Emergence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) is creating new categories of employments, although it is also said to be displacing many traditional jobs.
Keeping this in view, speakers at a programme on Wednesday underscored the need for modernising the country's academic curriculum, enhancing collaboration between academia and industry, and conducting more research.
The observations were made at a session of an international seminar titled 'Industry 4.0 -- transformative technologies for growth and development' held at a city hotel.
Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) organised the seminar in association with International Sustainable Development Institute, a US-based think tank.
Md Abul Kalam Azad, Principal Coordinator of SDG Affairs under the Prime Minister's Office (PMO), attended the seminar as the chief guest while Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) Executive Chairman Paban Chowdhury as the special guest.
Executive Chairman of BIDA Kazi Aminul Islam presided over the seminar.
Managing Director (MD) of Mohammadi Group Rubana Huq and Dora Sari, a research fellow at Harvard Law School, also spoke on the occasion.
Kazi Aminul Islam said technologies have been shaping human civilisation starting from the age of agrarian economy till now.
Dispelling fears of job loss due to automation in Industry 4.0, the BIDA chief said when computers were introduced, many became worried, but, in fact, technology created new kinds of jobs. So, there is nothing to worry (about new technologies).
Mentioning the changes in development aspiration across the globe, he said there is a significant wealth inequality across the globe.
He also laid emphasis on skills development for ensuring people's inclusion in economic progress.
"The best way to include people (in economic activity), in a country like Bangladesh, is to get them educated," said Mr Islam.
Ms Rubana Huq said there are many educated people in the country, but they are not employable in jobs related to technological elements of Industry 4.0.
Highlighting the prospect of new technology, she said the global investment in Artificial Intelligence (AI) from 2012 to 2018 was $646 billion.
The global AI industry is making a fresh investment of another $138 billion only in 2019, Ms Huq added.
Taking part in an open discussion, General Secretary of Bangladesh Open Source Network (BdOSN) Munir Hasan said the country's universities should be more prepared to cope with transformation.
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