Since 2008, Digital Bangladesh has been among the guiding principles of our country. When one thinks of a digitally savvy country, there is little doubt that the internet plays arguably the biggest role, and fast, reliable internet available across all segments of society should be one of the principal attributes of such a nation.
Therefore, it is extremely disheartening to learn that, according to a report of Ookla, a global platform that works with internet speeds, Bangladesh ranks 135th out of 137 countries, ahead of only Afghanistan and Venezuela.
While it fared better in terms of broadband internet -- 98th out of 181 countries -- it must be remembered that most people in the rural areas of Bangladesh rely on mobile internet, as broadband connection unfortunately remains limited to urban areas.
With that said, it is simply unacceptable for a nation that has boldly proclaimed its digital ambitions to rank this poorly in internet speeds. Particularly, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, the internet has become utterly indispensable, even more so than before, and we cannot, realistically, expect students and employees to remain productive and engaged when they are subjected to such woeful speeds.
It is clear to see that, if we are serious about becoming the developed, equitable, digital Bangladesh that we aspire to be, the authorities concerned must take action to ensure that our internet speeds improve, not just for the privileged classes, but across the entire country. Every single Bangladeshi, regardless of their socio-economic status and background, deserves to have access to reliable internet.
