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Bangladesh is on the verge of the fourth industrial revolution. That revolution will change the
eternal pattern of human life. There will be so much change that is unimaginable. Change is
inevitable, people need to be prepared to adapt to this change. The Industrial Revolution is
called the process of increasing production and improving its quality with the help of scientific
instruments instead of manual labour.

The first industrial revolution took place in 1784 with the invention of the steam engine, the
second industrial revolution with the invention of electricity in 1870, The Third Industrial
Revolution in 1979 with the invention of the Internet and now the fourth industrial revolution is
going to happen with the digital revolution.

The nine key enablers of Industry 4.0 include:

Cyber Security/Blockchain
Cloud Computing
IIoT- Industrial Internet of Things
Big Data
Systems Integration
Autonomous Robots-Cobots
Additive Manufacturing- 3D printing
Augmented reality
Simulation/Digital Twins

Bangladesh has done all its needs to prepare for digital integration during or after the Fourth
Industrial Revolution. Many developed countries of the world did not even think about launching
5G but Bangladesh has done it. 5G is launched on 16th December 2021 to mark the 50th
anniversary of the victory. The third submarine cable is coming in 2023. Skilled manpower is
essential for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To this purpose 39 high-tech parks have been
established as well as various groundbreaking programs are being taken and implemented.

The greatest progress of the world economy has been taken place as a result of the Industrial
Revolution. The industrial revolutions have changed the course of the world, the course of the
world economy. Artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things could be used as a complete
alternative to human resources! The Internet of Things is now a buzzword. The Internet of
Things will be when all the objects around us communicate and network among themselves
through the Internet. In the meantime, we’ve heard about Google Home, Apple’s Siri and
Amazon’s Alexa. As a result, it is possible to control many things in the house including lights,
sound system, doors. Bangladesh is ready to adapt to the technology of the future. In this case,
the public and private sectors are being given equal importance.

Bangladesh has already gained the reputation of Asian Tiger under the visionary leadership of
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The next high-tech park in Bangladesh will be Silicon Valley. All
4,501 union parishads in the country’s 64 districts have already been included in the digital
network. The main services of the government especially land registration, birth registration,
university admission or job application etc. are being delivered digitally to the doorsteps of the
citizens. Digital technology has made the provision of basic services easier and more

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affordable. Therefore, in the overall analysis, Digital Bangladesh means a more efficient,
equitable and prosperous Bangladesh.

The mobile banking system of Bangladesh has changed a lot through bKash,Rocket and
Nagad. Marginalized people can easily transact money without opening a bank account. Now
every day there is a transaction of about one thousand crore taka. Cloud computing, the Internet
of Things, and Artificial Intelligence will play a major role in achieving the Fourth Industrial
Revolution. Bangladesh has already made great advancements in information technology.
Bangladesh is also ready to adapt to future technology. In this case, both public and private
sectors are being given equal importance. Apart from formal and informal education, e-
governance, Service Delivery, Public Policy and implementation, Information Technology,
Decentralization, Urban Development, Planning, and Challenges to SDG implementation and
administrative Policy Strategies will be introduced with public servants and cloud server. Internet
of things, training on artificial intelligence will be provided to them. Soon after the victory in
1971, Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman launched a ground satellite
station at Betbunia in the Rangamati district. He took initiative to reform all sectors including
information technology to take the country’s economy forward. He also laid a solid foundation
for the country in just three and a half years of rule, But the killer’s bullet stalled Bangladesh’s
plan to move forward. As a result, Bangladesh continues to lag behind.

Finally, after the government of Bangabandhu’s daughter, Sheikh Hasina came to power in
1996, Bangladesh started moving forward again. In the last decade, Bangladesh has reached a
unique height. Today, Bangladesh is a wonder of development all over the world. Bangladesh is
now connected to two submarine cables, the third submarine cable is being connected soon.
Sheikh Hasina has brought the country on the highway of development. In the continuation of
development, Bangladesh has launched its own satellite in the sky today. Bangladesh has
already become known all over the world as the Asian Tiger under the outstanding visionary
leadership of Sheikh Hasina. Bangladesh’s economy is now stronger than many countries in the
world. The once ailing economy is on its way to becoming a middle-income country. The per
capita income, which was below 100 USD, has now risen to 2591 USD. The level of hunger and
poverty has decreased. The standard of living of ordinary people has improved. Inclusion in
education and treatment has increased. Bangladesh’s high-tech parks will be Silicon Valley in
the future. Major government services, especially land registration, birth registration, university
admissions or job applications, are being delivered digitally to the doorsteps of citizens. There is
no alternative to digitization to make the Fourth Industrial Revolution fruitful.

Under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has already been able to achieve the title of
Digital Bangladesh. The ICT department of the government has undertaken several projects to
implement the plan to make the young generation of the country proficient in digital education,
including the Learning and Learning Development Project. While IBM Watson with artificial
intelligence is providing 85% perfect legal aid by analyzing the document review process
automatically, the courts in Bangladesh are not so successful in using the technology. Although
not 100% technology-dependent, the country has recently been able to achieve success in a
number of areas, including the technology to show video footage as evidence. The law of
Bangladesh still mentions that business cannot be done without taking a ‘square foot’ office by a
formal agreement.

However, with the national identity card, online business can be done with an internet
connection sitting at home and creating a global business by getting registered and opening a
bank account. In order to make the Fourth Revolution a hundred percent success, it is

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necessary to amend these so-called provisions of the law. We see in the reports of all including
the World Bank, UN, and IMF that Bangladesh is going to lead the world in the future.

