Digital Bangladesh Day | Everything you need to know

12th December is ‘Smart Bangladesh Day’ (Previously Digital Bangladesh Day and National ICT Day). Digitization has been a great boon for the world, making us connected heavily in the global village. Therefore, Digital Bangladesh has been a buzzword since the inception of Vision 2021 in 2008. Over the last 12 years, Bangladesh has gone through the digital processes in such a manner that digital Bangladesh Day has been observed for the last couple of years, and December 12, 2023, is the 1st time in this name of ‘Smart Bangladesh Day’ after a few years of Digital Bangladesh Day and National ICT Day. Bangladesh is keeping pace with the world to harvest the benefits of the fourth industrial revolution.

The Department ICT is working to implement a wide range of activities to establish a transparent and accountable government through information technology and bring government services to the people’s doorsteps through public-private partnerships. It originated with the landmark declaration of “Digital Bangladesh: Vision 2021” by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on December 12, 2008, to establish a prosperous golden Bengal.

Table of Contents

Pillars of Digital Bangladesh

Digital Bangladesh stands on pillars to function properly for the sustainable development of Bangladesh.

The four Pillars of Digital Bangladesh include:

IT infrastructure construction
information technology-rich human resource development (digital capacity development)
export-oriented development of the ICT industry, and
people-centric information technology( e-governance).

December 12, 2008, Digital Bangladesh:

To commemorate the historic announcement of Vision 2021 and present the achievements and significance of the IT sector to the people, the Cabinet Division issued a notification to observe December 12 as National Information and Communication Technology Day. National Information and Communication Technology Day were celebrated on December 12, 2017, for the first time in the country. In the cabinet meeting on November 26, 2018, the day was renamed Digital Bangladesh Day.

From 2023 onward, December 12 will be celebrated as ‘Smart Bangladesh Day’ instead of ‘Digital Bangladesh Day’ as the decision was approved at the Cabinet Meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on Monday (August 7, 2023). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina presided over the meeting. At the end of the meeting, the Cabinet Secretary in the briefing at the Secretariat Md. Mahbub Hossain informed this information. With this transition, the name of the day was changed for the second time.

class=”wp-block-heading”>Digital Bangladesh Day Themes

Digital Bangladesh Day 2022: To celebrate Digital Bangladesh, A grand quiz has been scheduled. There will be 21 prizes 7 each in three groups based on ages (A, B, and C groups).

Digital Bangladesh Day Theme 2021: The theme for Digital Bangladesh Day 2021 is ‘Digital Bangladesh-er Orjon, Upokrito Sokol Jonogon.’ (‘Achieving Digital Bangladesh, Benefiting All People’). It focuses on the overall benefits of people from all walks of life if digital Bangladesh is achieved.

Digital Bangladesh Day Theme 2020: The theme for Digital Bangladesh Day 2020 was ‘Even though I consider it as a distance, I’m still connected’ (যদিও মানছি দূরত্ব, তবুও আছি সংযুক্ত). It focuses on the issue that distance does not matter as digital connectivity is in place. Such a theme was chosen as the whole world was maintaining social distancing for the Novel Coronavirus during that time.

Digital Bangladesh Day Theme 2019: The theme for Digital Bangladesh Day 2019 was “Verify the Accuracy Before Sharing on the Internet” (সত্য-মিথ্যা যাচাই আগে, ইন্টারনেট এ শেয়ার পরে). The theme was intended to stop the rumors on the internet. It is expected that before sharing anything on the internet, we need to verify from different angles the authenticity of the message we are sharing.

Digital Bangladesh Day Theme 2018: The theme for Digital Bangladesh Day 2018 was ‘Digital Bangladesh will be Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla’ (ডিজিটাল বাংলাদেশ হবে বঙ্গবন্ধুর সোনার বাংলা). The name of the day changed to Digital Bangladesh Day and the theme was to pay the utmost homage to The father of the nation and the architect of Bangladesh, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, who wanted to build the country a Golden Bangla(Sonar Bangla).

Digital Bangladesh Day Theme song 2018

class=”wp-block-heading”>Digital Bangladesh Award

Under the visionary leadership of the Father of the Nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, Bangladesh was recognized on the world map as an independent and sovereign country in 1972. It became a member of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) in 1973. Under the direction of the Father of the Nation, a ground satellite station was set up at Betbunia in Chittagong on June 14, 1975, to develop a telecommunication system. A far-reaching foundation started for the communication of newly independent Bangladesh with the rest of the world.

Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced the Digital Bangladesh Vision-2021 on December 12, 2008. It was then a dream but is a reality today. In this context, the ICT department and its affiliates are moving forward with the firm conviction to establish themselves as a developed and prosperous country by 2041 by transforming it into a knowledge-based economy and have already achieved significant success.

The Digital Bangladesh Awards Policy 2021 has been formulated by the Cabinet Division to reward individuals, groups, and organizations for their remarkable contribution in Information and Communication Technology and to give them recognition in the Digital Bangladesh Awards on December 12 every year.

