Country Report : BangladeshCountry Report : Bangladesh

Presentation Presentation by by

Professor Jamilur Reza ChoudhuryProfessor Jamilur Reza ChoudhuryVice Chancellor, BRAC UniversityVice Chancellor, BRAC University

Planning Meeting : Enhancing Research and Planning Meeting : Enhancing Research and Education Connectivity to and within South AsiaEducation Connectivity to and within South Asia

26 April, 200726 April, 2007

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation

Higher Education and Research in BangladeshHigher Education and Research in Bangladesh Access to InternetAccess to Internet National ICT InfrastructureNational ICT Infrastructure Past EffortsPast Efforts Recent InitiativesRecent Initiatives Strategic Plan for Higher EducationStrategic Plan for Higher Education The Road AheadThe Road Ahead

Higher Education and Higher Education and Research ScenarioResearch Scenario

UniversitiesUniversities• Public : 25Public : 25• Private : 52Private : 52

Colleges under National University : Colleges under National University : 1500 1500 Open University : 1Open University : 1 Total number of students in all the institutionsTotal number of students in all the institutions

1 million1 million• 0.7% of population (146 million)0.7% of population (146 million)

Research Institutions : Research Institutions : 30 30

Students in Higher Education in 2004-05Students in Higher Education in 2004-05

Type (Type (no.no.)) No. of No. of StudentsStudents

%%

Public Universities Public Universities ((2525)) 112,430112,430 1111

National University (National University (11)) 773,492773,492 7575

Bangladesh Open Bangladesh Open University(University(11))

84,27184,271 88

Private Universities Private Universities ((5252)) 62,85662,856 66

Total Total ((7979)) 1,033,041,033,0499

100.0100.000

Comparison with other Comparison with other CountriesCountries

in Bangladesh approx. 4% of the 17-23 in Bangladesh approx. 4% of the 17-23 years age group receive higher educationyears age group receive higher education

India : 12%India : 12% Malaysia : 29%Malaysia : 29% Thailand : 37%Thailand : 37%

OECD countries : 51%OECD countries : 51% Middle income countries : 21%Middle income countries : 21%

Access to Internet in HEIsAccess to Internet in HEIs

ConnectivityConnectivityMost of the universities (31 private and 8 Most of the universities (31 private and 8

public) are dependent on “broadband” (4-64 public) are dependent on “broadband” (4-64 Kbps) for their internet connectivityKbps) for their internet connectivity

Only 4 of the private universities and 3 public Only 4 of the private universities and 3 public universities have their own VSAT.universities have their own VSAT.

Past Efforts to set up network among HEIsPast Efforts to set up network among HEIs BERNET BERNET (Bangladesh Educational and (Bangladesh Educational and

Research Network)Research Network)• Set up by UGC in 1998; connected to local ISPSet up by UGC in 1998; connected to local ISP• 2 Universities (DU and BUET) connected through 64 2 Universities (DU and BUET) connected through 64

Kbps radio linkKbps radio link• 5 more connected through dial-up connection5 more connected through dial-up connection• No longer functionalNo longer functional

BANSLINK (BANSLINK (Bangladesh Scientific LinkBangladesh Scientific Link))• Set up by Ministry of S&T in 1998 through Set up by Ministry of S&T in 1998 through

BANSDOCBANSDOC• Linking libraries (S&T) through dial-up connectionLinking libraries (S&T) through dial-up connection• Failed to take-offFailed to take-off

Internet ConnectivityInternet ConnectivityIn 2005 :In 2005 : Registered ISP : 145Registered ISP : 145 Active ISP : 73Active ISP : 73 Registered VSAT licensee : 67Registered VSAT licensee : 67 VSAT Hub Licensee: 4 (1 active)VSAT Hub Licensee: 4 (1 active) Aggregate Internet Bandwidth : Aggregate Internet Bandwidth : 50 50 MbpsMbps

Aggregate Internet Bandwidth for all HEIs Aggregate Internet Bandwidth for all HEIs 6 Mbps6 Mbps

Exisitng National InfrastructureExisitng National Infrastructure SEA-ME-WE 4SEA-ME-WE 4

• 10 Gbps10 Gbps• Commissioned in May, 2006Commissioned in May, 2006

ISPsISPs• BDIX set up in 2004BDIX set up in 2004• 20 leading ISPs connected20 leading ISPs connected

still dependent on VSATsstill dependent on VSATs

Fibre Optic Backbones (BTTB, Railway)Fibre Optic Backbones (BTTB, Railway)

Metro area fibre network set up in Dhaka by a number of ISPsMetro area fibre network set up in Dhaka by a number of ISPs

1,800 km fibre installed along 2,900 km of railway track

Recent EffortsRecent Efforts

BAERINBAERIN• Bangladesh Advanced Education Research & Bangladesh Advanced Education Research &

Information NetworkInformation Network• Not-for-profit Foundation set up in 2004Not-for-profit Foundation set up in 2004• APAN Primary MemberAPAN Primary Member• Has not taken off due to fund constraintsHas not taken off due to fund constraints

BREN (concept paper) : BREN (concept paper) : • Dr. Javed Khan (2006)Dr. Javed Khan (2006)

Strategic Plan for Higher EducationStrategic Plan for Higher EducationVision for ICT in HEIVision for ICT in HEI

Ensure access to computers, with broadband internet Ensure access to computers, with broadband internet connectivity, to all students, teachers, researchers and connectivity, to all students, teachers, researchers and administrators by 2010.administrators by 2010.

All graduates, majoring in any field of study, must have All graduates, majoring in any field of study, must have competency to use computers competency to use computers

All HEIs to switch over to ICT-based administration and All HEIs to switch over to ICT-based administration and managementmanagement

All HEIs to have access to All HEIs to have access to National Digital LibraryNational Digital Library (with (with full text of selected journals and courseware) using NREN full text of selected journals and courseware) using NREN

The Road AheadThe Road Ahead Form a consortium of HEIs (Public-Private Universities) and Research Form a consortium of HEIs (Public-Private Universities) and Research

Institutions to set up NRENInstitutions to set up NREN• Negotiate with BTTB/Grameen Phone/ISPs for discounted access to existing Negotiate with BTTB/Grameen Phone/ISPs for discounted access to existing

fibre networks and submarine cablefibre networks and submarine cable• Outsource management to the private sectorOutsource management to the private sector

Phased RENPhased REN• Metro REN (MAN) - Digital libraries, E-learning resources (e.g. MIT OCW, Metro REN (MAN) - Digital libraries, E-learning resources (e.g. MIT OCW,

eGranary)eGranary)• negotiate with publishers of journals for country accessnegotiate with publishers of journals for country access• Regional REN (Natl. Fibre-optic Backbone)Regional REN (Natl. Fibre-optic Backbone)

Partnership with similar NRENs in the region and in USAPartnership with similar NRENs in the region and in USA

Seek funding from World Bank and/or NSFSeek funding from World Bank and/or NSF