Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering & Amplifying Unified Voices on Global Digital Compact & Summit of the Future 2024 under the auspices of the Bangladesh Parliamentarians Caucus on Internet Governance, Digital Economy & Media Development (BPCIDM), Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) & Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) organized a National Consultation with Members of Parliament (MPs) on WSIS, Internet Governance Forum, Global Digital Compact & Summit of the Future 2024 on 25th September 2023 at Cabinet Room of Bangladesh Parliament, Dhaka, Bangladesh with the support of UNDP Bangladesh and Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).

Bangladesh is keen on the UN’s work on developing a Global Digital Compact and Summit of the Future 2024. Hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh Reiterated Bangladesh’s Commitment to the Global Digital Compact and Submit of the Future 2024. “We hope that this Global Digital Compact will have clear guidelines for the international community on responsible and productive use of digital and frontier technologies.”

“We deeply appreciate the UN Secretary-General’s initiative to convene the Summit of the Future” 2024. We hope this process will complement our efforts to attain the 2030 Agenda.” H.E. Sheikh Hasina, Hon’ble Prime Minister, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh

H.E. Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, MP Hon’ble Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament was present as the Chief Guest. Mr. Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of the UNDP- Bangladesh, and Mr. K.M. Abdus Salam, Senior Secretary of the Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat were present as the Guests of Honor.

Hasanul Haq Inu, M.P.  Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Chairperson, of Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum and Chairman of the Bangladesh Parliamentarians Caucus on Internet Governance, Digital Economy & Media Development (BPCIDM) presided over the consultation.

The following 32 honorable members of the parliament (MPs) were present and spoke about Bangladesh’s Preparatory interventions on the Global Digital Compact and Submit of the Future 2024. Ashim Kumar Ukil, MP, Kh. Momota Hena Lovely, MP, Zakia Parvin Khanam, MP, Aprajita Haque, MP, Shirin Akhter, MP, Lutfun Nessa Khan, MP, R. A. M. Obaidul Muktadir Chowdhury, MP, Basanti Chakma, MP, M A Matin, MP, Ayesha Ferdaus, MP, Ad. Khodeza  Nasreen Akhter Hossain, MP, Ahsanual Islam Titu, MP, Fakhrul Imam, MP, A. K. M. Rezaul Karim Tansen, MP, Aroma Dutta, MP,  Md. Monowar Hossain Chowdhury, MP, Md. Sadek Khan, MP, Md. Golam Kibria, MP, Afroza Haq, MP, Adiba Anjum Mita, MP, Nahim Razzaq, MP, Md. Shafiqur Rahman, MP, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Ali Arafat, MP, Pankaj Nath, MP, Rowshan Ara Mannan, MP, Monira Sultana, MP,  Sherin Ahmed, MP, Shaimum Sarwar Kamal, MP, Umme Fatema Nazma Begum, MP, Md. Nurul Amin, MP.

Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering & Amplifying Unified Voices on Global Digital Compact & Summit of the Future 2024 under the auspices of the BPCIDM, BIGF & BNNRC have been trying to engage all multi-stakeholder in this process, like as the Parliamentarians, Government, UN system, Private sector, Technical Communities, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), Academia, and Youth communities in this process.

Bangladesh Initiative officially endorsed by the Ministries and Commission of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ICT Division, Posts and Telecommunications Division, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) & Aspire to Innovate (a2i) Program.

Hasanul Haq Inu, MP welcomed the distinguished participants and highlighted the importance of the engagement of the MPs in the process of Global Digital Compact and Summit for the Future 2024 in line with the Internet Governance Ecosystem in Bangladesh.

Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu, Secretary General of the BIGF, presented the presentation about the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) and the World Summit on the Information Society action line

AHM Bazlur Rahman, Executive Coordinator of Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering & Amplifying Unified Voices on Global Digital Compact & Summit of the Future 2024 presented about global and country preparatory processes of Global Digital Compact and Summit of the Future 2024.

From the multi-stakeholders side Shyamsunder Shikder, Chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman, Actor and Nirapad Sarak Chai, Chairman, Ilias Kanchan, Actor Ferdous Ahmed, Rakhine Community member Nyo Nyo Khaine, e-CAB Secretary, Abdul Wahed Tamal, Emdadul Haque, Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB) Md. Faruque Ahmed, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Md. Shahinoor Miah, Principal Information Officer, PID, Marium-ul-Mutahara, Coordinator,  Knowledge Management, Manusher Jonno Foundation, Mohammad Salahuddin, Deputy Secretary, Aspire to Innovate (a2i), Lt. Col. SM Rezaur Rahman, Director, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Kawsar Alam Kanak, Program Director, Association of Development Agencies in Bangladesh (ADAB), S.M. Morshed, CC & HM Expert, IOM, Professor Shah Alam Chowdhury, Professor, Dhaka International University, Dr. Md. Rakibul Hoque

Professor, University of Dhaka, SK. Md. Moniruzzaman, Director General, NGO Affairs Bureau, Prime Minister’s Office, Mohammad Golam Sarwar Kainat, Additional Secretary, PTD.

Brig. Gen. Md. Moniruzzaman, Director General (Spectrum), Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, Muhammad Abdul Wahed Tomal, General Secretary, e-Commerce Association of Bangladesh. (e-CAB), Suman Kumar Patwari, Director, of Bangladesh Computer Council, and Dr. Tarun Kanti Sikder, Additional Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division were present at the program

Stefan Liller, Resident Representative, UNDP Bangladesh, said, “I am delighted to be part of this national consultation to discuss Global Digital Compact initiatives ahead of the Summit of the Future-2024 to accelerate our journey towards the Sustainable Development Goals Open, Free, and Secure Digital Future for all. He lauded organizers for undertaking this exclusive effort on Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering & Amplifying Unified Voices on Global Digital Compact & Summit of the Future 2024 with the multi-stakeholders.

K M Abdus Salam, Senior Secretary of Bangladesh Parliament Secretariat said in the speech of the guest, of honor, Digital Parliament has been established to implement the purpose of digital and smart Bangladesh under the leadership of the Honorable Speaker. We are working towards the establishment of an e-parliament. We have to meet the challenges of the digital platform to meet our goals. He assured Bangladesh Parliament will provide all necessary support to the preparatory process of the GDC and Summit of the Future 2024.

In the speech of the Chief Guest, the Speaker of Bangladesh Parliament Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said “We can engage with the process of the Global Digital Compact and Summit of the Future-2024. In that case, the Internet Governance Forum and the Parliamentarian Caucus from Bangladesh can be given a full outline and a position paper in the context of Bangladesh where the socio-economic issues of our country are reflected”.

Chair of the program Hasanul Haque Inu gave the closing speech and brought the program to an end.