The categories for the awards

The National Digital Bangladesh Awards are presented in 13 categories for outstanding contributions to digital fields that impact the development of Bangladesh to a great extent. The categories of awardees in 2019 are:

Best Ministry/Department
Best Directorate/Agency
Best Division
Best District
Best Upazilla
Best Digital Campus
Best Exporter
Best Employer
Best Young Entrepreneur
Best Women ICT Entrepreneur
Best Freelancer-Female
Best Freelancer-Male
Best Startup

The purposes for the awards include the following aspects:

Provide inspiration

Individuals, teams, and organizations to make an exceptional contribution in the ICT sector

Recognition

Individuals, teams, and organizations to make a unique contribution in the ICT sector

Encouragement

Individuals, teams, and organizations to make an exceptional contribution in the ICT sector

Stimulating

Individuals, teams, and organizations to make a unique contribution in the ICT sector

‘National Digital Bangladesh Day-2021’

The 5th ‘National Digital Bangladesh Day-2021’ is on December 12, 2021. The day comes with versatile programs in the Bangladesh and Bangladesh embassies abroad. The theme of the day is ‘Digital Bangladesh-er Orjon, Upokrito Sokol Jonogon.’ (‘Achieving Digital Bangladesh, Benefiting All People’) for the year 2021.

State Minister for (ICT) division Zunaid Ahmed Palak briefed a press release about the programs.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to attend the main program at the Hall of Fame of Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the city.

The program includes:

Homage to the architect:

Paying homage to Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by placing a wreath at his portrait at Dhanmondi 32 in the city at 7 am.

Rally

Rally at 8:00 am from the South Plaza of the Jatiya Sangsad to the Khamarbari mor

Seminars and Discussions

National seminar and meetings at BICC’s Hall of Fame at around 3 pm

Special Publications

Bringing out supplements in national dailies highlighting the successes and achievements of twelve years in building a Digital Bangladesh,

Nation-wide Quiz Competition

Holding online quiz competition centrally,

Competitions

Holding essay writing, poetry recitation, and painting competitions based on Digital Bangladesh in districts and Upazilas across the country and

Digital Bangladesh Awards 2021

The Prime Minister was present at the celebration of Digital Bangladesh Day-2021 and Digital Bangladesh Award Distribution Ceremony at the city’s Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), joining it virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.

A total of 24 individuals, teams, and organizations — 12 from the national level and 12 from the district level– received the Digital Bangladesh Award-2021 in recognition of their outstanding contributions to the journey of digital Bangladesh. On behalf of the Prime Minister, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak handed over the awards to the recipients.

The 12 national-level awardees are:

National portal implementation specialist (Deputy Secretary) of the a2i programme Md Doulutuzzaman Khan for for the venture ‘Hater Mothoy Vumiseba Mobile App’-Mobile app for reaching land services at the hands of the people
Media personality Shykh Seraj for Shykh Seraj Digital
Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh-led team for providing honorary allowances to all valiant freedom fighters through the government to Person-G2P method on the basis of Management Information System-MIS
Farhin Hannan-led Dhaka Cast team for Dhaka Cast, a healthcare startup,
Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) for Citizen Engagement Management Platform titled ‘Sobar Dhaka App’) and the best organisation

Grameenphone Ltd for GP Accelerator’ in developing startup ecosystem in the country
BREB software engineer ABM Nazibullah,
Lawyer Mohammad Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury,
PM’s Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus-led team,
e-CAB president Shomi Kaiser-led team,
Water Resources Ministry and
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA).

The 12 district-level awardees are:

Deputy Commissioner of Netrakona Kazi Md Abdur Rahman,
Mahir Ashhab Labib of Bhola,
Gopalganj Deputy Commissioner Shahida Sultana-led team,
Mymensingh Medical College Hospital’s physician Zinia Rahman-led team,
Rangamati Deputy Commissioner’s Office,
Foodshahi BD of Rajshahi,
Tentulia UNO Sohag Chandra Saha in Panchagarh,
Sunny Jubair ,
Noakhali Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Khorshed Alam Khan-led team,
students of Chattogram Cantonment Public College Abrar Shahid-led team,
Madaripur Deputy Commissioner’s Office and
My Outsourcing Limited.

Concerts

Digital Bangladesh Concert at United International University, United City, Madani in the city’s Badda area at 3 pm. Renowned singers including James, Minar, Mila were performers in the concert.

Find the digital legends from Bangladesh here.

FAQs

Question: What day is observed as the National Digital Bangladesh Day?

Answer: December 12 is the National Digital Bangladesh Day.

Question: Who declared Digital Bangladesh?

Answer: Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina declared Digital Bangladesh.

Question: When did Digital Bangladesh started?

Answer: Digital Bangladesh Day started on December 12, 2008 with the landmark declaration of “Digital Bangladesh: Vision 2021” by the Hon’ble Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to establish a prosperous golden Bengal.

Question: When was National Digital Bangladesh Day observed for the first time?

Answer: National Digital Bangladesh Day was observed on December 12, 2017, for the first time.

Question: What was the name of the first National Digital Bangladesh Day?

Answer: The name of the first National Digital Bangladesh Day was National ICT Day.

Question: When was the name of National Digital Bangladesh Day changed?

Answer: The name changed to the National Digital Bangladesh Day in 2018. On November 26, 2018, the Cabinet renamed the day as ‘Digital Bangladesh Day’.

Question: Where is the National Digital Bangladesh Day observed?

Answer: The National Digital Bangladesh Day is observed in Bangladesh and the Bangladesh embassies abroad.

Question: Where was the National Digital Bangladesh Day concert 2021 organized?

Answer: Digital Bangladesh Concert was at United International University, United City, Madani in the city’s Badda area at 3 pm.

Question: Who were the performers in the National Digital Bangladesh Day concert 2021?

Answer: Renowned singers including James, Minar, Mila were performers in the concert.

Question: What was the theme of the National Digital Bangladesh Day 2021?

Answer: The theme of the day is ‘Digital Bangladesh-er Orjon, Upokrito Sokol Jonogon.’ (‘Achieving Digital Bangladesh, Benefiting All People’) for the year 2021.

Question: What was the theme of the National Digital Bangladesh Day 2020?