Considering the discussions being held on the outcome of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and
its various advantages and disadvantages, it can be said that Bangladesh has already started
all preparations to make the Fourth Industrial Revolution its own. If the Prime Minister Sheikh
Hasina maintains the continuity of the government, Bangladesh will remain in the seat of
leadership in the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

T
he Oceanic Economy popularly known as blue economy has emerged as a crucial
development issue for optimum use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for
sustainable development. Among the sustainable development goals (SDGs), SDG-14
focuses on sustainable use of the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable
development. Ocean assets provide food and energy which are essential ingredients of human
life. By overlooking the three-fourth proportion of the surface of earth, it is tough to achieve
sustainable economic development by 2030. Given this, Bangladesh has adopted steps to
ensure sustainable use the oceans, seas and marine resources attaining inclusive development
and goal related to SDG-14.

Bangladesh has 710 km long coastline with an exclusive economic zone of 200 Nautical Miles
inside the Bay of Bengal. Marine fisheries contribute 19.40 per cent of the total fish production
of the country. Besides, on an average, 81.0 per cent of the international tourists visit Cox's
Bazaar in Bangladesh. The ocean of Bangladesh is contributing a noteworthy role to its overall
socio-economic growth through enhancing the economic activities across the country and
especially to the coastal zone at southern part.

A new economic area for Bangladesh is demarcated in the Bay of Bengal. Already, Bangladesh
has taken steps to flourish its Blue Economy in order to utilize its new marine resources. Since
2015, the Government of Bangladesh (GoB) has undertaken a number of consultations and
workshops on Blue Economy. In addition, Seventh-Five Year Plan (7FYP) of Bangladesh has
mentioned twelve actions for maintaining a prosperous and sustainable Blue Economy, which
include fisheries, renewable energy, human resources, transshipment, tourism and climate
change among others. Moreover, in 2017, the "Blue Economy Cell' under Ministry of Foreign
Affairs (MoFA), GoB has been established with the mandate to coordinate Blue Economy
initiatives across sectoral ministries.

Blue Economy has the prospect to contribute Bangladesh economy on a much higher level.
Twenty-six potential Blue Economy sectors have been identified by the MoFA which include the
fishery, maritime trade and shipping, energy, tourism, coastal protection, maritime safety and
surveillance for development of blue economy in Bangladesh.

Shipping: Mostly the Bangladesh's external freight trade is seaborne (2018) which is 90.0 per
cent of the total freight trade of the country. Therefore, it appears that our economy may heavily
depend on freight trade in future. So, to retain the huge amount of freight charges within the

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country, incentives might be provided to local shipping companies to add more ships to the
existing fleet. Besides, coastal shipping, seaports, passenger ferry services, island water way
transport, ship building and ship recycling industries should get more importance to carry on
sustainable economic growth of our country.

Fishery: Experts opine that fish alone has 500 varieties besides snails, shell-fish, crabs, sharks,
octopuses and other animals. It is estimated that Bangladesh catches only 0.70 million tons of
fish every year out of the total 8.0 million tons of fish available in the Bay of Bengal. It is
worthwhile to mention that 15.0 percent of the protein is provided from sea resources for the
people across the world. As many people depend on oceans for their livelihood and foods,
increased efforts are needed to save ocean resources.

Oil and gas: Bangladesh is yet to assess the true potential of its offshore gas prospects.
Bangladesh could also have gas fields in its area of the sea. Bangladesh possess some gas
fields in the land and like Myanmar, Bangladesh may have the potentials to get more gas fields
in the sea which may add to the total reserve of gas of the country. Besides, oil and gas, sea
salt, ocean renewable energy, blue energy (osmosis) and biomass, aggregates mining (sand,
gravel, etc.) and marine genetic resource should get more attention as ocean resources.
Therefore, these plenty of potential may contribute to our sustainable economic development in
future.

Tourism : Globally, coastal tourism is the largest market segment and represents 5.0 per cent
of world Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and contributes 6.0-7.0 per cent of total employment. In
150 countries, it is one of five top export earners. It is the main source of foreign exchange for
one-half of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Coastal tourism includes: (a) beach-based
recreation and tourism; (b) tourist activities in proximity to the sea; and (c) nautical boating
including yachting and marinas. Sustainable tourism can create new employment opportunities
and reduce poverty. So, Bangladesh can earn foreign exchange from tourism industry which
may contribute to GDP growth as well as help achieve SDGs by 2030. It is reported that the
country has 75 outer-islands which could be utilised for tourists both local and foreign.

Future of exploration: Exploring and exploiting these sea resources through the use of
appropriate technology, the economy of Bangladesh can grow rapidly. Bangladesh gained a
defined maritime zone in the Bay of Bengal after a long time dispute settlement of maritime
boundary with India and Myanmar. Bangladesh may pay attention in advancing its Blue
Economy to utilise its vast sea region with sea-based resources through ensuring a sustainable
balance between the protection of marine ecosystem and marine resources. Now, Bangladesh
can create more spaces to ensure economic growth through fresh investments in marine trade
and commerce.

The country has so far, explored only a few number of Blue Economy sectors such as fisheries
and aquaculture, shipbuilding, ship breaking, salt generation and port facilities. Besides, most of
these sectors are following traditional methods. Therefore, there still remains ample
opportunities as well as challenges for exploring large number of blue economy sectors,
safeguarding mangrove and ocean grass, addressing environmental changes and managing
carbon discharge, and introducing innovative technology for further development to contribute in
achieving sustainable development goals.

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T
hough we often think about human induced climate change as something that will happen in the
future, it is an ongoing process. Ecosystems and communities all over the world are being
impacted today. Global temperatures rose about 1.98°F (1.1°C) from 1901 to 2022, but climate
change refers to more than an increase in temperature. It also includes sea level rise, changes
in weather patterns like drought and flooding, and much more. Things that we depend upon and
value like water, energy, transportation, wildlife, agriculture, ecosystems, and human health are
experiencing the effects of a changing climate.

