Towards the target of building a Digital Bangladesh and using the youth forces, the government is looking forward to creating employment opportunities for five lakh more youths in the information and communication sector.
In the 12 years from 2008, more than 1.5 million young people have been employed in the ICT sector.
State Minister for Information Communication Technology (ICT), Zunaid Ahmed Palak said this while speaking as chief guest at a press conference titled '12 years of digital Bangladesh under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina' at the BCC auditorium at ICT Tower in the capital on Saturday.
He said, “In the last 12 years, more than 1.5 million young people have been employed in the ICT sector. By December 2021, we expect this number to reach 2 million. The government has emphasized creating skilled people to meet the challenges and exploit the potential of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Training is being given block-chain, robotics, AI, AR, VR, cloud computing, 3D technology. Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technology is also being constructed in the country”.
He said, “In the same period, the country has built a strong ICT backbone, which has led to the expansion of information and communication technology to rural areas.
A total of 3,600 unions in the country are now covered by broadband internet connectivity. Internet service will be ensured for all by 2021”.
“In the last 10 months, one lakh youths have been employed in e-commerce despite the pandemic outbreak. With the creation of the ICT backbone, it has been possible to maintain office, court, medical services, education, and business activities while maintaining social distance during the stagnated situation,” added the state minister.
The government’s Information and Communication Technology has taken 12 other initiatives to complete the achievements of the last one century, including the Center of Excellence (4IR), Agency to Innovation (A2I), Cyber Security Help Desk (104), Open Data Analytics Platform (People's Government) and National Digital Library.
Senior Secretary of ICT Department Niaz Mohammad Ziaul Alam presided over the function. Maisha, a robot created in iLab, conducted the event with Sami Ahmed, Policy Advisor of the LICT Project.
Director-General of ICT Department ABM Arshad Hossain, BCC Executive Director Perth Pratim Dev, Managing Director of Hi-Tech Park Authority Hosne Ara Begum, Director General of Digital Security Agency Md. Rezaul Karim, and A2I Project Director Mohammad Abdul Mannan was also present at the press briefing.
