National Semiconductor Task Force Formed Under BIDA’s Leadership
Under the leadership of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), the interim government of Bangladesh has formed a task force to address the challenges, opportunities, and future actions for the country’s semiconductor sector. The task force aims to deliver actionable recommendations by the end of January to enhance the technological development and investment-friendly environment in the country.
A 13-member committee has been formed with Ashiq Chowdhury, the Executive Chairman of both BIDA and the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA), as the convener. The task force includes representatives from the ICT Division, academics, local and expatriate entrepreneurs, and industry experts.
Nayhan Rahman Rochi, BIDA’s Business Development Officer, has been designated as the Member Secretary of the task force. The announcement, issued on Wednesday by the Chief Advisor’s Office, stated that the task force’s primary objectives include identifying opportunities for immediate growth in the semiconductor sector, addressing policy and skill gaps, and proposing infrastructural and incentive frameworks to attract global investments.
According to the announcement, the task force members include: the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue, the Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology, Dr. Md. Enayetur Rahman, CEO of semiconductor design company Ulka Semi; Ishtaq Ahmed, Chairman of Prime Silicon Technology (BD) Limited; M.A. Jabbar, Managing Director of Neural Semiconductor Limited; Professor Dr. A.B.M. Harun-Ur-Rashid, Head of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department at BUET; Major General Md. Nasim Parvez, Commandant of the Military Institute of Science and Technology; Professor Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, Pro-Vice Chancellor of BRAC University; Mashuq Rahman, Founder of Green Quest in the United States; Mostafiz Chowdhury, a semiconductor expert from Silicon Valley; and Zahidul Alam, Executive Director of IDF.
Speaking about the formation of the task force, its convener Ashiq Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA, stated, “Bangladesh’s proximity to the Asia-Pacific supply chain, competitive labor costs, and skilled youth workforce position the country as an ideal destination for the global semiconductor industry. By integrating the expertise of industry leaders, academia from various universities, and non-resident Bangladeshi (NRB) business leaders, we aim to establish a robust framework for the development of the semiconductor sector. This initiative will play a pivotal role in driving our journey toward an innovation-driven economy.”
