Information technology in Bangladesh

Last updated

The information technology sector in Bangladesh had its beginnings in nuclear research during the 1960s. Over the next few decades, computer use increased at large Bangladeshi organizations, mostly with IBM mainframe computers. However, the sector only started to get substantial attention during the 1990s. Today the sector is still in a nascent stage, though it is showing potential for advancement. [1] [2] Nonetheless, Bangladesh IT/ITES industry has fared comparatively well by achieving US$1.3 billion export earnings in FY 2020-21 and holding US$1.4 billion equivalent market share in the local market contributing 0.76 per cent to the GDP creating more than 1 million employment opportunities so far amid Covid-19 havoc that suddenly shattered businesses last year. [3] [4] Consequentially, riding on the successes of IT/ITES sector-supported export-led industries as well as pro-private sector and conducive policies pursued by Bangladesh Government, the country is now poised to become a Developing Country by 2026, as recommended by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy (UNCDP), besides, Bangladesh now seeks to transform itself into a knowledge-based and 4IR-driven cashless economy, aiming to become a developed country by 2041. [4] The Bangladesh government has formulated a draft 'Made in Bangladesh– ICT Industry Strategy' aimed at turning Bangladesh into an ICT manufacturing hub, enhancing export of local products, attracting foreign investment and creating employment proposing to implement in three

Contents

Notif-info

terms— short term from 2021 to 2023, mid-term from 2021 to 2028 and long term from 2021 to 2031 for implementation of the 65 action plans. [5]

History

The first computer in East Pakistan was an IBM mainframe 1620 series, installed in 1964 at the Dhaka center of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (later the Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission). Computer use increased in the following years, especially after the independence of Bangladesh in 1971; more-advanced IT equipment began to be set up in different educational, research and financial institutions. [6] In 1979, a computer centre, later renamed Department of Computer Science & Engineering, was established at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET); the centre has been playing a pivotal role in Bangladeshi IT education since its inception. Through the introduction of personal computers, the use of computers witnessed a rapid increase in the late 1980s. [6] In 1985, succeeding several individual initiatives, the first Bengali script in computers was invented, paving the way for more intense computer activities. [7] [8] In 1995, use of the Internet began and locally made software started to be exported. [6]

In 1983, the Ministry of Science and Technology established a National Computer Committee to create the required policies. The committee was also responsible to carry out programs to expand and promote the efficacious use of the sector. In 1988, the committee was replaced by the National Computer Board. In 1990, the ministry reformed the board and reconstituted it as the Bangladesh Computer Council to monitor computer- and IT-related works in the country. [9]

ICT industry

The ICT industry is a relatively new sector in the country's economy. Though it is yet to make tangible contributions in the national economy, it is an important growth industry. The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) was established in 1997 as the national trade body for software and IT service industry. Starting with only 17 member companies, by 2009 membership had grown to 326. In a study among Asian countries by Japan International Cooperation Agency in 2007–08, Bangladesh was ranked first in software and IT services competitiveness and third in competencies, after India and China. [10] The World Bank, in a study conducted in 2008, projected triple digit growth for Bangladesh in IT services and software exports. [10] Bangladesh was also listed as one of the top 30 Countries for Offshore Services in 2010–2011 by Gartner . [11] The Internet penetration has also grown to 21.27 percent in 2012, up from 3.2 percent three years prior. [12]

The Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector of the country has maintained 57.21 percent export growth on an average over the last nine years since 2009. [13] In the fiscal year (FY) 2016–17, Bangladesh ICT sector registered export earnings worth US$0.8 billion from the global market and US$1.54 billion from the domestic market span – thereby making around one percent contribution to the gross domestic product (GDP). [13] The ICT sector has created around three hundred thousand job opportunities so far. [13] ICT exports of the country are also projected to reach US$5 billion by 2025. [14]

As the Internet usage increases, the government expects the IT sector to add 7.28 percent to GDP growth by 2021. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Communications in Iran</span> Overview of telecommunications in Iran

Iran's telecommunications industry is almost entirely state-owned, dominated by the Telecommunication Company of Iran (TCI). Fixed-line penetration in 2004 was relatively well-developed by regional standards, standing at 22 lines per 100 people, higher than Egypt with 14 and Saudi Arabia with 15, although behind the UAE with 27. Iran had more than 1 mobile phone per inhabitant by 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Bangladesh</span>

The economy of Bangladesh is a major developing market economy. As the second-largest economy in South Asia, Bangladesh's economy is the 35th largest in the world in nominal terms, and 25th largest by purchasing power parity. Bangladesh is seen by various financial institutions as one of the Next Eleven. It has been transitioning from being a frontier market into an emerging market. Bangladesh is a member of the South Asian Free Trade Area and the World Trade Organization. In fiscal year 2021–2022, Bangladesh registered a GDP growth rate of 7.2% after the global pandemic. Bangladesh is one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh Agricultural University</span> First agricultural university in Bangladesh

