Bangladesh Forms Task Force to Advance Semiconductor Industry
A high-level task force is being established to advance Bangladesh's semiconductor industry, with a focus on chip design, testing, and assembly. The task force will collaborate with the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) to create a roadmap for sectoral growth.
The decision was made during a seminar titled "Semiconductors: A New Frontier for Bangladesh's Economy and Employment," held at BIDA’s headquarters on Wednesday. The seminar was chaired by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Siraj Uddin Miah, and featured a keynote presentation by Mashuq Rahman, founder of Green Quest. His presentation highlighted key aspects of the semiconductor value chain and proposed strategies for the sector’s development.
Siraj Uddin Miah announced, “A task force comprising entrepreneurs, researchers, expatriate Bangladeshis, and government representatives is being formed. The task force will identify challenges in the semiconductor industry and propose solutions. I urge stakeholders to support BIDA in becoming a one-stop service provider, aligning with government priorities and policies.”
Mashuq Rahman emphasized measures to prioritize within the semiconductor value chain and outlined actions to ensure sustainable growth in the sector. The seminar was attended by ICT Secretary Shish Hayder Chowdhury, Major General Md. Nasim Parvez of the Military Institute of Science and Technology, and representatives from leading institutions, including PrimeSilicon Technologies, Tahoe Communications, Neural Semiconductor Limited, and various universities.
BIDA and BEZA’s Executive Chairman Ashiq Chowdhury noted that Bangladesh currently earns $600,000 annually from the semiconductor sector, primarily through integrated circuit (IC) design. He highlighted opportunities for expansion in packaging, testing, and assembly. He stressed the importance of creating appropriate policies, raising awareness, and building capacity for the industry’s growth.
Md. Enayetur Rahman, founder and CEO of Silicon Valley-based semiconductor company Alkasemi, discussed the importance of curriculum enhancement in universities. He stated, “We need to improve both the academic curriculum and teaching methodologies to ensure students understand the nature of work in this sector. We aim to work closely with universities to bridge this gap.”
Key recommendations from the seminar included protecting intellectual property, introducing semiconductor courses in select universities, launching joint training programs, and promoting the industry through expatriate Bangladeshis.
The Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA) has set an ambitious target of earning $1 billion from the sector by 2030. Over ten local companies are already contributing to this goal through activities such as chip design and packaging, which have significant potential for generating foreign revenue. This was discussed during a panel session titled "Bangladesh’s Semiconductor Industry: Opportunities and Challenges," held at BUET on Wednesday.
