BASIS Reaches Milestone of 10,000 IT Exporters
The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) has reached a landmark milestone of 10,000 IT exporters. The announcement was made on Tuesday, January 27, during the “BASIS IT Exporters Night 2026,” held in Dhaka to discuss and celebrate the progress, achievements, and future roadmap of Bangladesh’s information technology export sector.
Organised by BASIS with support from the Business Promotion Council, the evening event took place at the Radisson Blu Hotel in the capital. Leading IT and IT-enabled services (ITES) exporters, policymakers, entrepreneurs, diplomats from various countries, industry leaders, and members of the BASIS Support Committee attended the programme. The primary objective of the event was to highlight the sector’s 28-year journey, key achievements, global expansion, and future strategic planning.
A panel discussion focusing on the prospects and challenges of IT exports in economic diversification was a key feature of the programme. Speakers in the first session included Julian Andrin Weber, Managing Director of SELISE Bangladesh Limited; Raisul Kabir, Chief Executive Officer of Brain Station 23 PLC; Ferdous Mahmud Shawon, Managing Director of Cefalo Bangladesh Limited; and Morikawa Yuko, Senior Representative of JICA Bangladesh. The panelists emphasised the importance of coordinated efforts among policymakers, the financial sector, and the private sector to expand IT exports. The discussion was moderated by Mushfiqur Rahman and Rashed Kamal, members of the BASIS Support Committee.
During the discussion, Julian Andrin Weber said that his company has been working with Bangladesh since 2007 and noted that with adequate policy support, the current workforce could be expanded from 450 to 1,000 employees. Ferdous Mahmud Shawon shared plans to double his company’s workforce within six months. Morikawa Yuko highlighted JICA’s partnership in developing Bangladesh’s ICT roadmap, mentioning that around 250 Bangladeshi engineers are currently working successfully in Japan. Raisul Kabir explained how his organisation has built leadership through partnerships and is now adapting to the impact of artificial intelligence by operating through smaller business units, adding that AI is creating new opportunities.
At the event, awards were presented to the top 10 IT and ITES exporting companies for their outstanding contributions during the fiscal year 2024–25. The award recipients were BJIT Limited, Brain Station 23 Limited, UlkaSemi Private Limited, SELISE Digital Platforms, Cefalo Bangladesh Limited, Samsung R&D Institute Bangladesh Limited, Enosis Solutions, Therap (BD) Limited, Radiant Data Systems Limited, and Data Path Limited. These companies are showcasing Bangladesh’s capabilities in global markets through software development, artificial intelligence, research and development, fintech, healthtech, and high-value IT services.
BASIS officials informed that member companies are currently exporting software and IT services to more than 104 countries worldwide. In the fiscal year 2024–25, nearly 500 BASIS member companies were engaged in exports, of which around 300 are regular active exporters. The top 10 IT export destinations for Bangladesh include the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Canada.
In his welcome speech, BASIS founding member and Support Committee member Mostafa Rafiqul Islam Duke said, “BASIS began its journey with a dream and a commitment to establish Bangladesh’s IT sector in the global market. Today, we can proudly say that this dream has taken tangible shape, and the country’s IT industry is steadily strengthening its position on the global stage.”
He added that BASIS IT Exporters Night 2026 is not merely an award ceremony but a significant milestone in BASIS’s long journey, reflecting on past achievements, understanding present realities, and committing collectively to future actions.
Following his speech, he introduced the chairman of the Support Committee and other members, including Mushfiqur Rahman, Dr Kamal Dev, Belal Ahmed, Rashed Kamal, Md Jewel, Roknuzzaman Roni, Ferdous Ali Epon, and Abdul Majid.
Convener of BASIS IT Exporters Night 2026 and Support Committee member Rowshan Kamal James said that Bangladesh’s IT and ITES sector has entered a crucial phase of real success rather than mere potential. He noted that the event aimed to properly recognise top IT exporters and inspire new entrepreneurs and emerging companies by showcasing success stories.
Addressing the event as chief guest, Secretary of the ICT Division Shish Haider Chowdhury said that the country’s cyber environment remains insecure and must be made safer. He pointed out that around 2,000 IT graduates are produced annually by various universities, stressing the need to create opportunities for them.
Referring to past inefficiencies, he said that some individuals received the same training multiple times, and announced that such duplication would be prevented through a centralised software system.
Shish Haider Chowdhury stated, “Bangladesh’s IT and ITES sector has now become a key driver of the national economy. Skilled human resources, innovative entrepreneurial capacity, and timely policy support from the government have strengthened the sector’s position in international markets. The government is prioritising the IT sector as an export-oriented industry by providing various policy incentives, including cash incentives, tax exemptions, skill development initiatives, and facilitation of global market access.”
He added that initiatives such as BASIS IT Exporters Night 2026 would not only recognise top exporters but also inspire emerging enterprises and strengthen public–private partnerships, thereby accelerating market expansion and sustainable growth in the IT sector.
In his remarks as session chair, Joint Secretary of the Local Government Division and BASIS Administrator Abul Khair Mohammad Hafizullah Khan said that BASIS began its journey with only 18 member companies and now has more than 2,700 members. He noted that these members are the main driving force behind Bangladesh’s IT exports.
He emphasised that BASIS IT Exporters Night 2026 is not just a celebratory event but a timely and important platform for reviewing past achievements, identifying current challenges, and determining future strategies for the country’s IT export sector.
He further said that Bangladesh’s IT export growth would stand on four fundamental pillars—cash incentives, tax exemptions, skilled human resource development, and access to international markets—and that coordinated efforts among the government, private sector, and industry associations are essential.
The event was presided over by Abul Khair Mohammad Hafizullah Khan, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives and BASIS Administrator. The special guest was Mohammad Hasan Arif, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive (Additional Secretary) of the Export Promotion Bureau.
DBTech/EK/IC/OR
