Young Entrepreneurs and In novators are the pioneer of building Digital Bangladesh.The government, IC department as well as the private sector in information technology is creating Startup Ecosystem to make the youth self-reliant.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak said this while speaking as chief guest at a program titled “Bangabandhu Innovation Grant (BIG) 2021”held virtuallyon Wednesday.
The state minister said that, “The Bangabandhu Innovation Grant Competition inspired the country’s young generation to be an entrepreneur and innovator. On the other hand, to the whole world Bangladesh has been established as a potential destination for entrepreneurs and innovators. More than 7,000 startups / innovators from 57 countries around the world, including Bangladesh, receive participating in the competition”.
The Senior Secretary of ICT Division N M ZeaulAlam, the Additional Secretary and the Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council Parthapratim Deb and The Project Director and Joint Secretary of iDEA Project Md. AbdurRakibalso participated in the press conference.
Palak said that,“There are more than 6 lakh IT freelancers in the country and also making more than 500 million dollars. Tk100 crore will be invested among 50 startups from Startup Bangladesh Company Limited in Mujib Year. The 1st prize of the Bangabandhu Innovation Grant will be a grant of US 1 lakh. They don't have to worry about investing and financing innovative work. The state minister said 300 schools of the future are being set up in the country to turn the future generation into Bangabandhu's golden man by imparting basic knowledge or basic ideas about Frontier Technology”.
He said that, “64 Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers are being set up in the country so that the youth can create self-employment in the area. Sheikh Hasina Institute Frontier Technology will be established to create technologists and innovators so that Bangladesh can lead the world in the field of technology by 2041”.
The Senior Secretary of ICT Division N M Zeaul Alam thanked all those present and wished the startups already selected for the next stage. The Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Parthapratim Deb said, “Bangabandhu is the leader of the world. One of our humble efforts to spread his work all over the world is "Bangabandhu Innovation Grant (BIG) 2021".
The prize-giving ceremony of the Bangabandhu Innovation Grant will take place in September 2021 by maintaining hygiene protocols and social distance. The Honorable ICT Affairs Adviser to the Honorable Prime Minister Sajeeb Wazed is expected to be presented at the event.
BIG-2021 initiative was associated with partners such as –Department of ICT, Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC), Bangladesh High-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA), Office of the Controller of Certifying Authorities (CCA), and A2i along with BASIS, BACCO, BCS, e-CAB, ISPAB, and BIJF. Evaly, Walton and Startup Bangladesh Limited sponsored this event.
