Tech
Pioneering Tech Visionary Iqbal Ahmed: Elevating Bangladesh’s IT Landscape
Published
1 year agoon

Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan, well known in the field of information technology as ‘Divine Russell’. He is the founder of Divine IT Limited, the country’s leading software development company, and PrismERP, the country’s first web-based ERP – Prism ERP.
He is a computer science graduate. Since the beginning of his studies in 1996, he has been familiarizing himself with new technologies and has been involved in managing computer hardware, internet services, and consulting businesses. He has successfully automated large government and private organizations in the country with his own coded software.
Over the past 20 years, Divine IT has been managing businesses with customer satisfaction and success through advanced technology and innovation. PrismERP is a flagship product of Divine IT Limited. Divine IT Limited is a software company certified with CMMI Level 3 and ISO’s
In addition to his remarkable success, Divine IT has received several awards in the IT sector, including the National Productivity Awards 2015, 2018, APTICA international Award 2017, and WITSA Global Excellence ICT Award 2020, and the Daily Star ICT Awards 2022 for ‘ICT Solution Provider of the Year (Local Market).
As a major software development company in the country, Divine IT was awarded the status of ‘Private Software Technology Park’ by the Bangladesh government in 2018. Since 2005, the company has been working both locally and internationally. Currently, the company has 9 copyright products.
PrismERP by Divine IT is Bangladesh’s first ERP software capable of managing and automating more than 40 types of business sectors. More than 400 businesses in Bangladesh are using PrismERP for their daily business management. In international ERP solution competitions, PrismERP is a reliable and popular brand among domestic and foreign companies.
Without any external funding, over the past 20 years, Iqbal Ahmed has tirelessly worked in the IT industry, overcoming various challenges, and strengthening his company.
Iqbal Ahmed Fakhrul Hasan is a candidate in the upcoming election of the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) for the term 2024-2026.
He has shared his plans for the formation of a Smart Bangladesh, the development of the local software industry, and the acquisition of significant amounts of government procurement.
Iqbal Ahmed states that due to systematic management of the company and process-driven approaches, he has decided to participate in the BASIS election to work for the advancement of the industry. He added “throughout my long career, I have faced and solved various problems and challenges as a software and IT entrepreneur. I believe these solutions are very common for other members of our industry as well. These solutions can save time and money, as well as overcome failures. With this hope and belief, I am participating in this year’s BASIS election. I know and understand this industry well. I believe that with the necessary planning and initiatives, I will be able to solve these complex problems and challenges for the development of our industry.”
He also added that I have contributed to BASIS as an entrepreneur from the beginning of my journey as a software entrepreneur. In the past, I have worked for BASIS and the industry as a member of various committees and sub-committees, including Access to Finance, HR Development, Communication Solutions, Local Market Development, and Advisory Standing Committees. Outside of BASIS, I regularly provide advice and assistance in sustaining IT businesses, company infrastructure, long-term business planning, compliance, bank investment, and auditing software on an intellectual property basis.
In the field of software and service exports, Bangladesh is now exporting software and services to more than 80 countries worldwide, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada. There are plans to establish export desks in many new countries to achieve further export targets.
He thinks there are lots of places in BASIS’s secretariat that still need to be improved. BASIS is not having its own space. So his initiative will be to establish BASIS’s own space by 2026, where it can be possible to make BITM training more effective.
He dreams boldly of a future where Bangladesh leads the world in IT innovation, where our own talents fuel the engine of progress. With a vision to diminish reliance on foreign IT services, he wants to nurture homegrown industry growth, igniting a transformative journey towards our nation’s prosperity and advancement.
Tech
Pre-Orders Open for Mojahidul Islam’s Latest Computer Book ‘AI Shikhun, Taka Gunun’
Published
4 weeks agoon
September 12, 2025
Technology writer and journalist Mojahidul Islam Dheow is set to release his new book, “AI Sikhun, Taka Gunun.”
Online pre-orders have already started, and the book is being published by Systech Publications.
In today’s digital age, we stand at a turning point—where simple keystrokes can turn into dollars, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming humanity’s newest coworker.
This book acts as a bridge, connecting learning with earning and blending investigative journalism with awareness-raising for general readers. The book is structured into three parts.
The first section is designed as an earning guide for young people. It explains how AI content prompts can create opportunities in the freelancing market and how small ideas can grow into significant income streams.
The second section serves as a hands-on investigative handbook for journalists, offering practical tips on using AI tools for data mining, verifying sources, and ensuring cybersecurity.
