From Dr. Mashiur Rahman :: ICT expert :: VoIP & Nanotechnology

Contents 1 Designing and developing legal policy framwork for future digital Bangladesh 2 Goal of the project 2.1 Survey 2.2 Questionnaires 2.3 Background materials 2.4 References 2.5 External links 2.6 Related information

Designing and developing legal policy framwork for future digital Bangladesh

In Bangladesh there are few examples where university (academia) and government work together for any project. North South University team is assisting the law commission ^[1] to design and develop legal policy framwork for future digital Bangladesh. It should be noted that Dr. M. Abdul Awal, a renowned scientist, was the initiator of this collaboration project.

Meeting Log:

• First meeting: 27 October 2009.
  
• Second meeting: 10 November 2009.

Goal of the project

The goal is to fomulate a Digital Bangladesh Legal Policy Framework so that the the appropriate laws and policies are in place to address the future information society.

Our present world is chancing very rapidly. New technologies are embracing in our social and business lives. We are adopting online social networking, facebook, online shopping, online banking, online education and other online services. Although Bangladesh is left behind in these areas, we need to prepare to embrace these tchnologies. We need to develop policies-laws to get benefit of this technologies and need to protect ourselves from the misuse of these technologies. We need it from national level.

We should develop new policies and laws in such way that will not stop the technological improvement.The goal of the collaboration is to find the following things,

• In which areas do we need policy-laws?
• What exists now?

Survey

To understand the peoples need, in the future Digital Bangladesh, online and offline surveys were conducted. Dr Muhammad Abdul Awal ^[2] conducted survey at his courses and Dr. Mashiur Mashiur ^[3] conducted surveys in online forums ^[4], discuss groups and mailing lists. The output of the surveys are as follows:

For online activities

• Need Online advertisement policy
  • Vendors can inform about their new product and services.
  • Online advertisement firm will be formed and will create money flow (revenue generation). Will create job opportunity in this sector.

• Need online money transaction law/policy
  • We can develop our local e-bay systems.
  • People can sell and buy products smoothly. [Output: Job opportunity and revenue generation]

• IP-TV policy
  • Internet based TV broadcasting system will be developed. [Output: Job opportunity and revenue generation]

• Privacy policy
  • To protect our privacy on online/internet.

• Need to develop Cyber law
  • To protect Cybercrime
  • Policy regarding setup of illicit website (example: pornography)
  • Adopting GPL, Creative Commons law and other copyright issues.
  • policies against provocation or personal threats to an individual through the internet
  • Spam email, Virus & malware distribution
  • for e-commerce, e-ticketing, e-learning
  • Location based service
  • Issuing digital ID
  • Distributing e-book, mp3 etc.
  • Need to review the law of ISPs (since they are not providing the better services, monitoring organization)
  • Business contracts and transactions

e-governance related

• Need to put our laws online, which will help the poeple to access the laws.

• Develop new law to make the government forms/information available to online.
  • People can download those freely and will have hassle free. [Output: Government will get more revenue, stopping the bribes]
  • Online payment of government fees, demand notes. [Output: Government will get more revenue, stopping the bribes]

• Develop new law to availa government services online.
  • example: application of passport, National ID, Licenses, Voting, Judicial deliveries,renewal services, tax payment, land manageber ment

• Accepting email, online communication as evidence in courts

Questionnaires

• Application of Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006:
  • Whether electronic signature and electronic record system has been introduced to anywhere?
  • Whether government issued any digital ID and e-signature. Any roadmap for it?
  • Wheter Rules have been framed regarding electronic signature and to fullfill the objectives stated in the Act?
  • Whether Cyber Tribunal and Appellate Tribunal have been established under the Act?
  • How many offences under the Act have been reported and tried?
  • Whether Regulations have been framed under the Act?
  • How we can update the Cyber offences stated in the Act?
• Copywrite issue: Do we need to improve our present Copyright Act, 2000. [Ref:1]
• Distribution of spam/malware/virus over email, forum, or website: Do we need to improve our Criminal Law to take immediate action. (eg, The Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898; The Penal Code, 1860; The Evidence Act, 1872)
• e-commerce: How we can protect the buyer's right? (Consumer Protection Act, 2009)
• Online Transaction System: Do we need to improve it?
• Should email or online communications be admitted as evidence in courts. (The Evidence Act, 1872)
• E-healthcare/telemedicine: How one can get redress in getting meltreatment.
• IT outsourcing: How one can get redress in a breach of contract by the foreign or domestic employer or vice-versa.
• Should we develop our online advertisement policy?
• Should we develop our IP-TV policy?
• Should we develop new law to availa government services online. (eg, application of passport, National ID, Licenses, Voting, Judicial deliveries,renewal services, tax payment, land manageber ment)

Background materials

• File:National ICT-Policy2009-Bangla-Approved.pdf National ICT Policy 2009 (approved) in Bangla
• File:National ICT Policy 2002.pdf National ICT policy 2002. (in English)
• [[1]] Report on the Law of Information Technology ACT 2002 by Law Commission.
• [[2]] Recommendation to the Government of Bangladesh by AABEA Silicon Valley Chapter SBIT2000 Conference Follow-up Committee.
• [[3]] The National Science and Technology Policy of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh (24th February, 1986)
• [[4]] ICT Policy Indonesia
• [[5]] ICT Policy Philippines
• [[6]] ICT Policy Srilanka
• [[7]] ICT Policy Nepal
• [[8]] Indian ICT Policy 2002 - 2005

References

1. ↑ Official website of Bangladesh Law Commision
2. ↑ Professor, Dept Electr Eng & Comp Sc, North South University, Dhaka. Former Tech Staff of Bell-Labs ( AT&T and Lucent Tech) & Faculty of Taibah University, Madinah Munawarrah, KSAfckLRAnalyst: Telecom, ICT Industry & E-Gov; ICT Consultant to BTRC, World Bank and Bangladesh Bank
3. ↑ Assistant Professor at North South University
4. ↑ Amader Projukti

External links

• Copyright Law, 2000: http://www.bdlaws.gov.bd/bangla_all_sections.php?id=846
• Information and Communication Technology Act, 2006 : http://www.bdlaws.gov.bd/bangla_pdf_part.php?act_name=&vol=&id=950
• E-healthcare: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EHealth

Related information

• Breakthrough in the banking of Bangladesh 11 Nov 2009 The daily Independent.