An Essay

On

The Role of TECHNOLOGY in the Economic Development

of Bangladesh

Submitted by:

Name: Tohura Moriom Misti;

4th year, Dept. of International Relations;

University of Dhaka.

E-mail: Misti.fd@gmail.com

Website: tohuramoriommisti.weebly.com

Abstract

Technology is something that can bring the world in one’s hand. On the other hand

economical development helps a country to advance their technology. So technology

and economic development both are interdependent. As Bangladesh was a newly

independent country when the whole world was busy with the technological

development, it was natural for her to be in a challenging situation to cope up with the

world. For this reason after achieving independence Bangladesh recognizes the

necessity of high national priority to the scientific and technological considerations on

the whole development strategy of the country. My focus of this essay is to investigate

technological usages and advancement that influenced on the economic development

of Bangladesh. To reach my goal of this essay I tried to describe the technological

usages and technological progress of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is advancing it’s

technology in different sectors such as agriculture, industrial products, information and

communication system, energy resources, education, security, in point of fact in every

segment of our daily life is now functioning with the help of technology. As Bangladesh

is an agricultural country its main focus has been always on the agricultural

development with new technology. Bangladesh has a huge man power so the

agricultural technologies always include the major participation of human labor in

growing agricultural products. But again in the agriculture, Bangladesh is now using

many technologies for fast growing of products. Industries are all about the use of

technology. Bangladesh’s industrial products are now growing with the help of

developed technology. Education is supposed to play a vital role for the economic

development of a nation. So technology and skill development is very important for the

economic development of a country. Information and communication technology (ICT)

is increasingly being recognized as a powerful enabler for economic and social

development. ICT can advance economic growth, enhance social inclusion, increase

health and education services and improve governance at all levels. So improving

information and communication technology is another important thing behind the

economic development of Bangladesh. Technological development for environment is

very important for the sustainable development. So Bangladesh is now very much

aware about using technology for environmental security. Another most important

sector that needs to be under technological support is the energy resources.

Bangladesh has now many example of using technology for the energy resources. In

this essay I tried to embrace these important components of technology which are

developing the economy of Bangladesh. At the same time I also focused on enlightening

whether the advance technology is a blessing or a curse for the development of the

economy of Bangladesh as everything posses some good side and bad side. Similarly

technology has also blessing and curse towards the human life. I also tried to include

the challenges that are being faced by Bangladesh on the account of using technology

for the economic development. A poor economical country of 1971 has now become

one of the most important business areas. The per capita income of Bangladesh has

increased from $478 in 1973 to $1700 in 2010. The total growth rate of Bangladesh is

now 7%. With the help of technology Bangladesh has now changed its image from a

poor country and many developed countries are now interested to involve in business

and investment in Bangladesh. With the limitation of words I tried to go through all

these divisions under discussion to make it an ideal essay.

1.Introduction:Economic development process of the countries varies with their

economy. But it is technology that is equally important to every

country for the economic development. Bangladesh as a developing

country is also trying to develop its economy through the use of

technology. For the economic development Bangladesh is using

technology in almost every division such as education, security,

agriculture, industry, communication and also in our daily living

commodities. But poor management of technologies shield

Bangladesh behind the advanced technological countries as the

whole world is now having a race of advance technology. On the

basis of this point I will explain the role of technology in the

economic development of Bangladesh.

2.Use of technology in Bangladesh:Bangladesh is heavily dependent on imported technologies, so

proper planning is required for its effective transfer through

acquisition, assimilation and adoption. Here I am going to

elaborate different sectors of the economy of Bangladesh which

are under the use of technology:

i) Use of Technology in Agriculture:

The farmers of Bangladesh are now working with different

technologies they are also accessing internet to know about: the

fertilizers, water pumps, tractors, harvest, and also about

different other ingredients of agricultural growth. They are now

also using the fast transport system for the promotion of their

products that helps the economy. The technology of fertilizer

deep placement (FDP), systems for long-term food security, with a

focus on increased crop yields, the water management techniques

such as alternate wetting and drying (AWD), a water-saving

technology that lowland (paddy) rice farmers can apply to reduce

water use in irrigated fields, the Expansion of Urea Deep

Placement Technology, introduce quality agro-inputs etc. are

being using for the agricultural productions.

ii) Use of Technology in Industry:

The industrial productions of Bangladesh are also developing

through the easy access of internet and transport system. With

the help of foreign investors the industries are also using many

modern machines that increased the production which has been

helping our economy a lot. Shipbuilding, automobiles (assembly),

insulators and sanitary wares, telephone equipment, electrical

goods, televisions, biochemical and mechanical technology etc.

all these technologies are playing remarkable role for the

economic development of Bangladesh.

iii) Use of technology in Education:

Availability of information through newspapers, magazines,

internet resources and other source are playing vital role in

education. Use of modern technologies like laboratories,

scientific equipments, research, machines, communication system

etc. helps the students to generate their knowledge that help the

economic development in the long run. The Information

communication technology (ICT), a very fast growing new

technological area, is entering fast in education of Bangladesh.

iv) Information and Communication Technology:

