State Minister for ICT Junaid Ahmed Palak speaking at the inaugural session of BASIS SoftExpo 2019 in the city’s Bashundhara residential area on Tuesday — BASIS Photo Local technology companies urged on Tuesday the government to procure home-grown software for its various activities to help the ICT sector sustain its growth.
Leaders of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) also called for establishing required technological facilities and making broadband internet available at affordable prices at the country's grassroots level.
They came up with the call at the opening ceremony of a three-day BASIS SoftExpo 2019 which is taking place at International Convention City Bashundhara (ICCB).
State Minister for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Junaid Ahmed Palak attended the inaugural ceremony as the chief guest while executive director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Parthapratim Deb as the special guest.
President of BASIS Syed Almas Kabir and its senior vice president Farhana A Rahman were also present.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Palak said the government is making all-out efforts to promote the country's ICT sector. "There is no alternative but to adopt technologies in every sector for achieving the country's development goal."
Mentioning the government's various achievements in recent years, the state minister said broadband internet was available only in Dhaka a decade ago, but faster internet service has been made available at union (parishad) level.
Even many unions are now connected with optical fibre network, he added.
"The government is also working for establishing high-speed internet connection in the remote hilly regions under a government project," the state minister said.
The government is also planning to generate employment for 2.0 million youths in the country's ICT sector by 2021 under 'digital connectivity' programme, he added.
Lauding various initiatives taken by the government for ICT sector's development, Mr Almas Kabir said the government should also ensure that the people at grassroots level get broadband internet at reasonable prices.
Fibre optic cable will be made available at union level under a government project called Info Sarker 3, the BASIS president informed the audience.
"But we cannot reap the benefits of such endeavour unless the village people get internet at reasonable prices offered by the Internet Service Providers (ISPs)," he said.
Mr Kabir also said high-speed internet is essential for the village people so that they can also create employment through internet-based freelancing and e-commerce.
The BASIS president underscored the need for developing skilled human resources in the ICT sector in adjustment with the changes in the fourth industrial revolution (Industry 4.0).
Hailing the country's moves to establish a 'Digital Bangladesh', he requested the government to procure software and IT enabled services (ITES) from local companies.
"They are (BASIS members) are well capable of executing the programmes undertaken by the government to establish digital Bangladesh," said Mr Kabir.
After the opening ceremony, the guests visited the expo venue.
According to the organisers, around 250 software, ITES and related service providing organisations are taking part in the expo.
The fair will remain open for visitors from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
saif.febd@gmai.com
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