TECHNO-CENTRALITY is a widespread phenomenon in post-colonial states, the heart of geopolitics, and the driver of geo-economics. In today’s era, technological advancement creates a hierarchy that defines developed and underdeveloped states. Due to the knowledge-power nexus, the sharing of tech knowledge and advancements is unequal worldwide. For example, the Global South, particularly the least-developed nations, confront formidable barriers to accessing emerging technologies. Similarly, South Asian countries, Bangladesh included, look to technologically advanced countries for support, with the notable exception of India. A lack of capacity building, tech infrastructure, and global and regional tech-geopolitics shapes this situation.
Terrestrial competitions have now extended to the realm of cyber power. During the first Cold War, the race for technological and scientific development was primarily between the US and the Soviet Union, and following the fall of the Soviet Union, competition arose between the USA and China. Consequently, after the post-Cold War period, the techno-race expanded to the Indo-Pacific and became multipolar. Antony Blinken, US secretary of state, stated, ‘The post-Cold War world has ended, and intense competition is underway to shape what comes next. And at the heart of that competition is technology.’ Recently, the Russia-Ukraine war highlighted the significance of digital technologies in safeguarding national and human security. Therefore, the increasing techno-race is giving rise to tech rivalries, techno-polarisation, sanctions, and containment policies, creating obstacles for aspiring tech states.
It is undeniable that every state currently depends on technology to ensure both civilian comfort and security. For this reason, emerging technologies are in high demand in countries like Bangladesh, even though the state lacks indigenous capabilities to develop advanced technologies. In light of these complex tech-geopolitical concerns, Bangladesh has adopted a tech-central national policy to build a knowledge-based economy to address socio-economic challenges. Additionally, it is partnering with emerging technologies and digitalization processes to demonstrate power and development on the global stage. In the complexity of the knowledge-power nexus, the expansion of the tech market cannot be ignored. Thus, Bangladesh, not an exception, has realised the obligation to adopt technology to fulfil its ambition of becoming a developed state by 2041.
Bangladesh is the fastest-growing developing nation in South Asia. However, formidable challenges lie ahead for the country, including combating poverty, ensuring democratic stability, and building resilience against climate change-related extreme events. Despite these challenges, the country is making significant progress in several areas of the Human Development Index. In 2008, it launched a tech-based national policy called ‘Digital Bangladesh’. The government invested in ‘digitalization’ and ‘satellite launching projects’ to promote the country’s tech-centric interests. These initiatives can also be viewed as a nation-building strategy driven by technological inclusiveness. The key question now is whether, alongside numerous non-traditional security issues, investment in emerging and cutting-edge technology will provide a quicker solution for the government. The government has, to some extent, achieved its digital Bangladesh goals. The government has utilised digital platforms to implement an e-governance system and e-education, creating employment opportunities through the digital economy.
In 2022, the prime minister announced an ambitious vision, ‘Smart Bangladesh by 2041,’ to use advanced technologies to enhance the governance system and the lives of citizens. Regarding global tech standards, the country is in the early stages of technology adoption to address national and human security issues. In particular, the Bangladesh Bank cyber heist incident in 2016 exposed the country’s vulnerability to cyber threats. As the country aspires to adopt emerging technology, it is still transitioning towards becoming a tech-friendly state. The technological revolution also impacts human security issues and rights. Communication technology, such as mobile devices and digital platforms like Facebook or Twitter, enhances freedom of expression. Still, at the same time, they can make human security more vulnerable, as seen with new threats like cyber-attacks, data fraud, and cyber bullying affecting civilian life.
The government is taking several vital initiatives to counter cyberattacks, as they are perceived as a matter of national security. However, safeguarding its population’s data and ensuring cyber security is challenging for an aspiring country. With 66.94 million internet users and 44.70 million social media users in Bangladesh, which constitute 26.0 per cent of the total population, it becomes evident that ensuring the security of individuals in the digital domain has broadened Bangladesh’s security agenda.
The government has embraced emerging technologies by implementing various policies and laws, some of which are ambitious, such as the ‘AI Strategy 2020,’ while others, like the ‘Digital Security Act 2018,’ have sparked controversy. According to ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, there are ‘600,000 freelancers working in the ICT sector in Bangladesh,’ which, although a small proportion of the country’s population, has allowed the country to become the second-largest exporter of digital labour, competing in the global digital outsourcing market. Additionally, the demand for laptops, computers, and Android devices has rapidly increased in the country over the last decade; this is why the country has a ‘Made in Bangladesh’ policy. Bangladesh can be a hub for mobile manufacturing industries, but due to 5G installations, the production of 2G and 4G mobiles has been reduced, and companies are losing buyers. Two mobile manufacturing companies have already shut down. Till June 2022, production of mobile phones in the country was more than 2 million units, which came down to 800,000 by June 2023. The government has also invested in building hi-tech parks to establish a semiconductor manufacturing industry with tax incentives.
Bangladesh is also a part of China’s Digital Silk Road policy, with China pledging to assist Belt and Road countries in developing AI, telecommunications networks, cloud computing, mobile payment systems, and surveillance technology infrastructure. Under the Digital Silk Road project, the Chinese government provided a loan to the Bangladesh government for the ‘Info-Sarker Phase-3 Project’ in 2022. Moreover, Bangladesh and India have signed several MoUs in technological fields in recent years. For example, Bangladesh signed an MOU with India in 2017 to extend cooperation in the fields of space science, technology and applications, including remote sensing of the earth; satellite communication and satellite-based navigation; space science and planetary exploration; use of spacecraft and space systems and ground systems; and application of space technology’. In 2022, at the 7th Joint Consultative Meeting, the external affairs ministers of both India and Bangladesh called for expanding their strategic partnership to enhance cooperation in emerging technologies such as AI, cyber security, and fintech. This year, another MoU occurred between both countries on a ‘Digital Payment Mechanism’.
Despite the country’s declared neutrality through the ‘Indo-Pacific Outlook,’ the ongoing tech war and technological containment policy between regional tech powers China and India could pose more significant challenges. For instance, till today, Bangladesh has utilised a non-alignment policy and balancing approaches to maintaining good relations with India and China. But the vital factor here is that these approaches are not enough to preserve the country’s tech interest in today’s geopolitical era. For instance, India has announced to counter China in the cyber and space domains, so if the tech competition and rivalry complexity increase, Bangladesh will be caught between two regional tech powers. Therefore, Bangladesh must adopt a stronger techno-diplomacy and strategy to approach other regional tech players like South Korea, Japan and Taiwan to reduce dependency only on India and China. The global tech market is flourishing. Bangladesh can be a tech manufacturing hub, so a national tech policy is not enough; the country needs techno diplomacy and cooperation with other tech nations.
However, Bangladesh’s transformation into a tech-dependent state also brought new challenges. The digital platform has opened many doors of economic opportunity. Still, at the same time, digital platforms create massive inequality between men and women, along with a rural and urban gap. The matter of increasing cybercrime is also a significant concern for Bangladesh. Women become more vulnerable in the digital age. So, the government has to emphasise the areas mentioned above. The inclusion technology should benefit all sectors and all communities. The government’s national tech policy is undoubtedly promising, but the implementation of tech policy and initiatives still faces severe challenges. Adapting technology will create more transparency and reduce corruption in public service and governance. And technology will be a bridge between people and government.
Hence, Bangladesh’s government must synchronise national tech initiatives, diplomacy, and cooperation. Otherwise, the country may struggle to achieve its tech dream of ‘Smart Bangladesh’ by 2041.
Most Farjana Sharmin, a fellow at Centre for Governance Studies, is a PhD Student at South Asian University, New Delhi.
