As per the directives of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers will be set up in every district of the country on priority basis, said NM Zeaul Alam, Senior Secretary, ICT Department.
He made the remarks at the signing ceremony of an agreement at the meeting hall of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority at ICT Tower in Agargaon on Tuesday.
Project Director Johra Begum (Deputy Secretary) on behalf of the project for feasibility study for setting up Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers in 32 districts of the country and Vice Chairman SK Bashir Ahmed on behalf of Sheltech Pvt. signed the agreement.
EM-Tech Park Authority Director (Finance and Administration) NM Shafiqul Islam and senior officials of both the organizations were present on the occasion.
The ICT Secretary said that Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers are already being set up in 6 districts of the country under a project under the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority and in 11 districts under another project. Today, a feasibility study will be conducted to set up Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers in 32 more districts through this agreement.
Speaking as the chief guest, Niaz Mohammad Zeaul Alam said, “There is no alternative to 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. With training from ‘Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center’, young people will be able to stand on their own feet, creating employment opportunities for many people. From now on, you don’t have to run after jobs, you will become entrepreneurs and give jobs to people.
Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority Managing Director Bikarna Kumar Ghosh said that the implementation this project, the brainchild of Mr. Sajeeb Wazed, Hon’ble Adviser on Information Technology to the Hon’ble Prime Minister, will eliminate unemployment on the one hand, and on the other hand will create a leap in earning foreign exchange in information technology. This project is mainly aimed at human resource development by developing students as skilled manpower in IT at SSC and HSC level. The project will bridge the gap between academia and the IT industry by creating new entrepreneurs in the information and communication technology sector. As a result, there will be huge opportunities for self-employment of the youth of Bangladesh in the IT/ITES sector.
Regarding the feasibility study for setting up of Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers in 32 districts of the country, Project Director Johra Begum (Deputy Secretary) said, the usefulness of the project will be determined through on-the-spot survey of the acquired land and detailed feasibility study in this regard. The districts are, 1) Gazipur, 2) Shariatpur, 3) Munshiganj, 4) Madaripur, 5) Rajbari, 6) Faridpur, 6) Narsingdi, 6) Chittagong (Chittagong University), 9) Brahmanbaria, 10) Khagrachhari, 11) Cox’s Bazar, 12) Rangamati, 13) Laxmipur, 14) Rajshahi, 15) Bogra, 18) Naogaon, 18) Chapainawabganj, 18) Pabna, 19) Khulna, 20) Jessore, 21) Bagerhat, 22) Satkhira, 23) Jhenaidah, 24 ) Chuadanga, 25) Moulvibazar, 26) Mymensingh, 26) Jamalpur, 26) Barguna, 29) Jhalokati and 30) Pirojpur,
