Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) is going to bring a large scale blockchain-based traceability solution by next year. The announcement was made by BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed at the Blockchain-Based Traceability Challenge 2022 Knowledge Session, a joint venture between the Department of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Aspire to Innovate (A2I) Innovation Lab.
Mr. AKM Ahmedul Islam BABU, Director, BASIS moderated the session after delivering his welcome address. The session was chaired by Mr. Russell T. Ahmed, President, BASIS and participated by BASIS members. Mr. Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor, a2i Programme, Mr. Syed Nasim Manzur, President, Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB) and Mr. Md. Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, Chairman, Agro Food ISC joined the session as discussants.
In his welcome address, Mr. AKM Ahmedul Islam BABU said that the goal of this challenge is to seek local IT-based solutions namely blockchain-based solutions to resolve the traceability issues of all the sectors.
BASIS President Mr. Russell T. Ahmed, Chair of the session, said, “We should speak to the leaders of different sectorial associations and district chambers of Bangladesh for identifying their problem statements and come up with ICT solutions accordingly. This initiative to capture the local market by providing the latest tech solutions will increase productivity, like today we are having a session, to deliver blockchain-based traceability solution which would be scalable to all the sectors of the country.” He emphasized trying to launch a pilot solution by this October opening a door to formulate a comprehensive solution by the next year.
Mr. Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor, a2i Programme and Mr. Khondkar Atique E Rabbani, Chief of Blockchain Academy for Research, Education and Development (BARED) provided a briefing about the blockchain technology and challenge. Mr. Anir Chowdhury said, “Blockchain-based traceability challenge comprises three goals. The first is a generic Blockchain-based solution that has to solve specific problems. The second is to establish Bangladeshi IT companies as an expert in this domain locally and internationally. The third is developing a supportive eco-system that includes proper policy implementation”.
Mr. Syed Nasim Manzur, President, Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association of Bangladesh (LFMEAB), underlined the challenges of the leather industry and needs of heightening the image of leather goods and footwear sector in the foreign markets, which can be rightly addressed at this moment to have traceability solution, preferably developed locally.
Mr. Md. Shafiqur Rahman Bhuiyan, Chairman, Agro Food ISC said that this will ensure transparency of the entire value chain and maintain the authenticity of the data captured. He added that 4IR technologies can enable businesses to employ more people contrary to the popular belief of the opposite.
Mr. Faruq Ahmed Jewel, Head of Technology, Innovation lab, a2i Programme informed BASIS members how to participate in the challenge, and Mr. Md. Ibnul Wara, Managing Director, Austan opined that this technology may also address the organized farming and regulating slaughterhouse here which would ensure quality rawhide for the leather goods and footwear exporting sector.