A complex issue:
The impacts of climate change on different sectors of society are interrelated. Drought can harm
food production and human health. Flooding can lead to disease spread and damages to
ecosystems and infrastructure. Human health issues can increase mortality, impact food
availability, and limit worker productivity. Climate change impacts are seen throughout every
aspect of the world we live in. However, climate change impacts are uneven across the country
and the world, even within a single community, climate change impacts can differ between
neighborhoods or individuals. Long-standing socioeconomic inequities can make underserved
groups, who often have the highest exposure to hazards and the fewest resources to respond,
more vulnerable.

The projections of a climate change-impacted future are not inevitable. Many of the problems
and solutions are known to us now, and ongoing research continues to provide new ones.
Experts believe there is still time to avoid the most negative of outcomes by limiting and
reducing emissions to zero as quickly as possible. Reducing our emissions of greenhouse
gases will require investment in new technology and infrastructure, which will spur job growth.
Additionally, lowering emissions will lessen harmful impacts to human health, saving countless
lives and billions of dollars in health-related expenses. Despite pandemic shutdowns, carbon
dioxide and methane surged in 2020. Levels of the two most important anthropogenic
greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide and methane, continued their unrelenting rise in 2020
despite the economic slowdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic response.

Our changing climate:

We see climate change affecting our planet from pole to pole. NOAA (National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration) monitors global climate data and here are some of the changes
NOAA has recorded. You can explore more at the Global Climate Dashboard.

>>Global temperatures rose about 1.8°F (1.1°C) from 1901 to 2022.

>>Sea level rise has accelerated from 1.7 mm/year throughout most of the twentieth century to
3.2 mm/year since 1993.
>>Glaciers are shrinking: average thickness of 30 well-studied glaciers has decreased more
than 60 feet since 1980.
>>The area covered by sea ice in the Arctic at the end of summer has shrunk by about 40%
since 1979.
>>The amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen by 25% since 1958, and by about
40% since the Industrial Revolution.
>>Snow is melting earlier compared to long-term averages.

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Greenhouse gases
During the past century, human activities have released large amounts of carbon dioxide and
other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Most of the gases come from burning fossil fuels
to produce energy. Greenhouse gases are like a blanket around the Earth, trapping energy in
the atmosphere and causing it to warm. This is called the greenhouse effect and it is natural and
necessary to support life on earth. However, while greenhouse gases buildup, the climate
changes and result in dangerous effects to human health and ecosystems. People have
adapted to the stable climate we have enjoyed since the last ice age which ended several
thousand years ago. A warmer climate can bring changes that can affect our water supplies,
agriculture, power and transportation systems, the natural environment, and even our own
health and safety. There are some climate changes that are unavoidable and nothing can be
done about it. For example, carbon dioxide can stay in the atmosphere for nearly a century, so
Earth will continue to warm in the future.

Global Warming

Global warming has really taken effect in the world over the last century. It is the unusually rapid
increase in the Earth’s average surface temperature over the past century primarily due to the
greenhouse gases released as people burn fossil fuels. Global warming is due to the enhancing
greenhouse gases emission and build-up in the Earth’s environment. The gases that have an
influence on the atmosphere are water vapor, carbon dioxide, dinitrogen-oxide, and methane.
Almost 30 percent of incoming sunlight is reflected back into space by bright surfaces like
clouds and ice. In the other 70 percent, most is absorbed by the land and ocean, and the rest is
absorbed by the atmosphere. The absorbed solar energy heats our planet. This absorption and
radiation of heat by the atmosphere is beneficial for life on Earth. Today, the atmosphere
contains more greenhouse gas molecules, so more of the infrared energy emitted by the
surface ends up being absorbed by the atmosphere. By increasing the concentration of
greenhouse gases, we are making Earth’s atmosphere a more efficient greenhouse. Climate
has cooled and warmed throughout the Earth history for various reasons. Rapid warming like
we see today is unusual in the history of our planet. Some of the factors that have an effect on
climate, like volcanic eruptions and changes in the amount of solar energy, are natural. Climate
can change if there is a change in the amount of solar energy that gets to the Earth. Volcano
eruptions can really affect climate, because when it erupts it spews out more than just lava and
ash. Volcanoes release tiny particles made of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere. These
particles get into the stratosphere and reflect solar radiation back out to space. Snow and ice
also have a great effect on climate. When snow and ice melts Earth’s climate warms, less
energy is reflected and this causes even more warming.

There are many different ways that plants, animals, and other life on our planet can affect
climate. Some can produce greenhouse gases that trap heat and aid global warming through
the greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide is taken out of the atmosphere by plants as they make
their food by photosynthesis. During the night, plants release some carbon dioxide back into the
atmosphere. Methane is made while farm animals, such as cattle and sheep digest their food.
Cars and trucks can effect climate by releasing carbon dioxide when fossil fuels are burned to
power them. When wildfires occur, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere. However, if
a forest of similar size grows again, about the same amount of carbon that was added to the
atmosphere during the fire will be removed. Some effects that scientists have predicted in the
past would result when global change was occurring: loss of sea ice, accelerated sea level rise,
and more intense heat waves. Scientists have confidence that global temperatures will continue
to rise for decades to come, largely due to greenhouse gases produced by human activities.

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Climate change and IPCC

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) stated that the extent climate change
effects on individual regions will vary over time and with ability of different societal and
environmental systems mitigate or adapt to change (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change). This has been the warmest decade since 1880. According to the National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration, 2010 and 2005 has been the warmest years on record. The
earth could warm by an additional 7.2 degrees Fahrenheit during the 21st century if we fail to
reduce emissions from burning fossil fuels (The National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration). The rising of temperature will have great effects on the earth’s climate patterns
and on all living things. Industrial activities that our modern civilization depends upon have
raised atmospheric carbon dioxide from 280 parts per million to 379 parts per million in the last
150 years (The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change).

