Bangladesh aims to be a “Smart” nation by 2041 as the country goes through a drastic transformation founded on digital identity and innovation. Bangladesh, a technologically backward country, has made a remarkable journey towards mass digitization. Bangladesh established the foundation for its digital transformation between 2009 to 2021. Among its advances, the initiation of Union Digital Centers (UDC) and the development of the national e-Government Master Plan and biometric national ID card in 2016 are intended to catapult development in the country, while collaborations with global tech leaders like Oracle and Samsung underline the rising significance Bangladesh places on its virtual sphere. Despite the improvements, obstacles persist, such as digital service quality, internet security, and the need for greater computer literacy, highlighting the complexities of Bangladesh’s transition.

Research published in the International Journal of Qualitative Research late last year examines Bangladesh’s transition to a Smart Bangladesh. It investigates the existing technical landscape, government initiatives, and societal integration to find barriers to this move. Key findings include Bangladesh’s paradigm shift from digital to smart, challenges in implementation, and the need for stakehold