The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) has announced a significant achievement: the export of $840 million worth of ICT products to over 137 countries in the fiscal year 2023-24. This milestone was revealed during a seminar titled “Bangladesh: The Emerging ICT Powerhouse”, held on Saturday, January 18, at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Exhibition Center in Purbachal.
The seminar, organized as part of the Dhaka International Trade Fair (DITF) 2025, featured distinguished guests including Dr. Muhammad Mehedi Hasan, Administrator of BASIS, ICT Policy Advisor Fayez Ahmed Tayeb, and heads of international organizations like JICA, JETRO, and KOTRA.
In his opening remarks, Dr. Mehedi Hasan highlighted BASIS’s transformative journey from 18 members in 1998 to over 2,650 today. He emphasized the role of innovation, collaboration, and sustainability in driving the country’s ICT growth.
Delivering the keynote speech, Rafal Kabir, Chairman of the BASIS Support Committee, stressed the importance of developing skilled human resources to harness the potential of the ICT sector. “Bangladesh has a wealth of young talent that, with proper training and guidance, can position the country as a global ICT leader,” he said.
Special guest Fayez Ahmed Tayeb outlined the government’s commitment to achieving ICT excellence through initiatives like the Bangladesh National Data Architecture (BNDA) and improvements to high-tech park infrastructure. The aim is to create 6 to 8 million skilled ICT professionals by 2030 and increase the sector’s GDP contribution to 5%.
Other speakers, including Baby Rani Karmakar, Director General of the Export Promotion Bureau, emphasized the role of technology in driving efficiency, citing the digital transformation of the Dhaka International Trade Fair as a prime example.
The seminar concluded with Fawzia Nigar Sultana, BASIS Support Committee Member (Finance), reiterating the importance of international partnerships to position Bangladesh as a reliable provider of high-quality, cost-effective digital solutions globally.
Projects like e-tax filing systems, digital land registration processes, and telehealth contact centers, spearheaded by BASIS members, were highlighted as success stories that underscore the sector’s remarkable growth and potential.