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Bangladesh government’s Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division and Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) will work together to implement ‘Vision 2041’ of Bangladesh through expanding its presence in the local and international market, industry branding, policy support and ensuring business-friendly environment. ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak and BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed jointly expressed their consent in this regard in a meeting of ICT Division and BASIS Executive Council on Sunday at Agargaon’s ICT Tower.
ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, “In just 13 years, through the farsightedness of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh has become a technology-based least developed country. BASIS contributed greatly in this regard and the government created the opportunity through policy support. The declaration of ICT as Product of the year has given the sector a special importance. To make use of this opportunity, we will work with BASIS in five areas: development of skilled labor; policy formulation and reform; technology and invention; foreign direct investment harnessing; and international plus local market development.” He added, “We will request the Honorable Finance Minister to increase the period of corporate tax exemption till 2030. Already, in coordination with ICT Division and BASIS, different working groups have been created to implement the activities of different areas. These initiatives will help us implement ‘Vision 2041’. From Digital Bangladesh, Bangabandhu’s Golden Bangladesh will transform into ‘Innovative Bangladesh’.”
BASIS President Russell T. Ahmed said, “Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Honorable ICT Advisor to Prime Minister Sajeeb Wazed Joy and Honorable ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak have given the ICT sector of Bangladesh so much importance that they take initiatives for this sector before we even ask for those. Prime Minister declared ICT as the product of the year and the government is working to implement ‘Vision 2041’. There is a target to earn US$ 5 billion in exports from ICT sector by 2025. BASIS will have a great role in this regard. It is a great chance and opportunity for us as well as our responsibility. We will work together with the government to fulfill the responsibilities and work towards implementing ‘Vision 2041’.”
ICT Division Senior Secretary N M Zeaul Alam PAA, Director General of Digital Security Agency and Additional Secretary Md. Khairul Amin, Managing Director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority and Additional Secretary Bikarna Kumar Ghosh, Managing Director of Bangladesh Data Center Company Limited Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, A2I Project Director Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, EDGE Project Director and Joint Secretary Dr. Muhammed Mehedi Hassan, Director General of the Department of Information and Communication Technology and Joint Secretary Md. Rezaul Maksud Jahedi, BASIS Senior Vice President Samira Zuberi Himika, BASIS Vice President (Administration) Abu Daud Khan, BASIS Vice President (Finance) Fahim Ahmed, BASIS Directors- Ahmedul Islam Babu, Mushfiqur Rahman, Tanvir Hossain Khan, Mostafizur Rahman Sohel and Rashad Kabir were present at the meeting.