Water
Changes to water resources can have a big impact on our world and our lives. Flooding is an
increasing issue as our climate is changing. Compared to the beginning of the 20th century,
there are both stronger and more frequent abnormally heavy precipitation events across most of
the United States. Conversely, drought is also becoming more common, particularly in the
Western United States. Humans are using more water, especially for agriculture. Much like we
sweat more when it is hot out, higher air temperatures cause plants to lose, or transpire, more
water, meaning farmers must give them more water. Both highlight the need for more water in
places where supplies are dwindling.

Snowpack is an important source of freshwater for many people. As the snow melts, freshwater
becomes available for use, especially in regions like the Western United States where there is
not much precipitation in warmer months. But as temperatures warm, there is less snow overall
and snow begins to melt earlier in the year, meaning snowpack may not be a reliable source of
water for the entire warm and dry seasons. As Earth heats up thanks to human-caused climate
change, scientists expect that winter snowpacks will melt increasingly earlier in the spring.

Food
Our food supply depends on climate and weather conditions. Although farmers and researchers
may be able to adapt some agricultural techniques and technologies or develop new ones,
some changes will be difficult to manage. Increased temperatures, drought and water stress,
diseases, and weather extremes create challenges for the farmers and ranchers who put food
on our tables. Human farm workers can suffer from heat-related health issues, like exhaustion,
heatstroke, and heart attacks. Rising temperatures and heat stress can also harm livestock.

Human Health
Climate change is already impacting human health. Changes in weather and climate patterns
can put lives at risk. Heat is one of the most deadly weather phenomena. As ocean
temperatures rise, hurricanes are getting stronger and wetter, which can cause direct and
indirect deaths. Dry conditions lead to more wildfires, which bring many health risks. Higher
incidences of flooding can lead to the spread of waterborne diseases, injuries, and chemical
hazards. As geographic ranges of mosquitoes and ticks expand, they can carry diseases to new
locations. The most vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, people with preexisting
health conditions, outdoor workers, people of color, and people with low income, are at an even
higher risk because of the compounding factors from climate change. But public health groups

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can work with local communities to help people understand and build resilience to climate
change health impacts.

The environment
Climate change will continue to have a significant impact on ecosystems and organisms, though
they are not impacted equally. The Arctic is one of the ecosystems most vulnerable to the
effects of climate change, as it is warming at least twice the rate of the global average and
melting land ice sheets and glaciers contribute to sea level rise around the globe. Some living
things are able to respond to climate change; some plants are blooming earlier and some
species may expand their geographic range. But these changes are happening too fast for
many other plants and animals as increasing temperatures and changing precipitation patterns
stress ecosystems. Some invasive or nuisance species, like lionfish and ticks, may thrive in
even more places because of climate change.

Changes are also occurring in the ocean. The ocean absorbs about 30% of the carbon dioxide
that is released into the atmosphere from the burning of fossil fuels. As a result, the water is
becoming more acidic, affecting marine life. Sea levels are rising due to thermal expansion, in
addition to melting ice sheets and glaciers, putting coastal areas at greater risk of erosion and
storm surge.

The compounding effects of climate change are leading to many changes in ecosystems. Coral
reefs are vulnerable to many effects of climate change: warming waters can lead to coral
bleaching, stronger hurricanes can destroy reefs, and sea level rise can cause corals to be
smothered by sediment. Coral reef ecosystems are home to thousands of species, which rely
on healthy coral reefs to survive.

Infrastructure
Physical infrastructure includes bridges, roads, ports, electrical grids, broadband internet, and
other parts of our transportation and communication systems. It is often designed to be in use
for years or decades, and many communities have infrastructure that was designed without
future climate in mind. But even newer infrastructures can be vulnerable to climate change.
Extreme weather events that bring heavy rains, floods, wind, snow, or temperature changes can
stress existing structures and facilities. Increased temperatures require more indoor cooling,
which can put stress on an energy grid. Sudden heavy rainfall can lead to flooding that shuts
down highways and major business areas.

Nearly 40% of the United States population lives in coastal counties, meaning millions of people
will be impacted by sea level rise. Coastal infrastructure, such as roads, bridges, water supplies,
and much more, is at risk. Sea level rise can also lead to coastal erosion and high-tide flooding.
Some communities are projected to possibly end up at or below sea level by 2100 and will face
decisions around managed retreat and climate adaptation.

Many communities are not yet prepared to face climate-related threats. Even within a
community, some groups are more vulnerable to these threats than others. Going forward, it is
important for communities to invest in resilient infrastructure that will be able to withstand future
climate risks. Researchers are studying current and future impacts of climate change on
communities and can offer recommendations on best practices. Resilience education is vitally
important for city planners, emergency managers, educators, communicators, and all other
community members to prepare for climate change.

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Conclusion
In conclusion, we need to take part and try to stop global warming and other effects on climate
change. If the earth’s temperatures continue to rise in the future, living things on earth would
become extinct due to the high temperatures. If humans contribute to control global warming,
this world would be cooler and the high temperatures we currently have would decrease. If
everybody as one take stand and try to end most of the climate changes that are occurring, this
world would be a safer place to live on.

