Nearly three-quarters of rural households in the country have low level digital access and skills, finds a survey of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development. The survey showed that about 49 percent of the households have no access to a computer and 54 percent do not have access to the internet. Although 96 percent of rural households own a mobile phone, a majority (59 percent) do not have access to a smartphone, according to the findings. In recent years, Bangladesh has achieved commendable progress in digitising many of its public services to make them more accessible and cost-effective, said a BIGD press release yesterday. However, the recent study by the BIGD titled “Digital Literacy in Rural Bangladesh” shows that rural households are still lagging behind in adoption and use of e-services due to lack of proper access to information and communication technology (ICT) and the skills needed to operate devices.
Nearly three-quarters of rural households in the country have low level digital access and skills, finds a survey of BRAC Institute of Governance and Development. The survey showed that about 49 percent of the households have no access to a computer and 54 percent do not have access to the internet. Although 96 percent of rural households own a mobile phone, a majority (59 percent) do not have access to a smartphone, according to the findings. In recent years, Bangladesh has achieved commendable progress in digitising many of its public services to make them more accessible and cost-effective, said a BIGD press release yesterday. However, the recent study by the BIGD titled “Digital Literacy in Rural Bangladesh” shows that rural households are still lagging behind in adoption and use of e-services due to lack of proper access to information and communication technology (ICT) and the skills needed to operate devices.
