Bangladesh, Aug. 4 -- There was a time when governments measured national progress by the number of bridges they built, the factories they inaugurated, or the power plants they commissioned.

Today, an equally revealing question is much simpler: how long does it take to upload a document, complete a digital payment, or join a video meeting without interruption? In the twenty-first century, internet speed has quietly become a country's economic report card.

Unfortunately, Bangladesh is still trying to submit that report with a loading icon spinning endlessly.South Asians & Diaspora

We often celebrate the arrival of the "digital era" with remarkable enthusiasm.

Conferences speak of smart governance. Advertisements promise seamless digit...