Bangladesh will become a country of US$ 5 billion digital economy through foreign exchange earnings by ensuring more than two million jobs within this year. By 2025, this revenue will reach US$ 10 billion.
As per the vision of the Digital Bangladesh implementation, 90 percent of basic government services have already been digitalised. About 90 percent of the population is now connected to the Internet. IT and ITES sector has created employment for more than 15 lakh youths.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak made the remarks at a presentation on the "Achievements and future destinations of Digital Bangladesh" held virtually on Saturday.
He said Bangladesh ranks first in the world in mobile financial wallet, second in garment exports and ninth in mobile market.
The state minister hoped, "The Innovation and Development Associate Platform would play a major role in formulating short, medium and long term policies to overcome the three steps of 2025, 31 and 41".
He said, "The government has already set up CCA, BGD e-Govt CIRT, Forensic Lab, Cyber Gym, Digital Security Act and Digital Security Agency to secure the digital economy".
Citing the need for a digital society now, he said, "We want to build a digital economy as a problem- solving nation with Home Grown Innovation Solutions in this digital society. For this, we need to build an innovation ecosystem. Emphasis should be laid on active learning and hands-on training, research and technological excellence in problem solving by changing the education infrastructure".
At the same time, Palak suggested simplifying copyright and trademark management to build innovative ecosystems.
"We want to take the challenge of the 4th Industrial Revolution and Covid situation as an opportunity. For this, we want to build an inclusive decentralized digital Bangladesh by harnessing the talents of the youth and technology through partnership," Palak added.
Former Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad presided over the webinar hosted by World Bank Advisor Hussain Samad.
A2I Policy Adviser Anir Chowdhury, former BIDA Chairman Kazi Aminul Islam, Datasoft Managing Director Mahbub Zaman, Digital Entrepreneur SadekaTasnim Mridu, SBK TechVenture Founder Sonia Bashir Kabir and Tareq M Barkatullah presented their proposals at the webinar.
