Internet Revolution in Bangladesh

The Internet is a social and economic foundation, apparently destined for human communication and interaction. It is supposed to allow for more interactive and innovative ways for people to do what they do in 'real lift'. There is no shilly-shallying to say that at present, Internet has become a commanding and useful tool for empowerment and income making in developing countries. It is very difficult to say that at present internet has turned into a popular and useful thing among the Bangladeshi people like students, doctors, engineers, businessmen, researchers as well as politician who are being logged into the internet for getting information what they want. Though the Internet was invented in 1970 but it came late in Bangladesh through UUCPs (Unix-to-Unix copy) email connectivity in 1993 and IP connectivity in 1996. Having launched Internet, on June 1996 National polls result were broadcast through the using of World Wide Web (WWW) that was the first ever practice trial in Bangladesh. On June 1996, the government has approved to allow VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) in the country's private sector to operate as Internet Service Provider (ISPs). At the end of year, there were only two ISPs in the country and number of users near about one thousand only. But next year in 1997, the total number of ISPs was more than a dozen and the clientele growth was ten times higher than that of the previous year. From then, the number of Internet users and ISPs are increasing significantly in Bangladesh. About 40 ISP are providing internet service among as many as 3, 20,000 users at present out of almost 130 license holder ISP provider but among the ISPs, most of the ISPs are placed in Dhaka and few are working in Comilla, Sylhet, Rajshahi, Chittagong and Khulna. It should be mention that currently, broadband internet (Radio, Cable) connection is working side by side dial -up connection where broadband accounts 10,000. This paper will have a comprehensive discussion on the current situations of Internet and some of the contemporary issues in the matter concerned.