The Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority on Thursday handed over 10.58 acres of land to seven companies in the industrial zone of Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City and two companies in Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park in Kaliakair. The government expects a total investment of $ 55 million from them.
Comilla-based Halima Telecom was also formally licensed as a high-tech park at the signing ceremony and land transfer ceremony held at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak lamented that Bangladesh’s high-tech industry would have already stood on a strong footing if the Awami League government had continued its tenure. According to him, the high-tech park authorities could not come in the light for the next eight years as the Awami League government was not in power in 2001. However, due to various initiatives taken by the government, ICT, BPO, electronics and software industries have already developed in the country. In all, it has been possible to ensure employment of 1.5 million people in the country’s ICT industry. By 2025, this number will increase to 3 million and the export income from this sector will be 5 billion dollars.
Planning Minister MA Mannan was the chief guest at the function and was presided over by Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, Managing Director of the High-Tech Park Authority.
In his speech, the Planning Minister urged the authorities concerned to attract foreign direct investment from the countries which are focusing on the development of knowledge-based and technology-based industries to work for the development of technology-based infrastructure in the light of reality.
Senior Secretary of ICT Department NM Zeaul Alam delivered his welcome speech on the occasion. Professor Sameer Kumar Saha of Child Research Foundation, Sheikh Md. Fauzul Mubin, Managing Director of Celton, MA Khaleq, Chairman of McTel and Golam Morshed, Managing Director of Walton Hi-Tech Industry also spoke on the occasion.
Bikarna Kumar Ghosh said in his speech that a total of Tk 570 crore has been received by allocating space and plots to 166 companies in the country’s high-tech parks.
During the program, documentaries on various activities and development of the Hi-Tech Park were presented. During the contract, the chorus music ‘You are new, you are indomitable, made in Bangladesh’ was played.
It was informed at the time that under the agreement, in Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City, Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited, Technomedia Limited, Daffodil Computers Limited, Celtron Electro Manufacturing Services Limited and Ulcasemi Pvt Ltd, McTel Limited and Child Health Research Foundation and in Jashore Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park RedDot Digital Limited and Felicity Big Data Limited were handed over this land for the next 40 years.
After the program, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak accompanied by Planning Minister MA Mannan inspected the activities of Vision 2021 Software Technology Park at Karwan Bazar.
It can be noted that Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited has been allotted 3.01 acres of land in the hardware company category in Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City. The company will invest $ 6.50 million in IT / ITES and manufacturing digital device which will create jobs for 1550 persons.
Besides, 0.87 acres of land has been allotted in favor of Technomedia Limited. They will invest about $ 2.50 million to assemble ATM, CRM, RCDM machines in Bangabandhu Hi-Tech City, which will provide employment to about 200 people.
Daffodil Computers Ltd. is getting 0.96 acres of land where they will invest about $ 3 million to create 100 jobs. The company will assemble IT and electronic content in Kaliakair.
Celtron Electro Manufacturing Services Limited will set up a medical technology plant with an investment of about $ 7 million for the assembly and production of medical equipment. The company is getting 0.65 acres of land, which will employ 250 people.
Ulkasemi Pvt Ltd will invest about $ 25 million to design the semiconductor and provide employment to 550 people. The Child Health Research Foundation will invest about $ 3 million in 1.25 acres of land to work on research and development, employing 300 people. Ulkasemi Private Limited is getting 1.81 acres of land in Kaliakair.
MacTel Ltd is investing $6 million to assemble smart phones, acquiring 1.37 acres of land that will create employment for 332 people.
On the other hand, Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park, Jashore will accommodate RedDot Digital Limited and Felicity Big Data Limited to set up data centers. 0.21 and 0.45 acres of land have been allotted in favor of the two companies respectively.