Khalisha Kuri, Haragachha, Rangpur – The birthplace of the legendary nuclear scientist of country, Dr. M.A. Wazed Miah. State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak laid the foundation stone of ‘MA Wazed Mia Hi-Tech Park’ after the name of the nuclear scientist. The park is being set up on Thursday under the district level IT / Hi-Tech Park Establishment Project under Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.
At the inaugural ceremony, Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, the Speaker of the National Parliament spoke online from Dhaka as the chief guest. She also thanked the Information and Communication Technology Department for the initiative.
An informal discussion meeting was organized at Rangpur Zilla Parishad Community Center on the occasion of laying the foundation stone of this high-tech park following the hygiene rules. Speaker of Parliament, Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, joined the event online from Dhaka and addressed the gathering.
Speaking as the chief guest, she said, “We are very happy that the foundation stone of Dr. MA Wazed Mia Hi-Tech Park is being laid Rangpur today. Through this, the field of contribution of Rangpur people in IT industry has been prepared. There is no substitute for technology education if our youth are to survive in this age of competition. And that is why we want to build a technology-based nation.
The speaker further said that Rangpur has always been a neglected area, it has never been industrialized. The government is working tirelessly for the development of the people of Rangpur. Dr. MA Wazed Mia Hi-Tech Park has created an opportunity for the youth to stand on their own feet. This park will create employment opportunities for three thousand people. Many have ridiculed the announcement of Digital Bangladesh in the Awami League’s election manifesto. But this digital Bangladesh is now a reality.
At the groundbreaking ceremony, the State Minister for ICT commented mentioning Dr. MA Wazed Miah Hi-tech Park, an address of employment generation for the youth of Rangpur region. He further said that, the park would make a significant contribution to building a smart Bangladesh from a labor-dependent economy to a knowledge-based, developed economy.
MA Wazed Mia has played an important role in scientific research as well as in national politics in silence. In his educational life he became associated with Chhatra League in the sixties. He was arrested in 1962 while protesting against Ayub Khan’s military rule and spent some time in jail. Dr. MA Wazed Mia has served in various capacities, including the chairmanship of the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission. The scope of his research work was extensive. Dr. MA Wazed Mia has lived and will continue to be a source of inspiration for future generations, not just for his work, but for building a science-minded nation. That is why we want to name this high-tech park after this masterpiece of Rangpur- he added.
In his welcome speech, the managing director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (Grade-1) Dr. Bikarna Kumar Ghosh said so far 190 companies have been allotted space and plots in high-tech parks, out of which 123 companies have already started work and 151 local startup companies have been allotted free space / co-working space. The Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority has created skilled manpower of 36,000 in the ICT sector through various trainings considering the demand for manpower in the IT industry. The Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority has created direct employment for about 22,000 people in the ICT sector.
It was informed on the occasion that ‘MA Wazed Miah Hi-Tech Park’ is being constructed on one and a half acre land at a cost of Tk. 170 crore under the district level IT / high-tech park establishment project. Once the park opens, it is expected to create employment opportunities for 5,000 young people in the area every year.
Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, Managing Director, Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority; Abdul Alim Mahmud, Commissioner of Police, Rangpur; Asib Ahsan, Deputy Commissioner, Rangpur; AKM Fazlul Haque, Project Director, IT / Hi-Tech Park Establishment Project; Humayun Kabir, LADP Project Director; Bangladesh Awami League Member of the Central Executive Committee Advocate Hosne Ara Lutfa; Rangpur District Awami League President Mumtaz Uddin Ahmed; Metropolitan Awami League President Safiur Rahman Safi; Chairman of Dr. Wazed Miah Memorial Foundation AKM Chayadat Hossain Bakul; concerned officials of ICT department, district Awami League leaders at different levels were also present on the occasion among others.