The third section is aimed at general readers. It presents the opportunities and risks of AI in simple language while also teaching methods for spotting deepfakes and identifying fake news.
Mojahidul Islam Dheow, a Computer Science graduate, has been writing and publishing technology-related books since 2003, with more than a dozen titles to his name.
His book “Web Database Application: MySQL–PHP” was the first Bangla-language book on website database and application development, earning him the Best Author Award in 2021. Dheow’s writing style is lively and accessible—sometimes deeply technical, sometimes witty and lighthearted. His words make readers feel as though they are casually learning new hacks while chatting with a friend.
This book is equally valuable for three key audiences: those who want to start freelancing but don’t know how to begin, journalists eager to learn the magic of AI-powered data tools, and everyday readers curious about how AI is reshaping our daily lives.
All in all, “AI Sikhun, Taka Gunun” is not just another book—it is a complete roadmap for surviving and thriving in the age of AI.
According to the author, the book will help readers discover numerous exciting ways to earn with AI. These include offering writing services with AI content tools, managing brands and social media accounts, providing AI-powered SEO services, creating and selling custom GPTs, producing AI-generated art and images, affiliate marketing, optimizing paid advertising, offering translation and localization services, developing and selling AI-powered digital products, teaching and hosting online courses, building websites and running email marketing campaigns, creating AI chatbots for businesses, developing mobile apps, automating lead generation, managing and analyzing data, and even producing AI-powered YouTube content.
The printed price is 400 Taka. If pre-ordered, the book can be purchased at a 20% discount for 320 Taka at https://www.rokomari.com/book/504542/ai-shikhun-taka-gunun.
Tech
A10 Networks Expands its Cybersecurity Portfolio with Acquisition of ThreatX Protect
Published
7 months agoon
March 13, 2025
ThreatX Protect Addresses Critical Need to Protect Against Evolving Application and API Security Threats
To continue to help customers address the rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, A10 Networks has acquired the assets and key personnel of ThreatX Protect expanding its cybersecurity portfolio with web application and API protection (WAAP). The acquisition is expected to be modestly accretive to A10’s earnings per share in 2025 and has closed.
Attacks against web applications and application programming interfaces (APIs) are on the rise and are a significant threat to enterprises. ThreatX Protect provides a unique WAAP solution using behavioral and risk profiling to help protect enterprises from evolving threats, including threats to AI applications, which can complement an AI firewall. Delivered as a software-as-a service solution, ThreatX Protect includes API protection, bot management and next-generation web application firewall.
“Expanding the A10 Defend security portfolio with ThreatX Protect gives our customers an additional tool in their strategy to protect against new and evolving threats,” said Dhrupad Trivedi, president and CEO, A10 Networks. “Our strategic focus is on helping enterprises secure their applications and networks from the growing number of threats today, as well as protecting the emerging AI use cases of the future. Adding WAAP to our solution set gives customers additional capabilities to help establish a strong security posture.”
“We are thrilled that A10 Networks has acquired certain assets of ThreatX, including the brand and the TX Protect WAAP solution to expand A10’s security portfolio,” said Gene Fay, CEO of ThreatX. “A10 has been a fantastic partner throughout this process, and we are confident that our customers and employees will thrive under their leadership.”
As a result of this transition, the remaining assets of ThreatX will be launched as Run Security with TX Prevent, the cutting-edge eBPF-based solution re-launched as RS Prevent.
ThreatX Protect supports A10’s strategy of helping customers deploy A10 security solutions in a hybrid approach to protect apps and APIs running anywhere – public cloud, private cloud, co- location facilities or on-premises. The A10 Defend portfolio of solutions provides DDoS protection, DDoS threat intelligence and web application, and now adds a full-featured WAAP solution all integrated into a single platform with end-to-end delivery and stronger security for mission-critical applications.
Specific terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition is consistent with A10’s stated strategy of expanding the Company’s security portfolio to grow in the enterprise market. The acquisition does not represent a material change to the Company’s 2025 financial outlook or long-term business model.
Tech
Empowering Youth and Transforming Lives: The Impact of ICT Pioneers in Bangladesh’s Digital Future
Published
10 months agoon
December 11, 2024
By Hamidur Rahman:
In Bangladesh, where unemployment often feels like a lingering shadow, a growing number of young people are chasing independence through the world of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). Some carve their paths in freelancing, while others, armed with self-learning and sheer determination, rise from humble beginnings to build thriving careers.
