Partha's post was only on one part of the resolutions of the Dhaka
meeting...here is the other part.
> Date: Tue, 11 Jan 2005 18:43:40 +0530
> From: Geeta Sharma <geeta.sharma@oneworld.net>
> Subject: RE: Resolution of Dhaka WSIS Regional Consultation Meeting
(5th-7th January, 2005)
>
>
>
> Dear All,
>
> Here is another conference outcome.
> Am appending below the action points from the South Asia ICT Policy
Session
> that OneWorld South Asia had hosted on the final day of this consultation
in
> Dhaka, on January 7.
>
> We do hope this would lead to some concrete action on the ground on the
ICT
> Policy review in Bangladesh and sharing of experiences among nations in
the
> region on ICT Policy.
>
> Best regards
> Geeta Sharma
> Programme Manager
> Advocacy
> OneWorld South Asia
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
> -------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Regional Consultation organised by OneWorld South Asia, BFES and APC
> BRAC Centre, Dhaka.
>
> Action Points from the ICT Policy Consultation on South Asian National
> Policy Issues
> BRAC Centre, January 7, 2005
>
>
> Bangladesh and South Asia ICT Policy Recommendations
>
>
> A three-day Regional ICT Policy consultation was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh
> from January 5-7, 2005. Over 60 participants representing the government,
> civil society, private sector, academia and the media from the South Asian
> region, attended the consultation. The consultation was co-organised by
> OneWorld South Asia (OWSA), Bangladesh Friendship Education Society (BFES)
> and Association for Progressive Communication (APC).
>
> The consultation had two outcomes:
> I. A set of recommendations on WSIS, from South Asia, to be submitted to
the
> upcoming SAARC summit in Dhaka and other relevant international forums.
> II. A set of action points for ICT Policy intervention in South Asia in
> general and Bangladesh in particular.
>
>
> The following set of ICT Policy Action Points were agreed upon:
>
> A. Bangladesh ICT Policy Recommendations:
>
> 1. There is need to review the existing ICT Policy of Bangladesh in view
of
> the current ICT and development needs and ground realities pointed out by
> the stakeholders.
> 1.1 This policy review will suggest how issues of gender, teledensity vs.
> tele-access, creation of relevant and local content and small and micro
> enterprise promotion would be included in this review and submitted to the
> Bangladesh government.
> 1.2 This is based on the premise that the ICT Policy is open to review.
> 1.3 There is need for ownership of the process by a lead agency. So
D-net's
> E-policy Center, will take the lead here, in consultation with other
> stakeholders from the civil society, media and private sector. These
include
> BFES, BASIS, Katalyst, CPD, Bytes for All, BNNRC, Voices, PROSHIKA,
Computer
> Barta, The Daily News, and others.
> 1.4 Other stakeholders (such as, Grameen Communications, Bangladesh
Computer
> Council, ISP Association in Bangladesh, Bangladesh Working Group on WSIS
> etc.) should also be invited to join this exercise.
> 1.5 This group should use open source mailing list groups for running the
> list (in order to promote free/open source).
>
> B. South Asia Policy Recommendations:
>
> 2. There should be a common portal, linking the websites on National ICT
> Policies, for South Asia to facilitate sharing and exchange of information
> on national policies and discussions/steps on action for possible changes.
> 2.1 APC will provide support and coordination to the individual country
> chapters, led by civil society groups to develop these national ICT Policy
> websites.
> 2.2 In Bangladesh, BFES, D.Net, Bytes for All, BASIS and Katalyst to
> coordinate under BFES for the development of this portal. (APC Action Apps
> software can be used for developing the ICT policy portal in Bangladesh).
> 3. There is need to set up a regional Internet exchange, depending on the
> response from the regional initiative already on to start this process.
> 3.1 Representative of ICTA, Sri Lanka, Dr Gihan Dias, to take the lead in
> coordinating this with the agency, already coordinating the setting up of
> the Regional Internet Exchange for Synergising this effort.
> 3.2 Possibility of setting up such an Internet exchange beyond South Asia
> and including South East Asia, Middle East or East Asia would also be
> explored in due course.
> 4. A working group to be set up for South Asian countries to take forward
> proposals from this consultation and coordinate other emerging policy
issues
> as well. This agency could act as a South Asian Watchdog agency on
regional
> issues pertaining to WSIS.
> 4.1 This working group would be extended to include other CSOs and
> stakeholders than those present in this consultation.
> 4.2 A formulating group, comprising of Katalyst, BFES, Bytes for All,
BASIS,
> D.net to work on setting up this Working Group in Bangladesh
> 4.3 Government agencies (such as, BTRC, SICT etc.) should be invited to
join
> the Working Group.
> 4.4 Mainstream media should also be invited. Active support of Media to
> highlight drawbacks of the policy issues and role of civil society in
> recommendation will be sought.
>