IT firms seek time to relocate

IT firms yesterday requested the government to allow them to continue their operations in non-commercial areas until the country's software technology parks are ready.

The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) urged the government to issue an order so the firms aren't closed until the parks are ready for use.

Recently, Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk) began a drive to shut down IT firms that are running operations in different residential zones in the city.

The BASIS said the drive should be halted as it will take a few years to complete the government-owned software technology parks.

“The government gave a target to earn $5 billion from software and ITES exports by 2021, but it will not be achieved if we face this type of barrier from the authorities,” said Syed Almas Kabir, president of the association, at a press conference in its office in the city.

The government has undertaken an initiative to set up 28 software technology parks in different cities.

IT firms need support to run operations in non-commercial areas before the parks are ready, said Kabir.

“When these parks are ready, we believe the BASIS member companies will be accommodated in these dedicated places,” said Kabir.

He said Rajuk recently shuttered IT company Solution9 Ltd's office for being located at a non-commercial zone in Uttara without any prior notice.

This has damaged the company's reputation, he said.

Previously, Rajuk shut down a number of offices of IT firms in Uttara and Dhanmondi.

Currently, there are 1,100 member companies of the BASIS. Of them, 800 are located in non-commercial areas in Dhaka city. The member firms employ more than 1 lakh people.

These firms have invested about $500 million and much will depend on these firms to meet the export target from the ICT sector, said Kabir.

Farhana A Rahman, senior vice president of the association, said the member companies have clients in the US, Japan and Europe. Because of the different time zones, many companies have to provide round-the-clock service, but commercial spaces won't allow them to work 24/7, she said. “Software and ITES-related works are solely dependent on human brains and require quiet environments. This kind of firms never create any noise or disturb their neighbours,” said Rahman.

The BASIS leaders said they are negotiating with the housing and public works ministry and the Rajuk about the issue.