The government is about to complete the construction of Shiekh Hasina Software Technology Park in Jessore with the objective of encouraging, promoting and boosting the Software Exports from the country.
According to IT experts, the park will maintains internal engineering resources to provide consulting, training and implementation services. Services will also cover Network Design, System Integration, Installation, Operations and maintenance of application networks and facilities in varied areas.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, opined that the government is setting up IT Parks across the country to build knowledge based economy.
He said that apart from Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park at Jessore work on 28 IT Parks and seven Sheikh Kamal IT training and Incubation centers around the country are going on.
Practically the government is working with the target to earn five billion US dollars annually.
While addressing a review meeting on Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park recently, Palak said the work of International standard Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park on 12 acres 13 decimal of land at an estimated cost of Taka 305 crore is almost complete as the Prime Minister announced earlier.
The work started with necessary piling on the land last year and expected to be completed by next 30th May. I will apply to the Prime Minister to inaugurate it on May 30, he added.
While explaining the facilities of the park the State Minister informed that meanwhile spaces have been allotted to 13 companies including three Japanese companies. Besides, 24 applications of foreign and local companies are being scrutinized for allotment.
The Minister mentioned that those who got allotment they must start the offices by June. If they fail to do so their contracts will be cancelled.
When work will start within next one or two years Sheikh Hasina Software Park not nationally but internationally it will be a destination of IT, he hoped.
He further disclosed that when the work of the countrywide IT Parks will be completed it will create employment for 9 crore youths. This will help Bangladesh to be a middle income country in 2021 which is now lower middle income country. In 2041 we will be developed country, he added.
In the progress review meeting was also attended by Jessore Science & Technology University vice-Chancellor Dr. Abdus Sattar, Director (Innovation) of A2i program of PM secretariat Mostafizur Rahman, DC of Jessore Dr. Humayun Kabir, Project Director of Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park Shaikh Jahangir Alom and Assistant Police Super Abu Naim.
State Minister Palak further informed that the ICT division is working on four pillars of connectivity, human resource development, e-government and setting of IT industry to make it a digital Bangladesh. Of these in 2010 Bangladesh hi-tech authority was established with the object of setting IT industry across the country.
In the same year in a public meeting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina made a declaration that an IT Park would be set up at Jessore which has finally resulted into Sheikh Hasina Software Technology Park.
This no more dream but reality as very soon about 50 companies will start research and develop apps, the Minister said.
He further informed that the government has taken up various programs to build up skilled manpower in Information technology. They are making contributions in the country and very soon Bangladesh will occupy the top position in Information technology in the globe.
The Minister said that the government is working on modern information technology and technology based society in the country. The endeavors of PM Sheikh Hasina and her Information Technology affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy ‘Vision 2021’ is being implemented. As part of that vision the Software Technology Park is being built at Jessore. After its completion Jessore will be IT hub of South West Bangladesh.
After the declaration of the Prime Minister after thorough scrutiny in 2014 the work of the park began at Basepara of Jessore town. The communication of Jessore with the capital is very much well connected by road, by train and by air.
To enrich the IT sector and to attract both local and foreign investors the government has set up Software Technology Park. In this case knowledge based plans have been taken up due to this park at Jessore.
IT experts observe that after the completion of Software Technology Park at Jessore the information technology, ICT, free lancing or outsourcing sectors will be expanded in the country.
BDST: 1554 HRS, APR 08, 2017
SJN/SMS