C
yber-bullying is a form of bullying or harassment that uses the electronic media for
targeting victims. It is also known as online bullying, and has proliferated enormously in
recent years among the younger generation in keeping with rapid expansion of the digital
world. And like domestic violence, cyber-bullying of women has also exacerbated during the
Covid-19 pandemic. There are laws and rules in Bangladesh for deterring it, and provisions for
punishment are also quite stringent. Even then, the litigation process often turns out to be
excessively long-drawn or cumbersome. Besides, dearth of awareness on the issue and slow-
moving trials cum delivery of verdicts are still huge challenges. These facts were highlighted at
a round-table discussion held in November 2021 in Dhaka on the occasion of International
Fortnight to Resist Violence against Women.

Rapid rise in internet usage has been a consistent trend in Bangladesh during the past decade.
But it is also believed to be fuelling a rise in harassment of women due to the dominance of
patriarchal attitude and norms in society, as well as inadequate legal protection. According to a
survey sponsored by ActionAid Bangladesh, 50 per cent women among those surveyed in the
country complained about online harassment. Over 62 per cent among the victims were below
the age of 25 years. Interestingly, the victims cited Facebook as the dominant platform where
they suffered maximum harassment. About 25 per cent women among these victims did not
seek remedial measures against the perpetrators of this harassment; and 76 per cent women
suffered from mental problems like depression and anxiety due to these troubles. Around 48 per
cent victims felt lodging complaints would not yield any benefit, while 52 per cent did file
complaints in the cyber-crime investigation department of the government. About 30 per cent
women did not know where they could lodge any complaint.

Online engagements by students have increased manifold during the pandemic. Fake accounts
are often opened in the social media platforms by collecting photographs of the victims. Many
accounts are also hacked, and objectionable materials are uploaded for public view. But most
students do not know how to maintain online security, and have scant idea about cyber-bullying
or online harassment. Orientation and training sessions on these issues for all stakeholders by

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relevant institutions could do a lot in minimising these online hazards. Alongside students, the
parents and guardians should also be involved in the process, as parental control and
supervision can play a positive part in preventing or rectifying online harassment.

An ILO Convention was approved in 2019 on eliminating violence and harassment in the world
of work, which defined gender-based violence including sexual harassment. But the definition of
sexual harassment is still unclear in the legal framework of Bangladesh. The roles of teachers
and guardians are undoubtedly important in ensuring safe internet use and safety of students in
the worldwide web. We certainly do not want our children to refrain from using internet on the
ground of cyber insecurity. Therefore, steps should be taken for generating and raising
awareness of all stakeholders on the issue. Due importance should also be attached to the
subject by both the public and private sectors. Apparently, the issue of online sexual
harassment has been ignored by the relevant laws. Measures should now be taken for
facilitating and encouraging women to file cases and utilise technology-based remedies in case
of such harassments.

Online harassment can be even more harmful than offline violence. According to a research in
North America, children commit suicide in greater numbers due to cyber-bullying compared to
bullying in their schools. Online incidents can spread like wildfire. Besides, many offline
problems subsequently find space in online platforms. For example, girls are sometimes
attacked on these platforms when male overtures are rejected by them. Counselling is often
required for such victims of online predators. The National Helpline-1098 set up by the
Government of Bangladesh extends support services to victims on a continual basis. The
helpline is also working ceaselessly for making women mentally strong through counselling.
Social workers or local teams of the department of social services are despatched if direct help
is needed. Even the families get counselling and guidance for follow-up actions when required.
In the overall context, social transformation is needed for improving the situation - including
creation of healthy entertainment options, sex education etc. For bettering the situation, there is
no alternative to removing obstacles and hindrances like parochial social outlook and lack of
digital knowledge, as well as adoption of proactive initiatives by law enforcement agencies. The
whole process should also be made female-friendly as women account for a majority of these
harassment cases. It is often found that removal of objectionable posts and materials is more
urgent than punishing somebody. There is therefore a clear need for enhanced interactions and
frequent dialogues with various social media platforms for resolving such issues.

The Pornography Control Act, 2012 may also be applied in Bangladesh for combating online
harassment, but many stakeholders do not even know about its existence. On the other hand,
most people are aware about the Digital Security, 2018. But this law along with the Prevention
of Cruelty against Women and Children Act, 2000 are sometimes used in personal and political
conflicts, often leading to violations of human rights. The concerned parties should therefore
remain cautious about upholding human rights while applying these laws. Bangladesh Police
has set up an online-based service outfit styled 'Police Cyber Support for Women', where
complaints are received directly from female victims. Officiating members of this outfit are also
females because women are comfortable with them. The Criminal Investigation Department
(CID) of police also has a Cyber Police Centre where details of such cases are kept. However,
there is need for better coordination within the police force as well as among different
government departments and agencies for prevention and mitigation of online harassment
against women across the country.

Transformation of prevailing mentality is essential for curbing cyber-bullying and harassment of

women. There are no pills, anti-biotic medicines or injections for treating this malaise. The only

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remedy is harmonious partnerships between men and women in all strata of the society. What is
urgently needed is a strong social support system, where women can get prompt assistance
from in case of online harassment. Besides, a global movement should be waged for ensuring
accountability of online platforms like the Facebook and TikTok. Collective and comprehensive
endeavours including massive awareness-generation campaigns are also required for curbing
cyber-bullying and rectifying the situation for greater good of society and nation.

Opportunities and challenges of 4IR (Fourth

Industrial Revolution)

Introduction

B
angladesh is gearing up for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Hardly a day goes by
when a national political leader or a prominent civil society stalwart does not bring up the
issues relating to 4IR in the national media. One could even say that 4IR is the new
buzzword for the country. There are many challenges and opportunities for us as we embrace
this major global movement which, if handled adroitly, could lead to major transformation,
growth and improvement. So, the million-dollar question is: What are the major policy actions
that the government can initiate to prepare the country for 4IR?

