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Foundation stone laid for Sheikh Kamal IT Training Centre in Pirganj


Published : 24 Sep 2020 09:36 PM | Updated : 25 Sep 2020 10:21 AM

Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury laid the foundation stone of Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center at Pirganj in Rangpur.

She was the chief guest at the online opening ceremony from Dhaka at 12 noon on Thursday and unveiled the foundation stone.

Bangladesh High-Tech Park Authority is setting up Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centres at eight locations across the country with the aim of creating skilled human resources in the IT sector. As part of this, Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers are being set up in Chittagong, Sylhet, Rangpur, Natore, Comilla, Netrokona, Barisal and Magura. Work on the project began in 2017 at a cost of about Tk 533 crore with the Bangladesh government's own funding.

Speaker Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury said, "In this age of competition, there is no alternative to technology education for our youth to survive." And that is why we want to build a technology dependent nation. Now everyone has a mobile phone in their hands. We are now able to do a lot of daily work through mobile phones. Digital devices can also contribute to our export sector.

She said Rangpur has always been a neglected area, never industrialized here. The government is working relentlessly for the development of the people of Rangpur. With training from ‘Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centre’, the youth here will be able to stand on their own feet, creating employment opportunities for many people. From now on, you don't have to run after jobs, you will become entrepreneurs and give jobs to people.

Speaking as the special guest at the groundbreaking ceremony, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Junaid Ahmed Palak said the implementation of this project by Sajeeb Wazed, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Information Technology, would not only eliminate unemployment but also create a leap in foreign exchange in IT. This project is mainly aimed at human resource development by developing students as skilled manpower in IT at SSC and HSC level. The project will build bridges between academia and the IT industry by creating new entrepreneurs in the information and communication technology sector. As a result, there will be huge opportunities for self-employment of the youth of Bangladesh in the IT / ITES sector.

He further said that through various projects and programs of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority till June 2020, 16,000 people have been imparted training in various IT subjects and more than 13,000 youths have been provided employment opportunities. The present government is in the process of setting up Software Technology Park in Chattogram, Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technology and Sheikh Kamal IT Incubator and Training Centre in 11 more districts. As per the instructions of Hon'ble Prime Minister, IT Incubation and Training Centres will be set up in every district of the country in phases.

Hosne Ara Begum, managing director (secretary) of the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority, told NDC that five high-tech parks in the country are ready for investment at the moment. Various companies are already working on 355 acres of land in Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City at Kaliakair in Gazipur. The products produced from here are being exported abroad. About Tk 328 crore has been invested in various parks of the country from the private sector. In contrast, the income from the high-tech park has started since 2016. The Hi-Tech Park Authority has already earned more than Tk 50 crore.