Building Smart Bangladesh will require skilled manpower
FBCCI president tells view-exchange meeting in Rangpur
Time has come to bring a radical change in the county's education system aiming at producing skilled manpower to face challenges of the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) for building a "Smart Bangladesh" by 2041.
"The academia and industrial sector should work inclusively to produce skilled, trained and expert human resources," President of Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FBCCI) Md. Jashim Uddin said on Monday.
He was addressing a view-exchange meeting titled "Current Trade-Commerce Situation in Rangpur division and Future Prospect" organised by Rangpur
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) at its auditorium as the chief guest.
RCCI President Mostafa Sohrab Chowdhury Titu presided over the event.
Members of the Board of Directors of FBCCI, officials, executives of different chambers and trade bodies from all eight districts of Rangpur division, civil society members, women entrepreneurs, industrialists, traders and journalists were present. Senior Vice-president of FBCCI Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu, its Vice- president Md. Amin Helali and former FBCCI Director and Rangpur District Council Chairman heroic freedom fighter Mosaddek Hossain Bablu addressed as special guests.
Professor of the Department of Economics of Begum Rokeya University Dr. Md. Morshed Hossain delivered a keynote article narrating trade and commerce situation and future prospects in Rangpur division, prevailing issues, discriminations and way-outs.
Commissioner of Rangpur Divisional Customs Excise and VAT Commissionerate Suresh Chandra Biswas, Presidents of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Nilphamari, Panchagarh, Kurigram, Lalmonirhat, Panchagarh Small Tea Garden Association President Md. Amirul Haque Khokon, Rangpur NASIB President Md. Rakibul Hasan and BSS Senior Reporter Mamun Islam also spoke.
Mostafa Azad Chowdhury Babu highlighted the huge potential for setting up agro-based industries in Rangpur region alongside attracting domestic and foreign investments.
He drew the attention of FBCCI President to set up a Special Economic Zone at
the vast abandoned site of Shyampur Sugar Mills in Rangpur.
Babu, also a former RCCI President and incumbent Convener of the Bazar
Monitoring Cell of FBCCI, sought full cooperation of all traders of Rangpur
division to keep prices of daily necessities at a bearable level during the
coming holy month of the Ramadan.
Amin Helali said issues highlighted in the guidelines of the keynote article
would definitely play an important role in creating a favorable environment
for industrialisation in Rangpur division.
"The article has factually given a 'master plan' with direction in which way
the private sector will run in the division," he commented.
The speakers said industrialisation is not happening due to development
inequality in Rangpur division where no mega project has been taken and
poverty rate is increasing due to lack of industrialisation.
They called for speedy establishment of the proposed special economic zone,
hi-tech park, provision of separate industry, credit policy, VAT and tax
policies for Rangpur region and collateral-free loans for SME entrepreneurs
to create a favorable environment for industrialisation.
The chief guest praised the main article that elaborately discusses
prevailing potentials and problems of Rangpur division with outlines of Smart
Bangladesh, Delta Plan, Vision-2041 and extensive development plans.
"The FBCCI Research Cell will review the guidelines and issues given in the
article and work for industrialisation to accelerate development in Rangpur
division," he said.
He put special emphasis on turning youths into skilled manpower for local
industries and before sending them abroad to enhance remittance earning by
manifolds.
After implementation of the six-lane Elenga-Hatikumrul-Rangpur National
Highway project and gas transmission line project from Bogura to Saidpur via
Rangpur, the familiar scenario of Rangpur region's economy will change,
expanding trade and commerce.
"We had a US$90 billion economy about 35 years ago. Currently, the volume of
our economy stands at US$460 billion. Our economy will be US$01 trillion in
2041 in a developed 'Smart Bangladesh'," he said.
