Young generation will be key force in building Smart Bangladesh: PM

Prime Minister (PM) Sheikh Hasina has said the country's young generation will be the key-force in building Smart Bangladesh, reports BSS.

"Our young generation would be the most skilled manpower in each field in building the Smart Bangladesh," she said while inaugurating the first ever two-day Bangladesh Startup Summit-2023 in city's Hotel InterContinental.

Mentioning that Bangladesh will be a smart country by 2041, the PM said the young generation is meritorious and they have the ability to implement their new innovations.

Referring her government's different initiatives to develop skilled human resources to face the challenges of Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), she said they are setting up vocational and technical educational institutions in each upazila and arranging training facilities for future.

"To meet the challenges of 4IR, skilled human resources have to be created for advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, block chain, robotics, big data, medical scribes and cyber security," she noted.

Sheikh Hasina said her government's goal is to help create five unicorns (startup company with at least $1 billion is called unicorn) by 2025 and 50 unicorn startups by 2041 where each unicorn startup will create employment opportunities for millions of people.

"I urge domestic and foreign investors to invest more in startups," she said, adding, "We've formulated necessary policies to protect your investment."

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak made a keynote presentation in the event.

ICT Division Secretary Shamsul Arefin and Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh Sami Ahmed also spoke.

At the function, the PM also inaugurated "Smart Bangladesh accelerator" alongside "India-Bangladesh Startup Bridge" networking platform and "Smart Bangladesh Startup Fund" at the function.

Three audio-visual documentaries on Bangladesh Startup Summit, Bangabandhu Innovation Grant and Smart Bangladesh were screened at the ceremony.

Besides, eight startups were given startup award in eight different categories for their outstanding performance and they were Shopup, Pathao, Bkash, 10 minute school, UNDP Youthco lab, Nagad, SBK Tech Venture and funded next.

Nagad managing director Tanvir A Mishuk and SBK Tech Venture managing director Sonia Bashir Kabir expressed their feelings on behalf of the award recipients.

In addition, grant was also given from the Bangabandhu Innovation grant among two entrepreneurs.

The PM said her government has transformed the country into Digital Bangladesh facing criticism, insulting remarks and ridiculous comment from different quarters.

"Yes, we've transformed the country into Digital Bangladesh. But, we had to face severe criticism, insult and ridiculous comments initially. Even, whenever there was any technical problem or fault, the quarter ridiculed us, saying 'it was the result of Digital Bangladesh," she added.

Sheikh Hasina said Awami League included the "Digital Bangladesh" scheme when it declared their election manifesto in 2008.

"At that time, we had to face many criticism. Now, I can say it proudly that we've transformed the country into digital one," the Prime Minister said.

The PM said the government has emphasised on creating skilled human resources in advanced technology to build a cost-effective, sustainable, intelligent and knowledge-based smart and prosperous Bangladesh by 2041.

With the help of the government's efforts, she said, Startup Bangladesh Limited has completed 30 investments so far while 100 startup investments are on way under the "Shotoborshe Shoto Asha" campaign.

In this connection, she also mentioned that more than 15 lakh direct and indirect employment has been created through this startup ecosystem.

She added that 92 lakh people have received services and training through Startup Bangladesh Limited till December 2022, of which 55 percent are women.