Thoughts on "Digital Bangladesh" (The Program)
Introduction
The term “Digital Bangladesh” was first used by Bangladesh Awami League immediately before 2009 election. By every possibility it was used at that time as a “nice-sounding political slogan”. At that time winning in election was their prime target and probably the advocators did not get adequate time to formulate its “meaning and implications”. In the above election Bangladesh Awami League achieved landslide victory. It is true that the voters did not vote them for their declaration for making “digital Bangladesh”.
For achieving this goal the voters were mentally prepared to vote in favour any other party, much worse than Bangladesh Awami League. However, after the grand win, materializing “Digital Bangladesh” has now become the moral duty of this party. Till now no spokesman of this party has clearly explained what they are really going to do for materializing “Digital Bangladesh” and that has created some confusion. I have heard some “experts” to opine on TV talk-show that they do not understand what this term means. Also some endeavoured to cut joke saying that it may be something like electricity, having two important aspects, “Off and On”. It may be difficult, specially for those from non-science background, to understand this term. However, understanding the meaning of the term does not help much to realize how this “mission” will be materialized in the context of Bangladesh. In this article I shall explain my ideas on this subject. I must mention that these are exclusively my ideas and have absolutely no relation with what Bangladesh Awami League or the government of Bangladesh thinks about their program under the same title.
In such a context, the present article presents a solution or a design principle in which the open courtyard, the life of the traditional Bengali house has been endeavored to “re-construct” in the urban context. There is absolutely no architectural, structural or legal problem in its construction. The only problem is economic. Definitely such a solution will be costlier than those designed by the architects for the developers. Thus, the justification of construction of such houses may be found if the maintenance of tradition and development of cultural qualities of the country are given due importance.