Bangladesh has made notable progress in building its digital infrastructure over the past decade. Yet, a persistent gap remains between internet access and meaningful use, especially among women and rural communities. In an interview with The Daily Star, Waqas Hassan, Regional Lead for Asia at the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership, highlights inclusive policymaking, stronger public-private partnerships, and community-based connectivity models as ways to build a more equitable digital future.

TDS: You have worked across South Asia on digital inclusion. Where does Bangladesh stand today in terms of meaningful connectivity and what gaps still concern you the most?

Waqas Hassan: Bangladesh has built strong foundations for digital growth with over 120 million internet subscriptions, near-universal mobile coverage, and growing digital infrastructure initiatives. However, the country still faces an 'access versus usage divide'. While connectivity appears strong on paper, many people, especially women and rural communities, struggle to use the internet meaningfully due to high device costs, inconsistent service quality, limited digital skills, and social barriers. This creates 'invisible exclusion', where access exists but real usage remains limited. The key challenge is ensuring connectivity translates into regular, safe, and productive use so digital transformation benefits all sections of society, not only already digitally empowered groups.

TDS: Bangladesh has made progress in expanding internet access, but inclusion goes beyond connectivity. Where should the country focus next: digital skills, affordability, or safe online spaces?

WH: All three are deeply interconnected and must be addressed together. Affordability is often the first barrier, as high device and data costs limit access. Even when people are connected, limited digital skills restrict them to basic usage. At the same time, unsafe online environments discourage participation, particularly among women and first-time users. The real challenge is not choosing one priority over another, but integrating them effectively. Lowering access costs, strengthening digital skills, and ensuring safe online spaces must progress in parallel. Digital inclusion should be seen as an ecosystem where infrastructure, skills, and trust in digital spaces evolve together.

TDS: You were involved in Pakistan’s Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy. What practical lessons from that experience could Bangladesh adopt to close its own digital gender gap?

WH: Pakistan’s strategy helped bring nearly 8 million women online and significantly reduced the mobile internet gender gap. Three lessons stand out. First, strong government leadership ensures accountability and sustained momentum. Second, inclusive policymaking engaging industry, civil society, and development partners leads to more effective and realistic solutions. Third, public-private partnerships are essential, as governments alone cannot close the gender gap. Bangladesh faces similar challenges in women’s access and smartphone ownership. The key lesson is that measurable progress happens when policy, partnerships, and implementation are aligned with clear, actionable goals, and continuous follow-up.

TDS: In Bangladesh, multi-stakeholder consultations often happen, but many feel they rarely influence final decisions. What would a genuinely participatory digital policy process look like in practice?

WH: A genuinely participatory process involves stakeholders throughout the entire policy cycle, not just at the drafting stage. Governments should engage civil society, industry, technical experts, and communities through open consultations, working groups, surveys, and iterative drafting. Transparency is critical; inputs should be published, and decisions clearly explained, including why certain recommendations were not adopted. In Pakistan’s Digital Gender Inclusion Strategy, structured consultations, surveys, expert interviews, and validation workshops ensured policies reflected real user barriers rather than assumptions. Participation must shape decisions, not merely validate them.

TDS: What specific programs or partnerships is GDIP planning for South Asia and how can Bangladesh position itself to benefit more directly from those initiatives?

WH: GDIP focuses on digital inclusion policy, rural connectivity, affordability analysis, and digital gender empowerment across South Asia. We collaborate with regional platforms such as APT and APrIGF while supporting governments and community connectivity initiatives. A key priority is evidence-based research, including GDIP's upcoming Bangladesh report on the gender digital divide using both qualitative data and quantitative analysis. Bangladesh can benefit by engaging early, strengthening partnerships, and using evidence-based insights to shape inclusive digital policies. Collaboration between government, civil society, and regional partners will be essential for more equitable digital development.

TDS: The Internet Society Bangladesh Chapter has been active in community and technical engagement; where do you see concrete opportunities for collaboration between GDIP and ISOC Bangladesh?

WH: There is strong alignment between GDIP and the Internet Society Bangladesh Chapter, particularly in internet governance, capacity building, and digital inclusion for women. We have implemented community-based models with the Internet Society, including Digital Community Centres for women and digital skills training initiatives. Similar models can be expanded in Bangladesh. Future collaboration can focus on scaling community connectivity, strengthening skills development programs, and joint policy engagement. Combining ISOC’s local reach with GDIP’s regional expertise can enhance the impact and sustainability of digital inclusion efforts.

TDS: Many rural and underserved communities in Bangladesh remain excluded. Do you see community networks or local initiatives as a scalable solution here?

WH: Yes, community networks or Community-Centered Connectivity models can scale if treated as part of the broader connectivity ecosystem. Scalability depends more on policy than technology. Affordable spectrum access, simplified licensing, and supportive financing are essential. Countries like Kenya and Pakistan have shown that flexible regulatory approaches enable such models. However, community networks are not a replacement for national telecom operators; they are complementary solutions for last-mile connectivity. The key issue is whether regulators are willing to create enabling environments that allow these initiatives to grow sustainably and serve underserved communities effectively.