The country is moving forward at a rapid pace on the path of building a self-reliant Digital Bangladesh. Capabilities have already been acquired in the software. Special discounts have been given in 'Made in Bangladesh' in this year's proposed budget to be self-reliant in hardware manufacturing.
Plans is also extend for tax exemption for young entrepreneurs in cloud services, system integration, e-learning, e-book publishing, mobile phone apps and other IT services by 2030.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said this while speaking as chief guest at a webinar titled “Role of ICT Sector in Youth Employment and Skills Enhancement in Post-Budget Situation” organized by Bangladesh Awami League Science and Technology Sub-Committee on Friday night.
Referring to the proposed budget for the next financial year, the state minister said the ICT department is working as a bridge between industry and academia in the development and growth of the country's IT sector.
Palak said that, “Startup Companies Limited” has been formed under the ICT department to build a startup culture in the country. It is a government venture company. Already through this company hundreds of hope projects for young entrepreneurs have been taken up over the centuries.
The state minister also said that all preparations have been completed for building an innovative developed economy in the world by 2041 by creating innovative infrastructure in the country.
The Minister of State for Webinar highlighted the various activities adopted and implemented in the IT sector.
He added that a Vision 2021 tower will be set up in Purbachal soon to achieve the target of 2041. Research, Innovation, Business and Digital Academy will be established there. Through this, teachers, politicians and government officials will be trained to lead the digital world of the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Referring to ‘Oxygen of Information Technology Economy’, Palak said, ‘The ICT department will play the role of advisory, sometimes suggestive or implementation somewhere, as directed by the Honorable ICT Advisor.
That means ICT is being transformed into the oxygen of the economy. We are making maximum use of ICT in education, health, agriculture, trade, entertainment and even the judiciary.
He said the work of creating an inter-operable digital platform to facilitate financial transactions has already been completed. It will be inaugurated in 2021. He also said that it would be possible to ensure transparency in the entire financial ecosystem including credit scoring and ratings.
Bangladesh Awami League Science and Technology Sub-Committee President Professor Hossain Mansur presided over the event, Bangladesh Awami League Secretary for Science and Technology Engineer Md. Abdus Sabur, Technician Sufi Farooq Ibn Abu Bakr, former Vice-Chancellor of BUET Professor Abdul Jabbar Khan, Vice-Chancellor of Bangabandhu Digital University. Munaj Ahmed Noor, Vice Chancellor of Canadian University of Bangladesh Professor Mahfuzul Islam.
