BY NBC NEWS
Bangladesh’s DHAKA In the capital of Bangladesh, a group of young ladies gather around a computer to talk about a coding problem at a technological center. Many of them use the brand-new metro train to get to Dhaka every day, checking their iPhones to see what’s new on social media.
Parties headed by two strong women have been fighting political conflicts in Bangladesh for decades on the streets, often with violence. However, as the 169 million-strong nation prepares for another general election on Sunday, there are indications of a generational shift.
While the elections are tainted by an opposition boycott and acrimony, millions of young people are looking for an alternative story. One of South Asia’s fastest-growing economies is using a tech-savvy workforce that is pressuring governments to make changes, thanks to a booming IT sector, vibrant e-commerce, and expanding public digital infrastructure.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is attempting to win over first-time voters with her government’s “Digital Bangladesh” project ahead of the election, which the main opposition, led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia, has boycotted. She has promised a “smart Bangladesh” by 2041 and 15 million new jobs for youth by 2030.
Hasina urged young people to support her in her speech at a sizable election rally outside of Dhaka on Saturday “so that the advancement of Bangladesh continues.”
A few people are paying attention. Hasina is a fearless leader with a vision for a digital future, according to 26-year-old Shahrima Tanjin Arni, a law professor at Dhaka University.
“Although she adheres to traditional values, she possesses a progressive mindset that is uncommon in Bangladeshi communities,” Arni said.
There were accusations of vote-rigging and intimidation during the last two general elections, but the authorities refuted these claims. In her bid for a fourth term in a row, Hasina promises a fair and impartial election. However, her detractors claim that she is stifling the opposition, which Hasina attributes to violence, and weakening the process for an inclusive election.
Voters who are younger claim to seek a vacation from the very divisive political climate and worry about democratic rights.
Abdur Rahim Rony, a Dhaka University student, said, “I desire that the people of Bangladesh will freely exercise their right to vote, their freedom of speech will be ensured, and the justice system will work independently.” “I also hope that the government and political parties don’t meddle with the institutions of the constitution.”
The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics states that people in the 15–29 age range make up 25% of the nation’s population. The age group of 18 to 30 accounts for about one-third of the 119.1 million registered voters in the nation.
In October, an online survey by the Bangladesh Citizen’s Platform for SDGs, or sustainable development goals, with 5,075 participants ages 18 to 35 revealed that 69% of Bangladesh’s youth saw corruption and nepotism as the biggest barriers to the country’s progress as it moves from being the least developed to a middle-income developing nation.
“We want there to be no violence or disorder on the streets. After I complete my studies, I want to work a job or launch a quiet business,” stated 20-year-old Raul Tamjid Rahman, a computer science student at Brac University in Dhaka and a first-time voter. “Our generation is making a call to our politicians and policymakers.”
Three operators were given free licenses by Hasina to operate the mobile phone industry in 1997, which marked the start of Bangladesh’s telecom boom. For international corporations, it was a significant opportunity to invest in one of the most populous nations on earth.
“The growth of the digital economy is a marvel that is transforming the economic scene, led by youth,” said Abu Saeed Khan, a senior policy fellow at the LIRNEasia think tank in Sri Lanka.
The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission estimates that there are already 114 million mobile internet customers in the nation, making up about 127 million internet users.
Millions of dollars have been invested by the government to transform a network of 8,500 rural post offices into electronic hubs for nearby towns. Mobile money transfers are already widely used, and Silicon Valley investors have backed several new firms. To support their relatives in rural regions, the majority of Bangladesh’s 4 million garment workers—who are mostly women—use SMS-based money transfer applications.
However, Bangladesh’s economy continues to face challenges from inflation and depleting foreign exchange reserves. In 2022, the nation applied for and received a $4.5 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund to protect its finances.
The economy increased from $8.75 billion in 1971 to $460 billion in 2022, and the government believes that it will soon reach half a trillion dollars.
Simply put, mobile speech and mobile video have taken over as the lifeblood of the economy, according to expert Khan.
Concerns about the controversial 2018 Digital Security Act and its new successor, the Cyber Security Act, have arisen as a result of the growth of digital infrastructure. According to the government, they are necessary to combat disinformation, hacking, and efforts to infringe upon people’s rights.
Rights groups and critics said that the government had abused the prior legislation to stifle free expression and protest. The new cyber security legislation, according to its detractors, won’t really change anything. A prominent newspaper journalist was legally detained in March on suspicion of disseminating fraudulent information.
The Foreign Investors’ Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s executive director, T.I.M. Nurul Kabir, said that despite obstacles, young people are drawn to Bangladesh’s digital growth.
“With their innovations, this new generation is leading the way,” he said. “These young people, these digital dreamers, are the backbone of a prosperous Bangladesh. Additionally, more and more women are embarking on that future adventure.
Among them is Achia Nila, a tech entrepreneur.
“It’s crucial for me to use technology in my everyday life. It complements everything I do,” Nila said, adding that it facilitates communication with customers and the global market.
Prior to the election on Sunday, Nila urged political parties to put aside their differences and concentrate on cooperating to advance Bangladesh’s development.
She cautioned that many young people are dissatisfied with bureaucracy and corruption and could rather immigrate to other nations in search of better chances.
