ICT firms to hit bourses

A total of 77 government and non-governmental organisations and personalities received the National ICT Award-2015 for the best usages of digital equipment in their respective fields.
Besides, Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Atiur Rahman got a 'lifetime achievement award', announced Thursday at the closing ceremony of a four-day mega-ICT exposition in the capital.
At the function more promotional facilities were held out for the fastest-growing economic sector of the present-day world, including a big booster like ICT firms' stakes in the bourses.                     
The ministry of information and communication technology in association with the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) arranged the award as part of their biggest ICT event, 'Digital World-2015', in the country.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith and guests handed over the awards at a full-house gathering at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC).
Prime minister's ICT adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy, ICT state minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and BASIS President Shameem Ahsan, among others, spoke at the closing ceremony.
The national-level awards were given in 23 categories: digital banking, education, computer programming, mobile apps developing, district administrator, upazila nirbahi officer, assistant commissioner (land), digital centre, digital hospital, digital newspaper, journalist, women entrepreneur and so.
Dutch-Bangla Bank Limited won the best digital-bank award in the banking category.
The organisers also awarded three best ministries-the ministries of education, road transport and bridges and finance-for best application of ICT in regular activities.     
Daily Samakal received the award in the media category. In mobile hardware category the recipients are Riseup, Huawei, and Innovation Next gen and in e-commerce category Software Ltd, Chaldal and Akhoni.com.
Mr Muhith said the growing IT sector needs nursing to achieve the desired development.
Regarding the taxation for the sector the senior minister said the government has taken a number of measures. However, he didn't mention the exact facilities to be offered immediately.
"By June 2015, you the people will know the government's measures for the ICT sector," the minister said, adding that ICT is the sector which can cross the target, whatever is set.
Echoing the same voice, ICT adviser Joy said he Thursday met with the authorities of Bangladesh Securities Exchange Commission (BSEC) authorities and reached a consensus on facilitating the small and medium ICT industries to enter into the capital market.
"We've decided to give facilities to the small and medium IT industries so that they can go for IPO," Mr Joy told the gathering.  
He added: the country needs to attract more foreign investment and only the ICT sector can do it.

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