The prize-giving ceremony of the Bangabandhu Innovation Grant (BIG 2021) competition is expected to take place next September and the winner of the first prize will get a grant of $100,000.
Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy is expected to be presented at the ceremony, said State Minister of ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak at a virtual press conference on Wednesday.
The iDEA Project of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division introduced the competition on the occasion of the birth centenary of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman with an aim to create a startup ecosystem and inspire youth by nourishing their entrepreneurial mindset.
The iDEA project has taken numerous initiatives such as university activation programmes, TV reality shows, and international roadshow campaigns to promote BIG -2021 as an international flagship initiative.
The state minister said that more than 7,000 startups and innovators from 56 countries, including Bangladesh, have participated in the contest.
Palak said that more than 0.6 million Bangladeshi IT freelancers are earning more than $500 million.
He said some Tk 1.0 billion will be invested among 50 startups from Startup Bangladesh Limited in Mujib Year.
Senior Secretary of ICT Division N M Zeaul Alam, PAA, Additional Secretary and Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council Parthapratim Deb and Project Director and Joint Secretary of iDEA Project Md. Abdur Rakib were present at the press conference.
Founder and CEO of evaly.com.bdMohammad Rassel along with the Deputy Managing Director of Walton Digi-tech Industries Ltd. Engineer Md. Liakat Ali, and Startup Bangladesh Limited’s Managing Director Tina Zabin shared their thoughts as the sponsors of the initiative.
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