50% of manpower semi-skilled, unskilled in advanced IT

Around 50 per cent of Bangladesh's manpower are either semi-skilled or unskilled in advanced technologies like geographic information systems, business process outsourcing, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things and robotics, an economist said today.

The local IT sector failed to keep up with its growth expectation because of a lack of skilled human capital and policy bottlenecks, said Monzur Hossain, research director of the Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies.

Around 3 lakh IT professionals now work in the country and the demand for such experts will be doubled by 2025, he said.

The economist spoke while delivering a presentation at the launch of his book titled "Digital Transformation and Economic Development in Bangladesh".

The Bangladesh Evaluation Society organised the publication ceremony of the book at Bishwo Shahitto Kendro (World Literature Center) in Dhaka.

It is a must now to establish linkages between the industry and academia and an updated curriculum on IT is needed to omit the existing skills gap, Hossain said.

Technical and vocational education must be streamlined with proper training of trainers where short-term training programmes will not be enough to meet the industry's needs, he said.

Finally, importance must be given on the development of soft skills of the employees, he said.

Planning Minister MA Mannan attended the event as the chief guest where Bishwo Shahitto Kendro's Founder and Chairman Prof Abdullah Abu Sayeed, Prime Minister's Economic Affairs Adviser Mashiur Rahman and Post and Telecom Secretary Md Khalilur Rahman also spoke.