Experts at a seminar have called for urgent policy reforms, strategic investments, and enhanced workforce up-skilling to unlock the full potential of Bangladesh’s growing ICT sector.
Key industry leaders and government officials emphasized the need for improved infrastructure, easier access to finance, and a stronger focus on high-value IT services and semiconductor manufacturing to boost the sector’s global competitiveness and create sustainable economic growth.
The Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) hosted the seminar titled “Reform for ICT Industry Growth,” at its headquarters on Saturday bringing together key stakeholders to discuss the future of Bangladesh’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
Speaking on the seminar, Ashraf Ahmed, President of DCCI, highlighted the vast potential of the global IT market, valued at nearly USD 3 trillion, while noting that Bangladesh’s IT sector, despite employing a large pool of workers, only generates around USD 2.5 billion in revenue.
To fully capitalize on the sector’s growth potential, Ahmed emphasized the need for comprehensive planning and effective implementation of policies. He stressed the importance of up-skilling the workforce, focusing on high-value-added services, and expanding manufacturing capacity in the semiconductor industry.
He urged collaboration between the public and private sectors, noting that investing in education, infrastructure, and R&D would be critical to narrowing the existing skill gap and boosting the country’s IT exports.
Lutfey Siddiqi, Special Envoy on International Affairs, Government of Bangladesh, acknowledged the government’s efforts to improve the business environment, citing ongoing reform commissions aimed at addressing inconsistencies in data and statistics. Siddiqi emphasized that efficient policy implementation would be crucial to improving the ICT sector’s overall performance.
Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, Executive Chairman of BIDA, underscored the sector’s potential to become Bangladesh’s next economic powerhouse after the ready-made garment (RMG) industry. He highlighted efforts to simplify the investment process and improve ease of doing business, including measures to digitize government services and eliminate corruption.
Mir Shahrukh Islam, Managing Director of Bondtein Technologies Ltd., noted the current limitations in Bangladesh’s IT capabilities, especially in device production, and called for policies that support the ICT sector’s export growth. He recommended allowing local ICT companies to set up overseas offices and reinstating incentives for ICT exports. Islam also stressed the need for improved access to low-cost finance and the protection of intellectual property rights.
Bangladesh Bank Executive Director (ICT), Muhammad Zakir Hasan, called for integrated planning to develop the country’s IT sector, highlighting the need for better infrastructure and a stronger industry-academia partnership to produce more skilled graduates. He proposed the formation of a steering committee involving all stakeholders to drive the sector’s development.
Syed Almas Kabir, former President of BASIS, urged the government to offer tax incentives to encourage ICT entrepreneurship and to prioritize sustainable, green technology. He also emphasized the importance of revising telecommunication policies to reduce internet costs, especially in rural areas, and proposed a Sovereign Credit Guarantee Scheme to make loans more accessible to IT entrepreneurs.
Taimur Rahman, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Banglalink, advocated for policy reforms to attract foreign investment, including amendments to the Telecommunication Act. He suggested that foreign telecom operators could help promote Bangladesh’s ICT sector abroad.
Md. Liakot Ali, Additional Managing Director of Walton Digi Tech, emphasized the importance of a competitive policy environment to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), particularly in the semiconductor industry. He suggested that joint public-private initiatives could drive growth in hardware manufacturing.
The seminar concluded with an open discussion moderated by DCCI Senior Vice President Malik Talha Ismail Bari. Participants identified key challenges facing the sector, including insufficient infrastructure, lack of policy support, complex credit systems, and a shortage of skilled workers.
DCCI Vice President Md. Junaed Ibna Ali, former Senior Vice President M S Shekil Chowdhury, and other DCCI members also participated in the event.
