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and ML with practical experiences. Moreover, the space needs to be designed with modern digital
equipment such as 3D printers, Lasercutter, computer programming, robotics, green screens, sewing
machines and arts and crafts etc.

I know some people will mention that we are struggling to support people with digital equipment and
internet access facilities due to the financial crisis, but I believe that the pandemic is going to go one day

and all problems will be solved after time being. I strongly anticipate that good days will come very soon.
But we need to remember this situation to become innovative in near future. Not only that but also we

should arrange more training, workshops and start voluntary works to educate our elder people in
Bangladesh. I think in this pandemic our eldest people are suffering and struggling the most to connect
digitally to their sons, daughters and young relatives from the various places in the country. They are also

confused with misinformation and disinformation about health and other related information provided by
various TV channels, newspapers, and social media. They are still struggling to visit the hospitals, doctors

or other health centres in this epidemic and facing challenges to connect with the doctor and health
specialist using numerous digital platforms for communication. In this sudden unparalleled crisis, they
are already stressed and frustrated to use several media including Imo, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp,

Zoom, Google Meet and others etc. There might be a question how we can solve this problem, is that
possible in Bangladesh? I assume everything is possible but we just need some initiatives and government
support for illuminating these problems. If we want to ensure digital Bangladesh, we need to ensure digital

literacy on all sides.

Singapore is one of the leading developed countries in Southeast Asia, through my experiences, if
developed countries like Singapore can arrange voluntary workshops for their senior citizens to use zoom,
Google meet and Microsoft team, and various apps to use their smartphones as a community service, why
can't we do that? I believe our people in Bangladesh are walking the digital road nowadays, we shall
overcome these challenges some days. We just need to start some voluntary work initiatives in the

community to support our senior citizens and also help them to understand the difference between real
and fake or misinformation from the various Medias.

I also would like to share another example of my experience in visiting Singapore national and public
libraries. They are organizing a lot of events and activities to encourage children, young adults, adults

and senior citizens above 60 years to provide IL, DL and ML. Because, not all the organization does have
all the digital equipment or opportunities to offer these services to the citizens. Therefore, Singapore
national libraries and public libraries are offering those services to their citizens to make digital literate

in their country. Apart from this, in this crisis, National Library of Singapore formulated an innovative
plan for the future needs of their citizens in the changing world and started a project through collecting

shared history and culture digitally called ‘Documenting Covid-19 in Singapore’ by asking the residents
to share their photos, personal stories, blogs and diaries how Covid-19 affected them in their life. Libraries
of Bangladesh can adapt some of these innovative ideas to provide real information to the citizens in the

near future.

Syeda Mukta Begum
Library officer, Tanglin Trust School (TTS) Singapore.

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