What is 4IR?
First a caveat. While 4IR has the potential to "raise global income levels and improve the quality
of life for populations around the world" according to Klaus Schwab, it also is not the be all and
end all for the future of the globe. I say that because while the previous industrial revolutions in
the last 200 years have left their indelible marks on society, the failure of the political, economic
and social leaders to anticipate and steer clear of the negative side effects or landmines have
resulted in the current global crises, including climate change, income inequality, and the
conflict ridden landscape that we now witness.

The First Industrial Revolution used water and steam power to mechanize production, mostly in
England. The Second harnessed the advent of electricity to create mass production, and an
example could be Henry Ford's Model-T assembly line. The Third, which lasted from the end of
the Second World War to the emergence of the Internet, used electronics and information
technology to automate production. The Fourth, which is really at its infancy now, began with
the use of artificial intelligence (AI), digitalization, biotechnology, and global connectivity, and
has touched the entire systems of production, management, and governance. Billions of people
are now connected with mobile devices, and collaborate—using digital tools and AI—and live in
a metaverse. 4IR promises to shape the future by linking the physical, digital, and biological
worlds more tightly.

The promise and power of 4IR are evident in the world of the Covid-19 pandemic. New
technologies will emerge more rapidly now that we know how to adapt to a major catastrophic
event, and eventually address disease, climate change, and poverty. Bangladesh's challenge is

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to transform our education programs and skills development infrastructure to deliver the talents
needed for an innovative, digitized, and post-agricultural economy as we also march into upper-
income status. The forces driving 4IR are various digital technologies including robotics, AI,
virtual reality, blockchain, internet of things, nanotechnology, genomics, biotechnology, cloud
computing, 3D printing, big data, and others. We can expect to see smart factories, cyber-
physical systems, self-organization, new systems in distribution and procurement, new systems
in the development of products and services, adaptation to human needs, and corporate social
responsibility.

Is Bangladesh prepared for 4IR?

Bangladesh is well situated to take advantage of 4IR. It has a growing manufacturing base,
skilled manpower, and a creative entrepreneurial class. On the other side, the level of
automation is still weak, the manufacturing sector is limited to garments and a few other minor
industries, inadequate infrastructure and the institutions leave much to be desired. If
Bangladesh wants to grab the opportunities arising from 4IR, it will need to put in place certain
measures to overcome issues around accessibility, affordability, and the application of
technologies in a fast-moving global environment.
Fortunately, our leadership is fully cognisant of the potential benefits of 4IR and the enormous
tasks that lie ahead. The planning minister assured a gathering of business leaders that the
government would provide full support for the formulation and implementation of a national
strategy to make Bangladesh 4IR-responsive. The country is poised to review its progress
periodically, having set specific growth targets for the years 2026, 2031 and 2041. To name a
few, the country aims to graduate from LDC status in 2026, become an upper-middle-income
country (UMIC) by 2031 and achieve high-income country status by 2041. In addition, there are
18 development targets to be achieved by 2030 under the UN's Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs).

Opportunities and challenges

Bangladesh has in the last 30 years gained significant knowledge in industrial growth to leapfrog
directly into using more advanced technologies and bypass many of the early growing pains of
adopting 4IR. Consequently, there are plenty of opportunities for transformation, growth, and
improvement at all levels of governments, non-governmental organizations, and professions.
For example, during the Covid pandemic, our healthcare and IT sectors showed an
extraordinary degree of adaptability, resilience, and engagement in the R&D ecosystem. The
infrastructure needed for the health policy dissemination including vaccination, testing, and
contact-tracing platforms were put in place in a short period of time. In a UNIDO report entitled
"Economics of Technological Leapfrogging", countries such as Bangladesh are identified as
having the most promise in terms of leapfrogging into smart factories. The Bangladesh
government has taken several initiatives in this regard, underscoring the need for leveraging
information and communication technologies (ICT) to achieve its Vision 2041.

According to Oxford Internet Institute, Bangladesh is the second-largest supplier of online

freelance labour. As an observer noted, "Urban life in Bangladesh is much more advanced in
terms of transportation, banking, telecommunication, digital payments, e-commerce etc."
A precondition for joining the 4IR is having the absorptive capacity and basic technological
capabilities for the businesses to capitalise on the opportunities that it presents. We also need
to be mindful to shift our focus on building our capabilities to move into higher-end segments of
existing global value chains.

An area that needs careful planning and public-private cooperation is the degree of automation
appropriate for a country with excess labour. A recent study released by McKinsey Global

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Institute reports that roughly one-fifth of the global workforce will be impacted by the adoption of
AI and automation. While the most significant impact of automation can be expected in
developed nations like the UK, Germany, and the USA, emerging nations will not be safe. By
2022, 50 percent of companies believe that automation will decrease their numbers of full-time
staff and by 2030, robots will replace 800 million workers across the world. Professor Daron
Acemoglu of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), on the other hand, sees a silver
lining. "It's not all doom and gloom," says Acemoglu. "There is nothing that says technology is
all bad for workers. It is the choice we make about the direction to develop technology that is
critical."

As Bangladesh attempts to upgrade the level of automation, the country will need to leverage
local skills and training institutions. Given our nascent manufacturing base, we can also benefit
from seeking out 4IR-related service start-ups with innovative business models or customising
existing models to suit local conditions. Obviously, in such cases, access to initial financing and
venture capital is crucial for small, medium, micro enterprises (MSME) to enter the market. To
take the case of RMG, it is possible to use blockchain technology to record, track, and trace
garment shipments. Blockchains achieve bookkeeping without a bookkeeper and allow
individuals to make transactions anonymously and quickly. Such innovative use of this
emergent technology will provide consumer confidence about their source and compliance with
safety and human rights best practices. Producers can receive an increased return on their
labour, as consumers will then be ready to pay a premium for the end-product. Organisations
such as the Enhanced Integrated Framework, the International Trade Centre, the World Bank
Group, the World Trade Organization and the World Economic Forum can provide software as
well as hardware support to LDCs.

