68 projects win BASIS National ICT Awards 2022

A total of 68 projects of different companies and individuals won accolades at a BASIS National ICT Awards 2022 in recognition of their innovative products and services in the country's information technology sector. 

The Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), the national trade body of the country's software and information technology services sector, handed over the awards at a ceremony at the Radisson hotel in Dhaka on Monday.

In its fifth edition this year, the awards were presented in 36 categories. The best projects will be recommended for an Asia Pacific ICT Alliance Awards (Apicta).

BASIS President Russell T Ahmed presided over of the presentation ceremony while State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak was the chief guest.

"Through BASIS national ICT awards, we select innovative and promising IT products and services from across the country and recognise and encourage them," said Ahmed.

He said these products and services demonstrate the capabilities of Bangladesh's ICT sector to the country and to the rest of the world.

"This year's event has given special consideration and attention to projects that would be directly contributing in the transformation of Digital Bangladesh to a Smart Bangladesh," he said.

Ahmed said the BASIS would groom the award-winning projects so that they can win accolades at the Apicta awards properly.

"Our Bangladeshi companies have become champions in the past Apicta contests. We are confident we will bring awards from Apicta this time as well," he added.

Palak said the country wants to increase ICT exports from current $1.4 billion to $5 billion by 2025.

"Those who participated in the competition today will fulfill this target in the future," he said.

He said an intelligent, cost-effective, knowledge-based, innovative, smart and developed Bangladesh would be the main driver of its export earnings from the software industry.

At the same time, the domestic economic activities of Bangladesh will become completely dependent on the software industry, he added.

"There will be four main components to build a Smart Bangladesh by 2041. In that, government will be smart, society will be smart, citizens will be smart and our economy will be smart," NM Zeaul Alam, senior secretary to the ICT Division.

"We are working on these four elements. I hope everyone working here will be a part of that journey," he said.

Md Jashim Uddin, president of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the more the government offices were digitalised, the more the people and businesspeople would benefit.