Bangladesh government is visioning a state which is smart Bangladesh. It is not only limited within vision but government has declared to create a smart country. Smart Bangladesh is an initiative led by the government of Bangladesh aiming to transform Bangladesh into a technologically advanced and sustainable society. The concept of smart Bangladesh covers four pillars. These pillars are: smart citizen, smart government, smart economy and smart society. In order to make a smart Bangladesh we all have great responsibilities to perform strongly.
Here I am giving emphasis on a very important pillar of a smart Bangladesh and which is smart citizen. A smart citizen take advantage of technology in order to engage in a smart city environment, address local issues and take part in decision making. Smart citizen understand the relationship between people, environment and technology. In order to create smart citizen the priority should be given on youth generation. Government and private sectors need to invest enough amount of money for doing so. The investment should be in the field of education, vocational training and skill development. For fulfilling the vision not only the government but private sectors are also responsible to come forward for creating opportunities to develop smart citizen.
Schools, colleges, universities vocational training centers and medias have strong role to support the students to develop necessary characteristics to be smart citizen. The important characteristics of smart citizen are:
- Digitally literate: Smart citizen is good in using digital devices effectively and can take the advantage of digital devices in maximum level. This skill makes them able to work in different professions and in different positions more efficiently.
- Can take the advantage of technology: Technology is really going first. Artificial intelligence is taking lead in every field. Smart citizen can understand the value of technology can use technology according to the need and can take the advantage of technology when and where required.
- Can engage in smart city environment: In smart Bangladesh the total city will be under smart society. Everything will highly organized and technically sound. Smart citizen is able to cope with this sort of environment and will maintain the environment properly.
- Can address local issues: Every society or community have different issues which are absolutely local. Smart citizen are able to think globally and act locally. They can understand the local issues and contribute to resolve the crisis/ problems of local level while know the global situation.
- Can take part in decision making: Decision making means the action or process of deciding something or of resolving a question. Decision making is a choice that about something after thinking about several possibilities. Smart citizen are strong enough in taking decisions about personal, family, social, professional and national issues.
- Can abide Laws: The smart citizen obey different laws related to- traffic rules, driving rules, marriage rules, education rules, property rules, service related rules, consumer rights and respecting senior citizen etc.
- Can do sustainable business decisions: Smart citizen are people who make wise and sustainable business decisions that contribute to the general quality of life of populations and provide job opportunities.
We all are looking forward to get citizens who are skilled in using technology, good in using life skills, good in obey laws, rich in civic sense, empowered and ultimately love Bangladesh. These smart citizens will definitely contribute to make Bangladesh technologically advanced and sustainable.
Farida Akhtar
Psychologist and Counselor