The role of government

The role of the government to usher in 4IR and to provide a suitable environment for that is
pivotal. The education sector will also play a vital role in training the workforce needed for the
new jobs. As mentioned, many of the existing jobs will be phased out and the laid-off workers
will need to be retrained and the government can play a big role to provide the workers with the
incentives to relocate. Just as government policy was an important driver during the growth of
the RMG sector in the 70s and 80s, the policy framework for 4IR must be tweaked to nudge the
private sector and the universities to move in the right direction. Changes in the curriculum to
steer our students in the direction of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics) must be initiated at the lowest level of the educational system. To borrow a page
from a global consultant's report, several steps need to be taken at the national level:

1. Make a plan. Set out the goals and work with the industry leaders to direct the latter into new
kinds of technology to address customers' needs better.

2. Seek out new opportunities and the low-hanging fruits. Identify areas that are ready for
change and lead to increased productivity.

3. Invest in human capital and manpower development to create a workforce that is ready to
succeed in a digital environment.

4. Encourage all government agencies and the private sector to incorporate environmental
responsibility and eco-efficiency. To compete successfully in the global environment,
businesses need to pay more attention to reducing waste and using resources efficiently.

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Concluding remarks
New technologies and 4IR can be instrumental in transforming our agriculture. The term
industrial revolution is a misnomer since biotechnology and scientific research can boost our
agricultural production and transform the lives of the rural population. Bangladesh has seen the
spread of mobile technology, including mobile financial services making significant headway in
rural areas. Software-enabled products provide real-time market information, on-time delivery of
supplies, and faster transactions, and have already made inroads in remote villages. Blockchain
applications have the potential to transform the entire economy. Like railroads, electricity,
telecommunications and the internet, blockchain technology could be a game changer.
Blockchain databases have the ability to create and maintain decentralized marketplaces and
distributed recordkeeping (land records, contracts, and legal transactions), and remove many
institutional bottlenecks.

The long-awaited dream of the Mega Padma Bridge finally came to fruition on June 25, 2022.
With various sectors flourishing and putting Bangladesh on the map, the operationalization of
the Padma bridge that connects 21 districts of the south-western region of the country, will
welcome a much-needed boost to the economy. The Padma bridge will comprise two decks.
The lower deck will house a single-track broad-gauge railway while the upper deck will house a
four-lane highway. The mega bridge will stretch 6.15 km in length and 22 m in width and consist
of 41 spans and 42 piers with each of the prior being 150 meters in length. These spans and
piers will be supported by six 128m-long and 3m-diameter steel tube piles each. Moreover,
utilities including gas pipelines, a power transmission line, and an optic-fiber cable will be
passing through the bridge as well.

The aim of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge Project is multi-faceted. Primarily, the southwest
region of Bangladesh will experience significant improvement in terms of social, economic, and
industrial development due to the ease of access the bridge will facilitate. Secondly, markets
and services of the southwest region will become more accessible to the rest of the country.
Consequently, the economy of Bangladesh will accelerate exponentially on a mass scale.

A core benefit, especially for businesses, is that the new route will also not have any speed or
load restrictions. This will allow Bangladesh Railway to introduce the very first national and
regional broad-gauge container train services. The rail link also presents the opportunity to
construct a second line in the route to connect Barisal to the Payra Deep Sea Port, therefore,
accelerating productivity, and thus, economy, even further. The Padma River separates the
southwest region of Bangladesh from the northern and eastern regions. The establishment of
the bridge will provide an alternate route that will be 212km shorter than the existing Dhaka-
Jashore-Khulna railway line. Therefore, in addition to reducing journey time and costs, the
bridge will also reduce the distance from the southwest region to Dhaka, Bangladesh's capital,
by more than 100km. Moreover, the ease of access that the project will facilitate will also
increase educational and training opportunities.

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One of the dream projects of Bangladesh is Padma Bridge. It will be the world’s sixth-largest
multipurpose bridge. From December 2014 the bridge has started its construction journey and
still going great guns. Although, it wasn’t easy at the start considering funds and other economic
issues. Even, the World Bank canceled its credit agreement. At last, the country had come up
with its own fund. Padma Bridge will connect the south-west region of the country with the
capital and eastern part. The project is now being funded from own resources of the
Government of Bangladesh. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina laid the foundation stone of Padma
Bridge on 12th December 2015.

The total length of the Padma Bridge is 6.15 km and width is 18.10m. It is four lane highway and
single lane Railway Bridge. The total number of spans of the bridge is 41. Each of them is 150
metres long and weighing 3,140 tonnes. “Bangladesh Bridge Authority” is maintaining the
Padma Bridge. The contractor of the bridge is “China Major Bridge Engineering Corporation”. It
is a truss bridge and the material of the bridge is steel. The bridge will open a new horizon in the
communication system of the country. It will bring a revolutionary change in the life of south-
west residents. For this, regional cooperation will be increased. In addition, it will play an
important role in the economic sector of Bangladesh. Industrial development and employment
opportunities will be increased. Not only economy and transportation facilities will increase but
also medical and educational facilities will be easy to access.

But for the country, economic issue was not the only thing to deal with. Because river Padma
has two natures – calm in winter and cruel in summer. So, Engineers divided the construction
process into five parts to solve this problem. The first of them was constructing the main bridge.
that’s 6.15km in length. This phase includes setting up 41 spans and the erection of 42 supports
for connecting both banks. River training is the second part. Probably the most difficult part of
the process. The third and fourth part is connecting links which are to connect the bridge with
two highways. One will be made in Janjira and another in Mawa. Service area construction for
servicing is the fifth step. The last of them is the supervision of the whole project. Padma bridge
will connect the south-west region of the country with the capital and eastern part. For this,
regional cooperation will increase and transport management will be convenient. In addition, it
will play an important role in the economic sector of Bangladesh. Industrial development and
employment opportunities will cause radical changes in the condition of south-west residents.
The whole country waits for its largest bridge to activate. It has been said that Padma Bridge will
be inaugurated in 25 June 2022. The world will be witnessing the history of proud Bangladesh.

