In the implementation of the Digital Bangladesh vision 2021, 90 percent of basic government services have already gone online. About 90 percent of the population is now connected to the Internet. IT and ITES sector has created employment for more than 15 lakh youth. This year alone, Bangladesh will become a country of 5 billion digital economy through foreign exchange earnings by meeting local demand by ensuring more than 2 million jobs. By 2025, this revenue will reach 10 billion dollars.
State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak made the remarks at a presentation on webinars on the achievements and future destinations of Digital Bangladesh in Bangladesh on Saturday. He said Bangladesh ranks first in the world in a mobile financial wallet, second in garment industry exports and ninth in the mobile market.
The state minister said Bangladesh has a demand of 3 million refrigerators every year, 90 percent of which is being met by domestic companies. The country needs more than 12 lakh computers, more than 20 lakh televisions and more than 5 lakh air conditioners every year, he said, adding that a market for electronics and digital devices worth around Tk 8 to 10 crore has been created in the country.
In his speech, the Minister hoped that the Innovation and Development Associate Platform would play a major role in formulating short, medium and long term policies to overcome the three steps of 2025, 2031 and 2041.
He said the government has already set up CCA, BGD e-Govt CIRT, Forensic Lab, Cyber Gym, Digital Security Act and Digital Security Agency to secure the digital economy.
Also in his keynote address, Junaid Ahmed Palak emphasized cultural emancipation for economic emancipation.
“We need to build a digital society now,” he said. We want to build a digital economy as a problem-solving nation with Home Grow Innovation Solutions in this digital society. For this, we need to build an innovation ecosystem. Emphasis should be placed on active learning and hands-on training, research and technological excellence in problem-solving by changing the education infrastructure.
At the same time, Palak suggested simplifying copyright and trademark management to build innovative ecosystems.
“We want to take the challenge of the 4th Industrial Revolution and Covid 19 threat as an opportunity,” he said. To this end, we want to build an inclusive decentralized digital Bangladesh by harnessing the talents and technology of the youth through partnership.
Former Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister Abul Kalam Azad presided over the webinar hosted by World Bank Advisor Hussain Samad.
A2i Policy Adviser Anir Chowdhury, Former Chairman of BIDA Kazi Aminul Islam, Datasoft Managing Director Mahbub Zaman, Digital Entrepreneur Sadeka Tasnim Mridu, SBK TechVenture Founder Sonia Bashir Kabir and Tareq M Barkatullah of BGD e-gov CIRT presented their opinion at the webinar.
Almost all the speakers emphasized mathematics education in future skill development in their speech. At the same time, the webinar suggests creating its own platform for cybersecurity and not relying on foreign software. At the same time, emphasis has been laid on building one’s own culture through digital means.