8. The “Info Haves” and “Info Have-nots”: Possible Implications of Digital Divide on Digitalized Public Service Delivery in Bangladesh

Authors

Shehreen Amin Bhuiyan
Lecturer, Department of Public Administration, University of Dhaka, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh.

Synopsis

This world as we know it, is breeding and brooding on people who can be broadly classified as “haves” and “have-nots” (Singh, 2004). Individuals come from many financial, political, and cultural origins, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. A new class of people, the "info haves" and "info have-nots," has been added to this range of privileges and problems in the modern world. The present world is constantly finding new ways to integrate information onto world wide web, creating new pathways of one to one, and one to many interactions between individuals, businesses, and states and connecting people globally through a unified virtual platform. Therefore, having access to technology and knowledge of the usage of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is imperative. Evers & Gerke (2013) argue that having access to ICT is a fundamental human right. Yet, this is not a universal phenomenon. In 2019, the United Nations estimated that nearly half of the population of the world is not included in the digital revolution (United Nation, 2019). Many people still lack an internet connection and/or the technical and social skills to use digital technologies (Helsper & Eynon, 2013). Hence, the world we are living in today, is not only divided by race, caste, religion, and gender but also a new parameter, digital literacy and access. Hence, parallel with the global growth of ICT is the phenomenon referred to as the digital divide, which is a multifaceted problem involving disparities in the accessibility, acceptance, and impact of ICT between nations and populations (Nipo, Bujang & King, 2014).

Published

January 30, 2025

How to Cite

8. The “Info Haves” and “Info Have-nots”: Possible Implications of Digital Divide on Digitalized Public Service Delivery in Bangladesh. (2025). In Contemporary Issues and Problems of Public Administration in Bangladesh. A H Development Publishing House. https://doi.org/10.71359/w76skj65