Bangladesh attains remarkable progress in four key areas of ICT: Salman

Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in four key areas of information and communication technology (ICT), Prime Minister's Private Industry and Investment Adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman has said.

The key areas are - rapidly building Digital Connectivity and Infrastructure, comprehensive implementation of E-Government concept, facilitating Industry Promotion and developing Skilled and Quality Human Resources.

"Digital Bangladesh" idea envisioned by Sajeeb Wazed, ICT affairs advisor to the prime minister, brought revolutionary changes in government activities with fostering growth in the ICT-led export industries, he said.

The Adviser said this while speaking as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of the ‘WCIT 2021 and Silver Jubilee of WCIT' at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) on Sunday night.

"The economic activities of Bangladesh have not been stalled for a single second as all the government organisations and private companies performed their respective roles and duties virtually even during the complete lockdown due to coronavirus pandemic," he said.

ICT Division, Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) and Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) at the initiative of The World Information Technology and Services Alliance (WITSA) jointly organized the 25th session of the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) from November 11 to November 14.

He mentioned that ICT of Bangladesh has enormous potential to achieve a competitive position in the global market.

The government has recognized ICT as one of the key drivers of development and for this reason, it has established a separate Ministry for ICT in 2011, he added.

He informed that the government's ICT 'friendly' policies are attracting domestic investments in the sector, which could make them ideal strategic partners for international companies intending to venture in Bangladesh's ICT sector.

This would not only harness the potential of the sector, but it would also create employment opportunities and skilled human resources, he added.

He said, "This year, in the Mujib Borsho, we are celebrating 12 years of the declaration and implementation of 'Digital Bangladesh."

The model of 'Digital Bangladesh' has garnered widespread fame and recognition across the globe for its tremendous contribution to the national development, he added.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Senior Secretary of the ICT Division NM Zeaul Alam, among others, spoke on the occasion.