Bangladesh Agricultural University, abbreviated as BAU, was established in 1961. It is the first agricultural university and also the second largest public university of Bangladesh. This university is located in Mymensingh city. The university has 44 departments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Narayanganj District</span> Place in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Narayanganj District is a district in central Bangladesh which is a part of the Dhaka Division. It is the smallest district in Bangladesh. It is home to the ancient city of one of the oldest industrial districts in the country. The district lies on the banks of the Shitalakshya River and the Meghna River. It is an industrial hub and plays an important part in the country's jute trade, plant processing and sector. It is nicknamed the "Dundee of Bangladesh" due to the presence of many jute mills.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ismail Hossain Siraji</span> Bengali writer

Syed Ismail Hossain Siraji was a Bengali author and poet from Sirajganj in present-day Bangladesh. He is considered to be one of the key authors of period of the Bengali Muslim reawakening; encouraging education and glorifying the Islamic heritage. He also contributed greatly to introducing the Khilafat Movement in Bengal, and provided medical supplies to the Ottoman Empire during the Balkan Wars. Anal-Prabaha, his first poetry book, was banned by the government and he was subsequently imprisoned as the first South Asian poet to allegedly call for independence against the British Raj. The government issued Section 144 against him 82 times in his lifetime.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–Iran relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bangladesh–Iran relations are the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Iran. Despite not having any major deals or any big kind of trade, the representatives of both nations have called for expanding economic relations between the two countries. Both are members of the OIC and the Developing 8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Murari Chand College</span> College in Bangladesh

Murari Chand College was the first college in the Sylhet Division. It was established in 1892, making it the seventh oldest college in Bangladesh. Since then it has played an important role in the educational, cultural, and political spheres of Greater Sylhet.

Romania has been successful in developing dynamic telecommunications, aerospace, and weapons sectors. Industry and construction accounted for 32% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, a comparatively large share even without taking into account related services. The sector employed 26.4% of the workforce. With the manufacture of over 600,000 vehicles in 2018, Romania was Europe's sixth largest producer of automobiles. Dacia is producing more than 1,000,000 cars a year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile industry in Bangladesh</span> Regional economic sector in South Asia

The textile and clothing industries provide a single source of growth in Bangladesh's rapidly developing economy. Exports of textiles and garments are the principal source of foreign exchange earnings. By 2002 exports of textiles, clothing, and ready-made garments (RMG) accounted for 77% of Bangladesh's total merchandise exports. Emerging as the world's second-largest exporter of ready-made garment (RMG) products, Bangladesh significantly bolstered employment within the manufacturing sector.

The information technology (I.T.) industry in India comprises information technology services and business process outsourcing. The share of the IT-BPM sector in the GDP of India is 7.4% in FY 2022. The IT and BPM industries' revenue is estimated at US$ 245 billion in FY 2023. The domestic revenue of the IT industry is estimated at $51 billion, and export revenue is estimated at $194 billion in FY 2023. The IT–BPM sector overall employs 5.4 million people as of March 2023. In December 2022, Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT Rajeev Chandrasekhar, in a written reply to a question in Rajya Sabha informed that IT units registered with state-run Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) and Special Economic Zones have exported software worth Rs 11.59 lakh crore in 2021–22.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–United States relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bangladesh-United States relations are the bilateral relations between the People's Republic of Bangladesh and the United States of America. For the United States, Bangladesh is the 38th largest goods supplier and 60th largest export market. For Bangladesh, the United States is the largest export market. The two countries signed a bilateral investment treaty in 1986. U.S. companies are the largest foreign investors in Bangladesh. The U.S. government is the leading contributor of humanitarian assistance in response to the Rohingya crisis. Both nations have announced similar views for a Free and Open Indo-Pacific. Bangladesh has nurtured amicable relationships with all nations, prioritizing the enhancement of the socio-economic well-being of its people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–China relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bangladesh–China relations are the bilateral relations of Bangladesh and China. Bangladesh has an embassy in Beijing and consulates in Hong Kong and Kunming. China has an embassy in Dhaka. Both countries are members of the BCIM Forum. According to Chinese government designations, Bangladesh and China are in a "strategic partnership of cooperation".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rice production in Bangladesh</span> Overview of rice production in Bangladesh

Rice production in Bangladesh commands vast economic significance across multiple sectors and socioeconomic factors. Rice is Bangladesh's primary crop and staple food, dominating agricultural production, employment, nutritional intake, and contributing substantially to national income. Bangladesh ranks as the third-largest producer of rice globally, reaching about 39.1 million tonnes in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Textile arts of Bangladesh</span>

