The concept of 'Digital Bangladesh' has made the country a major hub of ICT-led export industries and digital services, said PM's private industry and investment adviser Salman F Rahman on Sunday.
Despite the pandemic, he said, state organisations and private companies performed respective roles and duties even virtually that helped the country to continue its economic activity.
Mr Rahman said this as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of 'World Congress on Information Technology (WICT-2021)' co-hosted by Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) and Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) together with the ICT Division.
The four-day 'WCIT-2021 and Silver Jubilee of WCIT' event with the theme 'ICT-The Great Equalizer' was held at the Bangabandhu International Conference Centre with state minister of ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak in the chair.
ICT Division senior secretary NM Zeaul Alam, World Information Technology and Services Alliances (WITSA) secretary general Dr James H Poisant, BCS president Shahid-Ul-Munir and BCC executive director Dr Md Abdul Mannan also spoke.
On behalf of the premier, Mr Rahman received the 'WITSA Eminent Persons Award-2021' at the event for her extraordinary contribution to formulate and implement the 'Digital Bangladesh' vision.
"Despite the current Covid-19 pandemic situation," he says, "we have been able to host the WICT-2021 successfully on our soil which exhibits our capacity to organise such a prestigious ICT event in the country."
Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in four key ICT areas-rapid digital connectivity and infrastructure, comprehensive implementation of e-governance concept, facilitating industry promotion and developing skilled and quality human resources.
The adviser hopes WCIT-2021 will also shed light on the fourth phase of the digital revolution, which is evolving at an exponential rather than a linear pace, disrupting almost every industry in every country.
Besides, he says ICT holds enormous potential for Bangladesh to achieve a competitive position in the global market as the government has recognised ICT as one of the key drivers of development.
The government's ICT-friendly policies are attracting domestic investments in the sector, which could make them ideal strategic partners for international companies intending to venture into the Bangladesh's ICT sector, according to Mr Rahman.
Meanwhile, Mr Palak said, "We're honoured to host the 'Silver Jubilee of WCIT' on the year of Bangladesh's 50th independence, birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the occasion of becoming the 'Digital Bangladesh'."
Alongside exhibition by IT-based companies, 32 hybrid seminars were organised on the sidelines where experts, representatives from IT companies and global IT professionals participated, he said in his concluding remark.
