​​​​​​In a world where countries like the United States, United Arab Emirates and India have already built their digital future, Bangladesh is striving to catch up. The U.S. IT and tech industry contributed a massive $1.8 trillion to their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2021, while India is expecting a similar 10% contribution to their GDP from the tech sector by 2025. So, what steps have these countries taken to achieve such success, and how can Bangladesh follow others?

To comprehend the situation, we can review the early history of the tech industry. In 1999, the Harvard Business Review published a report titled "Bringing Silicon Valley Inside," which showcased how tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, and Apple started their journey in garages in the 80s and 90s, eventually contributing trillions to the U.S. economy. We already  know how Silicon Valley, the global tech hub located in Palo Alto, California, is home to numerous tech giants. To my surprise, I found that the tech hub generates an annual profit of around $275 billion. The key to Silicon Valley's success lies in its culture of research and innovation, which was fostered when Stanford University was established by Leland Stanford. This emphasis on innovation has led to the emergence of cutting-edge technologies from the region. Today, 39 companies listed on the Fortune 1000 call Silicon Valley home.

Dubai is also making strides in the tech race, with its world-class infrastructure and initiatives focused on remote work, AI, and digital currencies. India, on the contrary, has become a major player in the tech industry worldwide. As the world's fifth-largest economy, it now supplies the most CEOs to global tech companies. The establishment of the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) by the first Indian Prime Minister in the 1950s has been a driving force behind the development of the Indian IT sector.

Unfortunately, Bangladesh lags far behind in terms of tech and IT compared to countries like the U.S., U.K., U.A.E., and India. We lack prestigious institutions similar to IIT or Stanford that foster innovation among graduates. While Bangladesh's IT sector has experienced notable growth in recent years, with IT exports reaching $282.7 million from July to December 2022-2023, marking a 36% increase from the previous fiscal year, there is still much work to be done. NASSCOM's report in January 2023 recognized Bangladesh as the fourth fastest-growing IT sector globally, but our export earnings pale in comparison to India's $227 billion and Pakistan's $2.62 billion.

Fortunately, the government has already taken steps to bolster our position in the global freelancing workforce. Under the "Digital Bangladesh" initiative, we now have 39 IT parks, HiTech Parks (HTP), and Software Technology Parks (STP) across the country. These parks provide an environment where both local and foreign IT companies can innovate and thrive, creating new employment opportunities. Jessore Hi-Tech Park, a software technology park located in Jessore, Bangladesh, is poised to play a pivotal role in the advancement of the IT sector in the country. Established in 2017 by the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA), the park spans an impressive area of 3.03 acres and offers a range of world-class amenities to IT companies, including office space, high-speed internet connectivity, and robust security measures.

However, one of the major drawbacks is the shortage of skilled IT professionals. According to a report by the Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), the demand for competent IT experts is skyrocketing, with a need for an additional 1 million professionals by 2025 to meet industry demands. Additionally, our IT freelancers face challenges due to limited internet access and a slower average mobile internet connection of 13.95 Mbps, with only 38.9% of the population having internet access. This puts them in direct competition with freelancers from countries like the Philippines, India, and Pakistan.

*Fastest average fixed broadband internet speeds; Speedtest 

To overcome these challenges, it is crucial to focus on building robust IT infrastructure like  Jessore IT Park, establishing specialized IT institutions like IIT, and improving connectivity. In addition to that, the pandemic-induced price hikes of IT tools and hardware pose a significant obstacle to implementing infrastructure improvements. Private IT service providers, in particular, may struggle to keep infrastructure spending within their budgets. Therefore, government support is necessary to find cost-effective options like free offices, faster internet, and IT infrastructure that boost efficiency. What’s more, we can establish free zones, similar to Dubai Internet City and Dubai Silicon Oasis, which would allow innovative and emerging technologies such as Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, the Internet of Things(IoT), and Artificial Intelligence(AI) to flourish in our country. 

Fortunately, The Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) has already awarded licenses for the 5G spectrum to telecom operators, paving the way for enhanced connectivity and new opportunities in the digital realm.

However, skilled manpower is essential to leverage the infrastructure we need to develop in the future. Unfortunately, the top engineering institutions in our country do not provide enough research and innovation opportunities for IT graduates to make our manpower competitive. Many talented individuals who study in leading institutions abroad choose to stay there due to the lack of opportunities back home. To address this, Grameenphone, a leading telecom operator, has launched the Grameen Academy, where they teach Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and other emerging technologies, with a vision of nurturing hi-tech professionals for their company. 

The CEO of Grameenphone Yasir Azman said, “We need to inspire them(youth) by bringing in the right tools and equipment while showing them the correct path - that is what I believe a leader must do in society.”

While Bangladesh's IT sector experiences remarkable growth and contributes significantly to the economy, we must overcome challenges to unleash its full potential. By focusing on developing skilled professionals, enhancing high-speed internet connectivity, prioritizing infrastructure development, and addressing security challenges, Bangladesh can overcome obstacles and build a prosperous IT infrastructure that set-in motion a digital future

Writer: Mostafizur Rahaman Sohel, Director, BASIS.

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