Bangladesh Innovation Award honours Sajeeb Wazed Joy and 38 innovations

The fourth edition of the Bangladesh Innovation Award 2022 has honoured Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy with the Nation Brand Award for his outstanding contribution in building and turning digital Bangladesh into a reality.

The award taken place at Le Meredien Dhaka on March 6 also recognised 38 innovations of the country announcing 18 winners and 20 honorable mentions.

The Innovation Award was preceded by the third edition of the three-day Bangladesh Business Innovation Summit 2022, which started virtually on March 4.

"I don't think 'Shonar Bangla' is just a notion of a developed nation. I think the notion is a country, which is much more inclusive; where progress is shared which is sustainable and innovation will play an important role in that progression," said Shariful Islam, founder of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave.

The event was organised by Bangladesh Brand Forum, an initiative of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave (BIC).

"Bangladesh government in working collaboratively with the private sector to bring innovation, emerging solutions and new opportunities for the people of Bangladesh," Salman F Rahman, prime minister's private industry and investment adviser, said during his speech at the Innovation Award as the chief guest.

"So, for the next phase of development and collective progression, there is no alternative for innovation."

"As guided by our founding father of the nation, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, our tool for achieving future self-sufficiency is building an innovation ecosystem" said Zunaid Ahmed Palak, state minister for ICT.

Atiqul Islam, mayor of Dhaka North City Corporation, also joined the event as special guest.

The fourth Bangladesh Innovation Award launched Bangladesh Innovation Conclave Website, Innovation Hub, Innovation Charter and Lal Shobujer Agrajatra Platform.

The three-day virtual summit hosted nine keynote sessions by global and local experts, three panel discussions, three insight sessions and one policy dialogue.

The keynote speakers were Zunaid Ahmed Palak; Hillol Bala, Conrad Prebys professor and co-director of the Institute for Digital Enterprise, associate professor of Information Systems Operations and Decision Technologies Department of the Kelley School of Business, Indiana University; Mahbubul Matin, president of Dotlines; Muna Farid, managing director of Hatch-DWC, Dubai; Tobias Fischer, co-founder and CEO and Wagely; Rubaiyat Islam Sadat, founder and managing director of Rubik Advisors and founder and managing director of Mulytic Labs GmbH; Rudmeela Nawsheen, founder and CEO of ConfigVR, ConfigRbot & ConfigRapps, San Jose, California USA; Director of Ranks ITT, Ranks Petroleum, Ranks Tel, Bangladesh, Electrical Engineer, Software Developer & Tech Entrepreneur; Syed Muntasir Mamun, chief innovation officer of the foreign ministry.

The third Bangladesh Business Innovation Summit and the fourth Bangladesh Innovation Award were supported by Energypac Power Generation Ltd and Mutual Trust Bank Ltd.

The event's strategic partner was Aspire to Innovate and Startup Bangladesh Ltd, event partner Le Meridien Dhaka, technology partner Aamra Technologies Ltd, public relations partner Back Page PR.