One such story belongs to Samiul Islam of Mollapara village in Atgaon Union, Bochaganj Upazila, Dinajpur. Once a laborer at a small broiler chicken farm, Samiul barely scraped by on his modest earnings. Yet, with nothing more than an Android phone and a desktop bought on installment, he set out to change his life. Seven years later, he’s earning between 400,000 and 500,000 BDT each month, now the proud founder of RezCode BD — his own freelancing and IT training company.
Looking back, Samiul recalls 2017 as the turning point. “I worked at a poultry farm for only 6,000 taka a month. It wasn’t enough to support my family,” he said. That same year, on November 20, fate intervened.
In June 2017, Md. Mojahidul Islam — a pioneer of ICT journalism and digital education in Bangladesh — hosted a life-changing seminar in Dinajpur, 413 kilometers from Dhaka. The event brought together students, job seekers, and aspiring freelancers in a lively, interactive environment. From platforms like Upwork and Fiverr to skills such as graphic design, web development, and digital marketing, Mojahidul provided a practical roadmap to success. He shared tips on client communication, project management, and financial planning — and it was all completely free, ensuring no one was left behind.
For Samiul, the seminar and Mojahidul’s book Sombhabonamy Freelance Outsourcing: Internete Ghore Boshei Ay lit the spark. “It answered everything — what freelancing is, who can do it, what jobs are out there, how to get paid,” he said. The book also introduced him to platforms like Guru, Get a Freelancer, Rent a Coder, oDesk, and Elance. Nights after long shifts at the poultry farm, Samiul dove into YouTube tutorials, determined to build an online career.
In 2018, he moved to Dhaka for a textile mill job and used his wages to enroll in a web development course. But another obstacle appeared — he had no computer. His father took a loan from an NGO so Samiul could buy one. “That’s when my freelancing journey truly began,” he said.
His first job came that year on Fiverr — a $5 project. “I gave it my all and got a five-star review. After that, there was no turning back.” Today, alongside his earnings, Samiul runs RezCode BD to train others. “We provide 24/7 support so learners can gain confidence and learn client communication. Sometimes I even attend meetings for them,” he said. Four of his students now earn over 100,000 taka monthly. His goal? “I want to empower youth across Dinajpur — and eventually the whole country — with digital skills, and create jobs for at least 100 people.”
Samiul’s journey is one wave in a much larger tide of change — a movement that traces back to Mojahidul Islam’s decades-long mission. Long before Bangladesh’s ICT boom, Mojahidul recognized the power of digital literacy. Known affectionately as “Dheow,” he began IT journalism in 2000, writing for The New Nation, Ajker Kagoj, Computer Barta, and E-Biz, eventually becoming ICT Editor at The Daily Ittefaq in 2006.
In 2003, when computers were rare and the internet a luxury, he published the first Bengali-language books on essential ICT skills for unemployed youth. These covered everything from basic computer use and office applications to internet browsing, email, graphic design, and online safety. His accessible style brought technology into homes across villages, hills, and river islands — where English manuals and instructors were scarce.
Mojahidul’s works, including Practical Networking Handbook, Swapner Career, 7 Dine Web Design, Mastering E-Commerce, Mobile Phone Khutinati, and Freelance Outsourcing Possibilities, became lifelines for learners. Thanks to his guidance, hundreds of thousands of people opened their first email accounts, printed their first documents, or landed their first freelance job. Government agencies like the Department of Youth Development and BANBEIS incorporated his books into nationwide ICT training programs.
His impact is staggering — over 2.3 million students have gained ICT skills from his books, around 2 million learned email and office tools, 500,000 began accessing e-services, and at least 18,000 started freelance careers earning foreign currency. His influence extends beyond Bangladesh, reaching West Bengal and other Bengali-speaking regions.
Beyond authorship, Mojahidul has held key roles, serving as General Secretary of the Bangladesh ICT Journalists Forum in 2007 and later as President in 2019. He is a lifetime member of the Bangladesh Computer Society, active in the Internet Society, and involved in multiple journalist organizations. His professional training spans finance journalism in London, internet resource management, AI, cybersecurity, and data-driven reporting.
Recognized with awards including the Prominent ICT Journalist Award (2022), Digital Bangladesh Award (2022), IT Journalist of the Year (2022), and Best Author (2021), Mojahidul has judged competitions such as the CTIA Emerging Technology Awards in the US and spoken at events like NASA’s Space Apps Challenge.
For him, technology is not just a tool but a gateway to independence. His mission remains clear — to equip the youth of Bangladesh with the skills to thrive in a digital world. And as Samiul Islam’s story proves, a single seminar, a single book, or a single mentor can change the course of a life forever.

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