Comprehension Exercise 5

Digital Identity for Bangladesh

Md. Nahid Hasan (ENG 043 06181)

Bangladesh, the emerging nation in South Asian domain, has started introducing digital signature with RSA as encryption algorithm in the world, the recommended hash standards by CA-browser forum from July 2012. It is a great achievement in recent years to materialize digital Bangladesh by 2021. As a developing country, Bangladesh has to go through numerous information and communication technologies. It is the smartest way for the process of digitalization.

Now questions may arise that, what digital signature is and why we need it. Digital signature is one of the safest technologies in the world. Technology is used behind cryptography, mainly public key cryptography. We need digital signature because this is the only technology which is both technically proven and legally valid for the authenticity of electronic document. There will be a time moving to a paperless environment. We have to have electronic identification which is legally accepted and technically non-forgeable, and the signature is digital signature.

Here, some facts are very important about South Korea. Korea ranked 1 in European government development index. One of their successes is the use of digital signature certificate which is used by about 45 percent of the total population. Korea is using digital signature in internet banking, e-governance and e-services, digital appeal, credit cards, online stock, annual taxes, electronic procurement, medical insurance, digital trade etc. As it is now available in our country, it is going to launch a new hope in our digitization process. Using digital signature is as easy as clicking a button or a check box.

If we follow technically developed countries, we can see that they have already implemented this technology. It is very important to have digital identity of citizens to build a digital nation. Bangladesh is not so far away from using digital signature and digital identity. The job of the government is to take this technology to the people by enabling certain usage areas.

Answer the following questions.

1. What is the antonym for ‘Cryptography’?

(a)Secret writing

(b)Stenography

(c)Open writing

(d)Coding

2. How many people in Korea use digital signature?

(a)50 percent

(b)100 percent

(c)90 percent

(d)45 percent

3. What is the meaning of ‘Digital Signature’?

4. What are the advantages of digital identity?

5. Create an alternative title for this story. Give a specific reason for choosing the title.

Question set prepared by Iftarun Nahar (ENG 045 06378)

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