BPO Summit Signals Strategic Shift in Bangladesh’s Digital Landscape
The sixth edition of the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) Summit commenced in Dhaka with a resounding call for national transformation through technology and innovation. Held at the Sena Malancha convention center, the opening ceremony framed the summit as more than just an industry event.
“This is not merely an industrial summit; it is a stage for national transformation,” said Adilur Rahman, Advisor to the Ministry of Industries, in his inaugural speech. He emphasized how even a single village in Bangladesh, equipped with a laptop and internet connection, can now earn foreign remittances. “This summit inspires new ideas and innovation, giving the new generation a platform for confidence and creative thought,” he added.
Presided over by Tanvir Ibrahim, President of BACCO (Bangladesh Association of Call Center & Outsourcing), the ceremony featured remarks from several dignitaries including Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology.
“Over the last two years, we’ve witnessed an extraordinary transformation in technology,” Taiyeb said, warning that businesses risk falling behind if they fail to embrace large language models (LLMs) and artificial intelligence (AI). “Staying stagnant is no longer an option. All 57 government ministries must adopt digital transformation,” he asserted.
He emphasized the need for professional reskilling and rebuilding, urging the use of generic and advanced technologies. “Call center agents will evolve into consultants,” Taiyeb said. He also announced plans to bring global payment platforms like AliPay and Stripe to Bangladesh, in light of ongoing PayPal challenges.
Underscoring the importance of AI and cloud adoption for local businesses, Taiyeb added, “We will recommend that the Ministry of Commerce restrict the import of refurbished IT products. Instead, we urge them to facilitate the import of CPUs and GPUs.” He also called for incentives to promote AI-driven BPO and highlighted the role of the tech service sector in creating sustainable employment.
Shish Haider Chowdhury, Secretary of the ICT Division, noted that the government's efforts have reduced digital inequality. “Very soon, we will enable simultaneous digital updates across all departments without requiring separate scans for each file,” he said.
Abu Sayeed Uddin, Director General of the Department of Information and Communication Technology, stated, “The government works not just for success, but for public welfare.”
The inaugural session concluded with remarks by Faisal Aleem, General Secretary of BACCO. Other members of the BACCO Executive Committee present at the event included Senior Vice President Khair, Vice President Tanzarul Bashar, Joint Secretary Musnad E Ahmed, Treasurer Aminul Haque, Directors Daud Khan, Fazlul Haque, Abdul Kader, Zayed Uddin Ahmed, Mehedi Hasan Zulfikar, and Saima Shawkat.
Following the inauguration, the day featured a series of seminars and workshops involving technology experts, entrepreneurs, and diplomatic representatives from various countries. Discussions centered around global BPO trends, Bangladesh’s role in the evolving market, and equipping youth for the digital future.
Strategic partners of the summit include the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), while the Bangladesh ICT Journalists Forum (BIJF) and Technology Media Guild Bangladesh (TMGB) served as supporting organizations.
