Materializing 'Vision-2041' needs to be based on new innovations, leveraging existing opportunities, efficient use of advanced technology, data-based planning and public-private partnership. These were the suggestions that came out from a high-level panel discussion titled “Imagining Bangladesh in 2041” organized by a2i.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak, Sir Geoff Mulgan, CBE, Professor of Collective Intelligence, Public Policy and Social Innovation at University College London (UCL) and former CEO of Nesta, UK; Ms. Mei Lin Fung, Chair & Cofounder, People Centered Internet in the United States; President and Founder of Health and Education for All (HAEFA) and an Associate Professor at Brown University in the United States, nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize 2020, Ruhul Abid, and Ms Rudmeela Nawshin, Founder and CEO of ConfigVR and ConfigRbot were present as panelists. The panel discussion was moderated by Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor of a2i.
At the beginning of the discussion, addressing Bangladesh's achievements in the last 12 years and LDC graduation, SDG targets and 2041 targets, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, said, “Our government's goal is to make Bangladesh a knowledge-based economy by 2041. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has announced that after successfully establishing Digital Bangladesh, we are now moving towards an 'Innovative Bangladesh'. Focusing on this, we want to transform Bangladesh into a smart and innovative nation.”
Professor Sir Geoff Mulgan, CBE, talked about how the job industry will look like in the future. “Many existing jobs are going to cease in the near future, primarily labour-intensive jobs. Emphasis should be placed on the use of data and technology-based skills development to adapt and prepare for future-oriented workplaces”. He added “I think the most important thing is that Bangladesh as a nation has been able to build its capacity. They have been able to properly utilize the intellectual capacity of the people of the country.”
Talking about ensuring means to eliminate digital divide by 2041, Mei Lin Fung said “The key element of eliminating digital divisions is to try to address the feedback of citizens.” She added “we must emphasize on partnerships to realize the future that we dream of. This is the best way to eradicate the digital divide. If these feedbacks can be addressed, it will become a game changer for the digital future of Bangladesh so that every citizen of the country can be within the digital development.”
Professor Ruhul Abid, talked about the use of technology in the field of healthcare and the importance of public-private partnerships to adapt to the challenges that will come by 2041. He said “Competition will increase with newer innovations. The government needs to create an environment where private companies can innovate and increase their competitiveness. The government can take the lead in data management.” He added, “Healthcare has to become affordable for everyone. If healthcare is not easily available, no one will be able to take this service and public-private partnership will play a key role in making it a success.”
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Talking about the future of robotics, AR and VR technology, Ms. Rudmeela Nawsheen said, “Robots have been helping people in almost all types of factories for a long time. Robots are highly efficient and have very low risk rate associated. Collectively, AR-VR and robotics can become much more powerful and create better opportunities. We need to harness our brains to control technological advances and create employment opportunities in these areas. The future may not have manual labor jobs, but these jobs will be replaced by something better. So, I think if we move forward collectively towards 2041, a lot is waiting not for only Bangladesh, but for the whole world.”
Mentionable, Bangladesh has stepped into the digital era this year and is poised for LDC graduation by 2026, and planning to be a poster-child nation of the Sustainable Development Goals achievement by 2030. However, Bangladesh’s ultimate mission is to be achieved 20 years later, as it seeks to become a poverty-free, equitable, high-income country by 2041. In the past 13 years, Bangladesh has been lauded as a ‘development surprise’ by disrupting the traditional, linear development models and innovating a novel, alternative pathway for socioeconomic progress. The seminar was attended by senior officials of a2i among others.
