INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN THROUGH E-GOVERNANCE IN BANGLADEH: THE NEW COUNTENANCE OF GOVERNMENT

Suparna Das Gupta

Department of Management Monash University, Australia

Shamim Shahriar Hossain

Department of Electrical & Computer Systems Engineering Monash University, Australia ABSTRACT E-government can bring an epoch making revolution to the consolidation, enlargement and enhancement of democratic processes and practices involving people of all shades and all sectors. The application of E-governance will help in realizing the dream of genuine democracy on a global basis. This paper tries to focus on some important aspects and sides for establishing E-governance in a third world country like Bangladesh for the greater good of the citizen. Because it is believed that E-government can give a new look to the total socio-political-economic infrastructure of Bangladesh by reducing costs, making citizens access more faster to government services and increasing the transparency and accountability of government activities. Extensive research has been performed to adopt different Egovernance tools in aforementioned country. Some of the European, Asian and North American countries have served as models to give encouragement for application of E-governance and seeing the genesis of a better living. KEYWORDS

E-governance, E-democracy, E-commerce, efficient government, development.

1. INTRODUCTION
Bangladesh with the present population of about 141.34 million (CIA The World Fact book, 2005) started her journey in 1971 after a great historic revolution. After 33 years of independence, still most of the people are ill-fed and illiterate and they dont have exposure to modern technologies. To alleviate these deficiencies high growth in every sector of the economy is needed (Mittal and et al. 2004) that is why policy makers now in pressure to form a dynamic, transparent and accountable government. But in 21 st century it is crucial for policy makers to decide a better government for the citizen of Bangladesh (Coe and et al, 2001). Because the penetration of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in all facets of human existence has changed the way humans interact within the society and the way societies involve individuals in its evolution process (Wang, 2003). Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is effectively showing new dimensions to old institutional setups. New government form also requires informed citizens and their full

participation. To respond to this sort of demands for details the concept of Electronic Governance emerged.

2. WHAT AND WHY E-GOVERNANCE?

E-Government has emerged as a discipline itself, aimed at refining the interaction between governments and business, community and in particular citizens (Mittal and et al, 2004). Through efficient interaction it helps
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547 government to reach to every citizens doorstep According to the definition of World Bank: E-Government refers to the use by government agencies of information technologies (such as Wide Area Networks, the Internet, and mobile computing) that have the ability to transform relations with citizens, businesses, and other arms of government. These technologies can serve a variety of different ends: better delivery of government services to citizens, improved interactions with business and industry, citizen empowerment through access to information, or more efficient government management. The resulting benefits can be less corruption, increased transparency, greater convenience, revenue growth, and/or cost reductions. (World Banks EGovernment Page, 2005). By allowing citizens to participate in the government decision-making e-governance helps to reflect citizens true needs and ensures welfare (Tan and et al, 2005).
Table 1. The three main domains of E-governance Domains of E-governance E-Administration E-Citizens and E-Services E-Society By widespread use of technology, EAdministration makes users life easier, reduces physical distances and saves time in. Documents transferring between different government departments (Dev, 2005) E-Services mean providing a onestopshop i.e. various services together in one place in the form of web portal(Gant and Gant, 2002) and those who are capable to use these services via easy access to internet called E-Citizen (Levandar, 1999). ). E-Society efficiently promotes the development of society, human resources and technology and raise the level of network co-operation between the government and the private sector (Swedish Agency for Public Management, 2004).

So in a word E-governance helps government to develop a common infrastructure which will maintain a

linkage between all departments, central government and local government representatives as well as with the common access centers by using e-government tools. E-governance has the power of ICTs, which provide three basic changes necessary for good governance for development: Replacing current human-executed processes by computerized systems, to save time and ensures efficiency. Modifying current human-executed information processes like lawmaking, communication, judicial decision making and decision implementation (Samuelian, 2003). Creating new methods of public service delivery (CNIS - the Commonwealth News and Information Service, 2004).
Figure 1. Inter-relationships between Government, citizens and others
Other agencies Improved process Government Government Citizens as customer Communities Non-profits Business External Interactions Connected citizens

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548 E-government has paramount importance in establishing the way of how government and citizens (G2C), government and business sectors (G2B), and different agencies (G2G) interact (Mahler & Regan, 2003). Figure 1 illustrates this fact.

2.1 Is it Applicable from the Perspective of Bangladesh?

Bangladesh is a developing country with weak socio-economic infrastructure, inadequate economic capacity, lack of skilled people and knowledge. Here people also have less ability to afford computers and are reluctant to use modern ICTS. This paper argues that still it is possible to enjoy the benefits of Egovernance if Government can decide with vision which sectors should be considered first for E-governance (Basu, 2004).
Figure 2. Sectors to be considered for application of E-governance (Mohiuddin and Hossain, 2001)

3. IMPLEMENTATION SIDE 3.1 E-governance in the Accountability and Transparency of Government

This tool can be used to make government more open and transparent as it helps to people get involved in decision-making process (Heeks, 2002). E-Government offers huge potential in the fight against corruption, discrimination, and harassment of citizens legitimately seeking government-controlled information and services. It can serve as a major component in building a tradition of transparency and good governance

(Haque, 2002). For gaining these facilities, Government should ensure publics access to information by different Ministries and Departments. Also there should be instruction from Governments part on different departments to provide enough information on Intranet /Internet and facilitate quick searching process. Governments Policy, Gadgets, plans, laws etc should be made publicly so that any people can express their opinion in this regard (Basu, 2004). EGovernment
(Multidimensional) Public Grievances, eg, water, electricity, telephone, sanitation etc Rural services, eg Land records etc Police: FIR registration, lost, found etc
Public information Government Notifications, Government Forms, Government Schemes. Exam results etc

Agriculture Sector Utility payments / Billing Government: Electronic procurement Commercial: Taxation & Return filing, Income Tax, VAT ( VALUE ADDES TAX) & misc. News Services Social Services: Pension, Rehabilitation, compensation, license, certificate etc

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549 Though Bangladesh needs to introduce sufficient and significant computerization and internet facility at various levels but it is not possible to computerize all of them simultaneously. Rather what the government can do is to make different public places, e.g. Post Office, Markets, and Railway/Bus Stations etc as Information Kiosks. In a village, taking this kind of service, even a poor farmer can express his views to Ministry of Agriculture. Without this facility he has to come to Capital city, and then stand in a long queue to submit his opinion. Thus ICT reduces the hassles of the long process (Basu, 2004).