The history of the textile arts of Bangladesh dates back to the 1st century AD. According to the archaeological excavations, Bangladesh was once famous for its artistic textile production throughout the world. Over the years, several types of textiles evolved in the country, mostly by the indigenous handloom manufacturers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–Turkey relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bangladesh–Turkey relations are the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Turkey. Both countries are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. Turkey has an embassy in Dhaka and Bangladesh has an embassy in Ankara and a consulate in Istanbul.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–Mauritius relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bangladesh–Mauritius relations refer to the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and Mauritius. Bangladesh has an embassy in Port Louis.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bangladesh–France relations</span> Bilateral relations

Bangladesh–France relations relate to the foreign relationship between Bangladesh and France.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of Sylhet Division</span>

The economy of Sylhet is the 5th largest in the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh. It has a gross state product of $16 billion in nominal terms, and $40 billion in terms of purchasing power parity, making it the third largest behind Dhaka, Chittagong, Khulna and Rajshahi. Since the formation of Bangladesh, Sylhet has been regarded as the spiritual and cultural center of the country, and often termed as the agricultural capital of Bangladesh. Due to vast natural resources and emerging metropolitan, Sylhet is a major economic hub of the country alongside Dhaka and Chittagong. In recent years, Sylhet is experiencing major infrastructural developments, and projected to be the forefront of Bangladesh's economic growth. Sylhet is known for its tea plantations. About 80% of the country's agar processing factories are located in Barlekha Upazila.

Information Technology in Sri Lanka refers to business process outsourcing, knowledge process outsourcing, software development, IT Services, and IT education in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka is always ranked among the top 50 outsourcing destinations by AT Kearney, and Colombo and ranked among "Top 20 Emerging Cities" by Global Services Magazine. The export revenue of this industry grew from USD 213 million in 2007 to USD 1.2 billion in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1980s in Bangladesh</span> Section of Bangladeshi history

The 1980s was a decade of the Gregorian calendar that began on January 1, 1980, and ended on December 31, 1989. For Bangladesh this decade was characterized by economic hardship, natural disasters and military dictatorship. Hussain Muhammad Ershad ruled Bangladesh almost throughout the decade. Infrastructure development was slow but there was notable progress in local government administration, population control and NGO led microfinance activities which boosted the rural economy. The urge of freedom of speech and return to democracy influenced the cultural activities in the decade.

References

  1. ↑ "Bangladesh to emerge as software exporter in global market". The Daily Star. BSS. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  2. ↑ "'Bangladesh next hub in IT sector after China, India': Ed Franklin". Banglanews24.com. Archived from the original on 20 July 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  3. ↑ Latifee, Enamul Hafiz (14 September 2021). "IT sector at post-LDC time: Forging industry-academia partnership". The Daily Observer. Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  4. 1 2 Latifee, Enamul Hafiz (16 December 2021). "Next Export Front-Runner". Khaleej Times. Retrieved 25 December 2021.
  5. ↑ Latifee, Enamul Hafiz; Khandaker, Md. Motassir; Islam, Majhar; Mahareen, Julfa (31 December 2021). BASIS Foreign Exchange Manual 2021 (PDF) (1st ed.). Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS). p. 13. Retrieved 3 January 2022.
  6. 1 2 3 Chowdhury, Masud Hasan; Murshed, Md Mahbub (2012). "Computer". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  7. ↑ Ahamed, Syeed. "An amazing journey from Shahid Lipi to Avro". The Daily Star . Dhaka. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  8. ↑ Shakil, Abdus (2012). "Bangla Software". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  9. ↑ Alam, Mahbubul (2012). "Bangladesh Computer Council". In Islam, Sirajul; Jamal, Ahmed A. (eds.). Banglapedia: National Encyclopedia of Bangladesh (Second ed.). Asiatic Society of Bangladesh.
  10. 1 2 Karim, Habibullah N (6 January 2010). "Bangladesh IT industry going global". The Daily Star . Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  11. ↑ "Gartner Identifies Top 30 Countries for Offshore Services in 2010–2011". Gartner . Archived from the original on 24 January 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Information technology to contribute 7.28 percent to GDP by 2021". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 20 July 2013.
  13. 1 2 3 Latifee, Enamul Hafiz; Hossain, Md. Sajib (14 March 2018). "ICT industry thriving, needs reform". The Financial Express . Retrieved 21 September 2018.
  14. ↑ Bari, Md. Kamrul; Latifee, Enamul Hafiz (11 January 2022). "4IR technologies and Bangladesh's preparedness". The Financial Express. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.