Padma Bridge is a multipurpose road-rail bridge adopted by Bangladesh government. This is

indeed the biggest of such projects in the history of the country. It is a 6.15-kilometer-long
bridge and it will have a four-lane highway along with it. The width of Padma bridge is 18.18
meter. The bridge will be constructed by China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Company
Limited. Bangladesh itself will finance the project and it is indeed the biggest project financed by
any government of Bangladesh. In addition to that, there will also a single-lane railway under
this project. The bridge will have in total 42 spans in total to make it a strong bridge. The bridge
can manage the load of 3140 metric tons and it will indeed come handy to ease up the
communication of that part of the country. The bridge was earlier supposed to be open for use
from June-July of this month. But now it seems we will have to wait till the end of this current
year.

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Impact and Importance of Padma Bridge

The significance of Padma Bridge is massive especially in the southern part of the country. It
will surely ease up the communication hazard for this part of the country. It will connect in total
14 to 19 districts of the country right away and it is of course a huge advantage. Every day, a
number of people had to suffer a lot due to the traffic jam in these places when they are moving
to the capital Dhaka or move from Dhaka to the southern districts. Dye to long delay on ferry,
hours are wasted and this one bridge will surely ease up the problem and it will also boost up
the economy of these areas. Communication will be easier, industrial development along with
agricultural work will be boosted due to the improved travel system. All in all, it is a dream
project and will add up to the overall development of the southern part of the country. The
bridge is very important for the country. It is playing a huge role in the economic sector of
Bangladesh. Industrial development and employment are increasing in the country. The
education and medical facilities of the people of that region have become easier. The market for
agriculture products is growing.

Padma Bridge is a key arrangement to the broadened advancement of the southern region of
Bangladesh. It is a multipurpose road-rail across the Padma River. It is going to connect
Louhajong to Shariatpur and Madaripur as well as the southwest part to the northern and the
southern region of the country. It is a 6.15-kilometer-long bridge with an 18.10-kilometer width. It
will include a four-lane highway along and a single-lane railway. The bridge will have 42 spans
in total with each being 150-kilometer-long and it will be able to carry 3140 tons’ weights.
Moreover, the Padma Bridge will have about 264 piles in total where each pile will be 150
meters long and 120meters of the 150 meters from each pile will be underwater.

A new golden page in history has been started as soon as the construction of the Padma Bridge
started. The whole project is funded with the resources of the Government of Bangladesh. The
bridge will open new doors for the communication framework of the nation. Also, it will bring a
progressive change within the life and living of almost six crore individuals living in 19 southern
districts.

Bangladesh will see development in the regional corporation, industrial sector, agricultural
sector, and many other sectors. The construction of the Padma Bridge will create a huge impact
on employment reduction. The development in communication across the country will help
many people to travel easily as well as the transportation cost will also decrease, creating a
benefit to the general public. People will be more eager to travel and work in different regions
without worry, like before. Moreover, this bridge will also help in expanding industrialization,
various commercial activities as well as transportation. All these will be of great help in reducing
the unemployment rate and poverty as well as different governmental expenses.

However, the most significant improvement that will take place due to the Padma Bridge is the
development of the southern region of Bangladesh. Like many opportunities, facilities will come
with easy communication and transportation which will play a major role in the overall
development process.

Final Words

The Padma Bridge is the largest bridge in Bangladesh. As the government of Bangladesh has
initiated the project with their own fund and overcoming all the challenges is itself a new

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beginning. This bridge has a great impact on the development of the economy of the country.
The bridge will increase 1.2% in the total GDP as well as a 35% increase in the gross
production from the Southern region. This dream Padma Bridge is the biggest project
implemented by Bangladesh without any foreign aid. It is the largest project in the country and
will be the longest bridge in the country after construction. The bridge is being constructed with
concrete and steel.

The length of the main bridge is 6.15 km and the width is 16.10 m. The bridge connecting Mawa
in Munshiganj district to Jajira in Shariatpur district has two layers. It has a four-lane road at the
top and a railway at the bottom. The Padma Bridge will be used for rail, gas, power lines and
fiber optic cable expansion in the future.

The complete design of the Padma Multipurpose Bridge was formed by a team of international
and national consultants led by ECOM. A company called China Major Bridge, a subsidiary of
China Railway Group Limited, has been contracted to build the bridge. Construction began on
December 6, 2014, and by November 2020, 92% of the bridge was completed.

According to China Major Bridge Engineering Company, the contractor constructing the Padma
Bridge, the Padma Bridge will be ready for traffic by April 2022. The project will directly benefit
more than 30 million people (44,000 sq km which is 29% of the total area of Bangladesh).

Completion of this bridge at a cost of over Tk 30,000 crore will make a significant contribution to
the social, economic and industrial development of the southern part of Bangladesh. The bridge
will play an important role in regional connectivity between Asia and Southeast Asia. The
Padma Bridge, the dream of the people of Bangladesh, is on the way to be realized today.

Although the World Bank and donors withdrew due to allegations of corruption, the Bangladesh
government did not back down. The government decided to build the bridge with its own funds
and the work is progressing accordingly. Work on the Padma Bridge is progressing at a normal
pace. Everyone concerned is hoping that the construction work of the bridge will be completed
within the stipulated time.

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