The Information and Communication Technology Division of the government has taken the ‘Smart Self-Employment’ initiative to create employment for 40 percent of the 60 million families of Smart Bangladesh through training, and offering technology and capital support. The initiative has a three-tiered pyramid structure through multi-stakeholder partnerships; 60-70 lakh population of slums, prisons/juvenile correctional centers are also gaining importance. In this project there are 20-25 lakh graduates as well as secondary school students. 80-90 lakh marginal people living in villages are not left out. In total, ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak thinks that it will be possible to create self-employment for at least one crore people under this project in 2041.
He said, Bangladesh has made many impossible things possible, now with that confidence, the government wants to create at least one smart employment in every family of the country. Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has directed to consider smart citizens as one of the pillars in building a smart Bangladesh like Digital Bangladesh. That’s why we want to build a pyramid where at the top there will be few but those who have the most role in the society.
He also outlined a detailed plan on how to implement this goal.
A memorandum of understanding was signed between UNDP and the Hi-Tech Park Authority at the ICT Tower’s conference center on Thursday to implement the plan. The Managing Director of this high-tech park, GSM Zafar Ullah, the Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, Stephen Leela, signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizations. At the same time, EDC Project Director Pranab Kumar Saha and Barrister Mohammad Golam Sarwar Bhuiyan, Director of Hi-Tech Park Authority, signed another agreement with Hi-Tech Park Authority.
In his speech before the agreement, Stephen Leela said that innovation and entrepreneurship are making an important contribution to socio-economic development even though there are challenges in this era of rapid advancement of technology under this project. That is why we are investing in the youth of Bangladesh for sustainable and inclusive growth through economic transformation considering future prospects. Emphasizing the development of startup culture to create employment instead of finding jobs.
The ICT Division Secretary Samsul Arefin while speaking as the President of the event said,
‘One Family One Seed’ is not only an initiative, it will act as a beacon for our socio-economic development. The results of this initiative will reach the marginal level as well. Freelancers, small and medium entrepreneurs, budding entrepreneurs and backward and minority groups will also be beneficiaries.