Staff Correspondent 

AHM Bazlur Rahman, Chief Executive Officer of the Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication (BNNRC), delivered a strong call for inclusive digital governance and justice during the Informal Interactive WSIS Stakeholder Consultation held on Monday. 

The session, organized by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), focused on reviewing the implementation of the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS+20), bringing together stakeholders from East and South Asia, Oceania, and the Americas.

In his intervention, Bazlur Rahman emphasized the commitment of BNNRC and the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF) in promoting the WSIS Action Lines (C1–C11) and the Internet Governance Forum (IGF) agenda in Bangladesh since 2006.

He stated: “The core goals of the WSIS mandate, as outlined in the Geneva Plan of Action and the Tunis Agenda, remain unrealized. There is an urgent need for a strengthened WSIS Forum to address persistent and emerging issues, facilitate localization, and ensure annual monitoring and implementation at the national level.”

He advocated for a permanent, reinforced, and inclusive WSIS and IGF, with sustainable funding at both the secretariat and country levels. Furthermore, he proposed integrating WSIS, IGF, and Global Digital Compact (GDC) processes within the UN Resident Coordinator (RC) system to ensure country-specific and multi-stakeholder engagement.

Highlighting the importance of national-level implementation and review, he said: “We strongly urge the inclusion of WSIS monitoring and implementation within the UN Resident Coordinator system, engaging all relevant national stakeholders in alignment with country priorities.”

Concluding his statement, Bazlur Rahman extended strong support to the “Digital Justice, Now! A Call to Action for WSIS+20 and Beyond” issued by the Global Digital Justice Forum. He also endorsed the Five-Point Plan for an Inclusive WSIS+20 Review spearheaded by Global Partners Digital (GPD), Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), and the Association for Progressive Communications (APC).

“We urgently need coordinated, inclusive, and accountable digital governance mechanisms. WSIS+20 presents a critical opportunity to move in that direction.”

Through this global platform, AHM Bazlur Rahman reaffirmed Bangladesh’s commitment to advancing inclusive digital transformation and making meaningful contributions to the international discourse on the future of the information society.