an inclusive society and create equal participation opportunities for all. The event was also addressed youth and sports secretary Mejbah Uddin, Charles Whiteley, Ambassador and Head of Delegation of the European Union to Bangladesh, and BEI board member and Minhaz Group managing director Minhaz Kamal Khan. Mejbah Uddin said that many steps have already been taken by his ministry to keep the youth free from the negative effects of information technology, especially social media. He, however, said only the government initiatives are not enough to address the issue. He called upon civil society to work on this issue. Charles Whiteley said that the European Union is already actively working on digital citizenship and other related issues in Bangladesh and is interested to continue the activities in the future. It was informed at the function that in collaboration with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), the BEI implemented a 12-month project at the Sadar and Paba upazilas in Rajshahi District to create public awareness among the local youths and other important stakeholders such as teachers, journalists, religious leaders. Read: Digital devices increase women's capacity to contribute to livelihoods: UNDP envoy The project “Role of Technology in Strengthening Democracy” played a major role in creating awareness among the political leaders and women to ensure the use of digital platforms and digital security for peace and democracy. It has also increased the capacity and awareness of youth and other stakeholders on the practice of mutual respect, respect for differences and diversity, tolerance, digital etiquette, digital citizenship, digital security and democratic values. BEI assistant director Nipa Ghosh made a presentation on the project’s field level experience that shows that local youth and people of different professions use smart phones and digital platforms at a significant rate, but they lack necessary knowledge about digital etiquette, safe use of the Internet, checking fake news, preventing online fraud and harassment, practicing democratic values on digital platforms.  

By ensuring effective participation of the people in the national budget making and implementation processes, pro-people and inclusive development can be further accelerated, discussants said on Sunday. To do so, there is no alternative to increasing the extent of the exchange of views between the Parliamentarians and the citizens, they said, adding that digital platforms can facilitate such interactions. The discussants came up with the opinions at the inauguration of the ‘Digital Budget Information Helpdesk’ programme of the non-government think tank Unnayan Shamannay. Under this programme, parliamentarians, media professionals, researchers, and other stakeholders will be able to get budget-related research and information support from the research team of Unnayan Shamannay. Also read: Budget to propose special VAT reduction to boost small businesses At the same time, by using a website named ‘Amader Shangshad’ (Our Parliament), voters will be able to communicate their budget-related demands and suggestions to their respective parliamentarians. Additionally, before and after the budget for the next fiscal year is proposed, budget-related live discussion sessions will be broadcasted  via social media platforms (where people will be able to directly interact with the sector experts). The programme was inaugurated virtually by Chair of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Information Hasanul Haq Inu. Unnayan Shamannay Chair and former Governor of Bangladesh Bank Dr Atiur Rahman delivered welcome remarks. Dr. Rahman pointed out that the budget for the next fiscal year is going to be proposed under especial circumstances. On the one hand, there are the demands for recovery following the pandemic; and on the other hand, there is pressure to go for a somewhat contractionary fiscal policy in the context of the national macroeconomic situation caused by the geopolitical turmoil, he said. Stakeholders will be looking to this budget to direct towards a balanced approach. In this context, the services of the Digital Budget Information Helpdesk will be especially useful for the stakeholders- opined Dr. Atiur. Inu pointed out that the lawmakers are especially interested to know the extent to which the budgets are aligned with the national macroeconomic aspirations. Also read: New budget to focus on agro investment It would be really appreciated if those responsible for the digital helpdesk can provide data and research support to track these issues, he said. Unnayan Shamannay, for over a decade, has been providing budget-related information and research support to the honorable Parliamentarians from the Budget Information Help Desk operated from the Bangladesh National Parliament during the budget sessions. This year, the Digital Budget Information Help Desk initiative has been launched to provide similar support to both the parliamentarians as well as other stakeholders. The online launching event was moderated by the organization’s Project Coordinator Zahid Rahman and the closing remarks were delivered by the organization’s Emeritus Fellow and eminent sociologist Khondoker Shakhawat Ali.

For the last few months, stories after stories are breaking about theft and fraud by digital platforms. It's unusual considering the country is trying to brand itself "Digital Bangladesh" but coming across digital theft so frequently. These consumer goods selling online super shops have managed to milk millions from the public and stolen crores in the process.  They range from the big players like E-valy, Orange, Dhamaka etc and others to many small players who steal and disappear and the media doesn’t even get to hear about them.  It’s not a crisis going by the regulators and law enforcers to whom few things in life are a problem but the consuming public who find they are left without any protection. Cheating by digital online shops is not uncommon globally. However, regulations to protect the client from such elements are also common. These protections are at several levels from the technological to the legal to market operational guidelines. Read: Evaly is under ACC probe for alleged misappropriation In the case of Bangladesh, none seem to be present. Just about anyone is allowed to enter the market, start a business, do as they wish, offer any sorts of discounts and after gathering money leave the building. It’s become so common that barring a few top flight names with track records like Chaldal and Daraz , others are looked upon with suspicion. Bangladesh business structure is crime friendly The problem is structural in Bangladesh. While in countries where such operations function, the business structure is driven by market rules which tries to prevent theft before it’s committed. But the basics remain the same which is profit making based on market performance, satisfaction of clients and protection of the consumer. However, in the case of Bangladesh, the odds are that it will be hyper profit based and clients are left at the mercy of the scammers. And the scammers rarely suffer, it’s the consumer that does. The reason is, no scammers are punished because the system is not geared towards their restraint. The business model unfortunately favours the scammers so heavily that nothing has developed as protection tools for the clients. The best example of this is P.K. Haldar, who ripped off millions of depositors' savings from not one but four leasing companies.  As events and facts have shown, almost everyone in the financial system was involved and Haldar’s scam had gone on for years without any opposition by the system. He took advantage of the system because he knew that it meant facilitating crime and getting away if one can. It’s not meant for client protection. Sadly and scarily that is the dominant model. Read: Owners of e-orange.shop sent to jail over fraud case One really can’t say that the future looks good for digital economies. None of the outfits have performed well so perhaps any protection must be self-protection and online groceries may be fine but for the rest for the moment it’s best to buy from street shops. Safer. 

Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen has said artificial intelligence, Blockchain and other modern technologies need to be gradually introduced for the greater welfare of people and reaping the benefits of Digital Bangladesh. He laid emphasis on recalibrating and redesigning the existing institutional structure to extend the services to the doorsteps of people moving to digital platforms. In the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, Masud Momen mentioned, there is no alternative to becoming self-sufficient in information technology. He noted the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for turning the dream of Digital Bangladesh into reality and Prime Minister's Adviser on ICT Sajeeb Wazed, for leading from the front as the driving force behind the design of today's Digital Bangladesh. Read:Int'l support architecture for Asia-Pacific LDCs need of the hour: Momen