Fast-track technology adoption: experts

Bangladesh should fast-track the adoption of technologies to make the most out of them with a view to taking the country forward, said speakers yesterday.  

There is faster technology adoption in the private sector but the same is not happening in the public sector, said Saumitra Kumar, head of corporate affairs of BSRM Group of Companies.

"In order to benefit from technologies and take Bangladesh forward, the speed of technology adoption has to be accelerated."

He made the comments at a panel discussion on "Technology in Infrastructure Sector" on the concluding day of the INFOCOM Dhaka 2023 at the Westin Dhaka yesterday.

INFOCOM is India's leading technology, business and leadership conference and an international platform that has been promoting ICT, in India and beyond for more than 21 years.

INFOCOM, in association with the Saarc Chamber of Commerce & Industry and The Daily Star, organised the sixth edition of the event.

The conference brought together business and technology leaders from India and Bangladesh with an agenda to interact and discuss the latest trends in technology, share key experiences and learning with peers from the industry and help enable businesses to step into the next phase of collaborative growth through the use of information and communication technologies.

Kumar said in many cases it takes a lot of time for government officials to give decisions on time due to bureaucratic red tape. So, sometimes total resources may go to waste.

He said his company has been involved in various infrastructure projects in Bangladesh, including those for the Bangladesh Water Development Board, the Local Government Engineering Department, the Roads and Highways Division, and Gas Transmission Company Limited.

"Many things will be done but nothing will be effective. Therefore, it is necessary for the government to emphasise the effective use of technologies."

Masud Khan, chief adviser of Crown Cement, said a lot of automation was being done in the cement industry but many people might not know about it.

Faizur Rahman Khan, managing director at Building Technology & Ideas Limited, said Dhaka was once a vibrant city, but the city had been developed in an unplanned manner. He said a gazette on the detailed area plan (DAP) has been published recently.

"All stakeholders will have to work closely for a proper implementation of the DAP."