Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) and Aspire to Innovate(a2i) MoU to Provide Technical Assistance in Global Digital Compact &   UN Summit of the Future 2024  

Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) and Aspire to Innovate(a2i), ICT Division, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh have agreed to collaborate and provide technical assistance in the Global Digital Compact & UN Summit of the Future 2024.  

In September 2020,on commemorating the seventy-fifth anniversary of the United Nations, member states adopted a political declaration, guided by the Charter on how they will ensure the future they want and the United Nations they need. Consequently, in September 2021 the UN Secretary-General published his report entitled “Our Common Agenda,” which proposes a Global Digital Compact that seeks to “outline shared principles for an open, free and secure digital future for all.” The proposed Global Digital Compact is set to be agreed upon at the Summit of the Future in September 2024.  

It is against this background that, the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum and Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC) jointly initiate the Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering & Amplifying Unified Voices on the Global Digital Compact & UN Summit of the Future 2024: Make your voice heard at the GDC and Summit for the Future. 

The hon’ble Prime Minister of Bangladesh reiterated Bangladesh's commitment to the Global Digital Compact and UN Summit of the Future 2024 in the New Economy and Society in Smart Bangladesh organized by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Geneva, Switzerland 15 June 2023 

“Bangladesh is keen on the UN's work on developing a Global Digital Compact. We hope that this Global Compact will have clear guidelines for the international community on responsible and productive use of digital and frontier technologies."  - Sheikh Hasina, Hon'ble Prime Minister of the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh 

“We are delighted to work together with the BIGF to strengthen the Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering & Amplifying Unified Voices on the Global Digital Compact & UN Summit of the Future 2024: Make your voice heard at the GDC and Summit for the Future, and we look forward to the joint intervention of mutual interest,” said Dr Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir Project Director (Additional Secretary) of Aspire to Innovate(a2i) and Mr. Mohammad Abdul Haque, Secretary General, Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum(BIGF)!  

Under the terms of a signed Memorandum of Understanding, the A2I will collaborate in the following areas over the next two years, reflect on the current state of digital transformation and identify progress, challenges, priorities, opportunities & way forward. Develop, together with multi-stakeholders, tangible recommendations for elements to be included in the Global Digital Compact/ UN Summit of the Future 2024 & explore sustainable ways for moving forward and devising creative solutions, renewing commitment, and unlocking the full potential of multi-stakeholders on the eve of Summit for the Future 2024 & Contribute to the exchange of ideas about the potential as well as the challenges in the future use of digital technologies.   

Bring together all stakeholders and examine how the future of the GDC can facilitate the use of digital technologies for the realization of the SDGs amidst the existing challenges and explore how digital solutions could increase benefits and create opportunities for people in Bangladesh.    

Bangladesh Initiative for Connecting, Empowering & Amplifying Unified Voices on UN Global Digital Compact & UN Summit of the Future 2024 has already been endorsed by the following Ministries, Department and Commission; Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ICT Division, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications & Information Technology, Posts and Telecommunications Division, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications & Information Technology, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC)!