4th Industrial Revolution: Bangladesh being readied to tap into opportunities

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said the government is preparing the country for tapping the opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution to accelerate its economic growth towards the desired level.

"We're formulating an innovative education ecosystem (IEE) by increasing the budget for research and innovation. We're framing the National Blended Learning Policy-2021. Through this policy, we'll be able to introduce an education system bridging the technological gap," she said.

Hasina said this while delivering her speech at the closing ceremony of a two-day international conference on the 4th Industrial Revolution-2021 held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre.

She joined the programme, which was organised on the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the Golden Jubilee of independence, virtually from the Gono Bhaban.

Given the perspective of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, three issues are gaining importance -- the development of the industry through innovation of sophisticated technology, creating a skilled workforce, and protecting the environment, the PM said.

She said scientists believe that humans will have to coexist with artificial intelligence devices shortly. And some new types of challenges have to be tackled.

For example, she mentioned, machines will shrink the human workplace; the demand for cheap labour will decline, inequality will increase, and migration will be encouraged. "Foreign investment in developing countries will fall, and inequality in technological know-how will increase."

"We're launching 5-G Network Service soon. It'll completely change the business model, education system, standard of living, and conventional digital and social media."

"I believe the ICT and software industry will enrich our export sector in the future. We're giving special incentives to overseas industries to set up research-development and manufacturing centres in Bangladesh," the PM said.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Deputy Minister for Education Mohibul Hassan Chowdhoury, University Grants Commission of Bangladesh (UGC) chairman Prof Dr Kazi Shahidullah, its Member Sazzad Hossain also spoke at the programme.