POBNEWS24, Dhaka June 15, 2022 : State Minister for ICT Junaid Ahmed Palak said 15 mobile phone companies are currently manufacturing their mobile phones in the country. We hope to export ‘Made in Bangladesh’ mobile phones very soon.
These were the words of the speakers at a webinar titled ‘Budget 2022-23: Role of ICT Sector in Increasing Youth Skills and Employment and Government’s Plan’ organized by the sub-committee on Science and Technology of Bangladesh Awami League on Tuesday night (June 14).
He said that there is no alternative but to make the youth of the country proficient in information and communication technology to meet the challenges of the forthcoming fourth ship revolution.
The present Awami League government has taken various steps to turn the potential of youth into strength so that Bangladesh will become a developed and prosperous country before 2041.
State Minister for ICT Junaid Ahmed Palak was the chief guest at the webinar. Bangladesh Awami League Secretary for Science and Technology and Member Secretary of the Sub-Committee on Science and Technology Engineer Md. Abdus Sabur. BUET Professor of Computer Engineering was involved as a negotiator. Muhammad Mahfuzul Islam, Liaquat Ali, Deputy Managing Director, Walton Digitech Industry Limited, and Russell Ahmed, Freelance Software Developer.
Presiding over the ceremony, a member of the Bangladesh Awami League Advisory Council and Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Science and Technology, Prof. Dr. Hossain Mansur. The program was conducted by Sufi Farooq Ibn Abu Bakr, a member of the subcommittee.
Speaking as the chief guest, Junaid Ahmed Palak said that the government of the people of Bangladesh Awami League can be understood only by looking at this year’s budget. The sub-committee on science and technology made many pre-budget recommendations on the ICT sector, which have been given special consideration in this year’s budget.
The state minister said, “Our youth should not run after jobs, but should work with the aim of giving jobs.” As per the directions of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, we have prepared ourselves in the IT sector not only as an importing country but also as a producing country. Now we want to become an exporter of IT products and services. We have already started working with the youth towards that goal.
He added that currently 15 mobile phone companies are producing their mobile phones in the country. We hope to export ‘Made in Bangladesh’ mobile phones very soon. The state minister for ICT also said that some groundbreaking steps have been taken in this year’s budget to produce our own products and reduce dependence on foreign products. For example, in this year’s budget, Tk 2,200 crore has been allocated for the digitization of education, health and justice departments and 25,000 women have been trained in the IT sector within the next one year, he said.
Engineer in his welcome speech. Abdus Sabur said that at present one-third of the total population of Bangladesh is young. About 53 million young people are actively contributing to the economy of Bangladesh. In the last 13 years, 20 lakh jobs have been created in the ICT sector. 6 lakh freelancers of the country are working in the world market with efficiency and reputation. If the educated youth of the country can be transformed into skilled manpower through training, we will be able to stand tall as a developed country in the world through implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in 2030 and Vision 2041.
Professor Dr. as a negotiator. Muhammad Mahfuzul Islam said that internet service should be provided at one rate in rural and urban areas and quality of service of internet should be ensured. The cities of the country have to be developed as smart cities. For this, a pilot project has to be taken up first.
He added that in order to accelerate the pace of development in ICT, technology, software and hardware related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution need to be exempted from VAT. At that time, he demanded the implementation of ICT cadre service.