Easy availability of cellular phone, lower cost of computers and

other related technologies such as television, radio, newspaper,

etc. are now in everyone’s hand in Bangladesh. People are now

much familiar with the information and communication technology

that is helping the economy of Bangladesh to rise. All these

technologies raise awareness and enlighten the knowledge about

the international market that helps the economy of Bangladesh to

swell in International level.

v) Technologies for Environment:

Bangladesh is having environmental technological verification-

support to Arsenic mitigation. For cleaning up contaminated soil,

creating additional nature or habitats is now been seen in

Bangladesh. River Dredging is now major concern of our country

and foreign countries are assisting Bangladesh to develop

environmental technology.

vi) Technology for energy resource:

Bangladesh is now using solar energy to fulfill the demand of

electricity. For example we can see the process of using solar

energy even in many houses:

Bangladesh has also signed an agreement to assist two nuclear

reactors with Russia’s Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom. This is

an excellent example of a country moving forward with nuclear

energy.

There is also huge number of examples of using modern

technologies that plays a significant role for the economic

development of Bangladesh apart from these examples.

3.Role of these technologies in the economic

development of Bangladesh:

Technology is now exercising in every sector of the economy. From

pest-resistant crops to less wasteful food processing; from

prenatal care and child health to the prevention and treatment of

diseases; from reduction of environmental contaminants to

purification of water; and from more reliable electricity to more

efficient and affordable communication and transportation systems

almost every area of Bangladesh are now under technological

involvement. In this section I am going to present the role of

technology in the economic development of Bangladesh:

i) Technology is enhancing the ability of the student to invent

new things. Technology also helps them to reduce time and

money. Technology helps them to be familiar with the

international education system.

ii) Technology for monitoring the environment serving the

country from different types of natural disasters. People

are now much aware about the coming disasters and they can

take safe steps that reduce the expenses of the overall

economy of the country.

iii) We can also see the use of technology to operate energy

resources that helps to produce more products within short

time and it is very much important for the economy of the

country.

iv) The use of information and communication technology is now

decreasing the time and expenses of the businesses. It

provides convenient situation to deal with the international

market. So it can be easily understood that information and

communication technology is assisting Bangladesh to expand

the economy.

v) Technology in agricultural sector is helping Bangladesh for

more yielding in every season. It also helps to protect the

crops from being wasted and also from the insects. So it is

definite that technology is developing the economy of

Bangladesh as it is an agricultural country.

vi) Industry is the backbone upon which the economy of any

country prevails and technology is the blood that gives a

country the flow of economic development. Many developed

countries invest in our country and they made Bangladesh

familiar with different modern technology that has been

helping the economy to increase rapidly.

So these are the most remarkable and common section of Bangladesh

which has the access of modern technology and that is very

important for the economic development.

4.The challenges of using technology for the economic

development of Bangladesh:Bangladesh as a developing country has to face different

challenges while using technology for the economic development.

For example; corruption, inflation, poverty, inefficient

government bureaucracy, policy instability, inadequate supply of

infrastructure, access to financing, tax regulation, crime and

theft, poor public health, poor work ethic in national labor

force etc. are some of the main challenges that are being faced

by Bangladesh. Here I am going to elaborate these challenges

below:

i) The existing services and apparel only make up a small

percentage of the economy. Bangladesh cannot afford the high

cost of finance and face limited access of long term

financial options for technology.

ii) Largely unskilled labors are unable to use the modern

technologies and limited spending on education has led to a

decline in the quality of education.

iii) Political instability and safety risks are a barrier to

allow the technological environment.

iv) Another major challenge of ensuring technology is the slow

pace of reform due to government bureaucracy and lack of

alignment of policies at various levels of government.

v) A high level of corruption, even within the judiciary,

undermines investor’s confidence of using technological

equipments.

So these are some of the major problems that are being appeared

in the use of technology for the economic development of

Bangladesh.

5.Negative Effects of Using Technology:

Technology brought us both blessings and curse. The first and

foremost problem of using technology is the decreasing number of

engaging manpower in the industries that causes unemployment as

it made all the works easy, reduces the time and can produce huge

high quality products. The information technology causes

different types of crime and these criminals are most of the time

remain out of reach. Technology in education misguided the

students in different filthy activities. Technologies in

agriculture also encourage the people to use injurious elements

for rapid growth of foods and others. Different modern

technologies are also creating harmful effect over the

environment. Technologies are influencing the people to misuse

the energy resources.

6. Possible Recommendations:There are also many other negative effects that are causing

through the technology. So the government as well as the common

people should be much aware about the access of technology. Some

strict rules and laws should be made about the use of technology.

A National Science and Technology Policy has recently been

formulated and adopted by the Government. Proper monitoring

system should be developed to ensure the safety of using

technologies. Regular follow up of news about the harmful effects

of technology should also be ensured by the government. In

addition complete awareness of the whole society is required to

reduce the negative effects of technology.

7.Conclusion:Technology brought Bangladesh towards a new floor with lots of

blessings. At the same time it also brought some curse for the

society and people of Bangladesh. But in total technology is very

much important for the economic development of the country. The

role of technology in the economic development of Bangladesh is

like a guardian angel.