3. 2 E-democracy & E-elections

Internet democracy will ensure peoples full participation and increase interaction between political leaders

and people. This tool will present new opportunities for people and new challenges for political parties and interest groups. Politicians, activists, and lobbyists face new political audiences and new forms of political communication, which rewrite the rules for everyone whose work or business is shaped by the political process (Tapscott, 2000) This kind of interactive democracy will make sure the voices of citizens are heard all the time, not only during the time of elections. E-election will remove the corruptions in National Election. In this system, Election Commission will issue Voter IT card, when a citizen is 18. Using this Voter ID, a citizen can cast vote online from all over the world. In the United States, voting, lobbying of legislators, marketing of candidates and issues and fundraising for political campaigns are all moving online (Lee, 2000). In Bangladesh, the Institution of Engineers Bangladesh, Dhaka Centre has been using electronic process for election since 1999 but still huge systemic change need to incorporate in the electoral process.

3. 3 E-governance in Education
In education sector students should have opportunity to acquire knowledge from Internet and electronic media (New Straits Times Malaysia, 2002). In this way, a student from a distant village can also gain education from a reputed University/ College in capital city. Lectures, demonstrations etc should be published regularly on web site which a student may access using local Kiosk. Seminar, Symposium, Group Discussion, E-Conference etc can be arranged using internet which helps students and people concerned a lot. This e-education can also be applied to CPD (Continuing Professional Development) which is the systematic maintenance, improvement and broadening of knowledge and skill and the development of personal qualities. This can be done by organizing courses, seminars, workshops and technical meetings on internet.

3.4 In Law-Enforcing and Monitoring of Land Property and Assets

The mass people have to face the daunting task of waiting for hours to get help from Police. Public dont have faith in law enforcing departments because they dont get fair treatment and have to pay bribes to transact needed business from them. To get rid of this process, every Police Station should be brought under Wide Area Network (WAN). FIR registration, GD, Complaints etc should be recorded in computer under this

WAN. As a result, Home Minister and Police Commissioner can instantly get the view of present state of crime, terrorism etc and order his subordinate to take necessary system. In this way, stealing of File of a case, Records etc is not possible. It will make the law-enforcing agencies more accountable and responsive (Sin, 2003) and public will get fair treatment. E-governance can also use to replace the traditional system of selling and buying of land property with which huge amount of money and legal matters are involved. To reduce the risk of carrying cash Land Card and credit card can be used. As there is no coordination among Registry Office and other offices, it is often found that the proprietor of the land is changed illegally. But if the computerized system introduce to keep the records of every dealing, than this type of cheating will never be possible to happen.
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3.5 In E-banking & E-commerce

Better relationships with special facilities help banks to gain customers and retain them (Orr, 2004). Internet banking allows the customers to have flexible banking hours and the satisfaction of banking from home or office without actually going to the bank. Now transactions of different goods and services can be made online by using E-commerce. (Suh, 2005).Today priority of any marketing based company is customer orientation and building a direct relationship with customers to provide appropriate products and services according to customers demands and ensure greater satisfaction (Brady and Cronin, 2001). It is now lot easier and cheaper through internet. The application of e-banking and e-commerce in Bangladesh has already been performed in a very low scale. To obtain the greater benefit Bangladesh Government needs to give e-business initiators legal protection. For example: Singapore has passed a draft of cyber-law to make businesses easier there and protect e-customers (Suh, 2005).

3.6 Statistics of Population

In Bangladesh, Government should enforce strict rules for birth registration through a database of computerized system. It will help government to keep records of total population and prevent from spending huge amount of money to make census after every ten years. Also an ID number (Such as Social Security number) and corresponding ID card should issue for every citizen. So that in every aspect including passing

exams, leaving country or even committing crime this number can use to identify the appropriate person. But in this respect Government should ensure that the database is regularly being updated by Ministry of Education, the Emigration Department and the Home Ministry. The overall database will reflect the literacy rate, fertility rate, mortality rate, and employment / unemployment etc and will help government to get detailed about its citizen.

4. CONCLUSION
E-governance, the highly leveraged tool for delivery of services in the public and the private sectors should be used for the socio-economic-political infrastructural development of Bangladesh. We know Bangladesh is a poor country but to make IT facilities more accessible and bring changes in infrastructural design, Bangladesh needs not only financial resources but also technical skills, cultural familiarity, literacy, language proficiency etc. For these changes, government commitment is the most important thing (Coe and et al, 2001). Also government-wide vision, common frameworks, co-operation and customer focusness are some other important issues. Developed countries like in Australia, Federal Department of Communications, IT and the Arts a special office was created to deal with all kinds of questions regarding the development of egovernment at the Australian federal level (Lips, 2001). In 2002, The Australian National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE) completed a study where over 80% citizens said that it is now very easy for them to find out necessary information after government going online (OECD, 2003). Bangladesh Government also needs to follow these examples to make the country a better living place for its citizens.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Special thanks to Institute of Engineers, Bangladesh and Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology (BUET) for providing valuable informations.

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