Govt targets 1m digital jobs in five years

The government aims to create one million digital-sector jobs over the next five years and establish Bangladesh as a regional hub for IT and artificial intelligence, Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam said.

Speaking at the inaugural session of Bangladesh TechConnect 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Tuesday, he emphasised that resilient digital infrastructure is crucial to attracting high-value investment and building a knowledge-based economy.

The event was jointly organised by the Posts and Telecommunications Division and Huawei.

“Our government is committed to building a prosperous, knowledge-based economy through resilient digital infrastructure,” the minister said.

Economic resilience is increasingly tied to technological capability, making secure, high-speed connectivity essential across urban and rural areas, he added. 

He highlighted three top priorities: strengthening broadband infrastructure, converting connectivity into economic productivity, and ensuring responsible AI adoption.

To advance AI capabilities, Faqir Mahbub Anam stressed the need for increased computing power, stronger data management, skilled talent, research, and a robust domestic innovation ecosystem.

“Cybersecurity, privacy, reliability, fairness, and accountability will be essential to public trust,” he said, noting that while digital tools enhance industrial efficiency and public service delivery, adoption must deliver measurable results.

Dr Md Kamruzzaman, secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division; Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, secretary of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division; and Jason Wu, president of Huawei South Asia Region, also attended the inauguration.

Sayeda Afroz, joint secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division, delivered the keynote address.
Kamruzzaman said Bangladesh trails the global average in digital capability by around 10 points, highlighting the need to bridge the gap between internet connectivity and its meaningful use.

He said expanding infrastructure alone would not ensure digital transformation unless services became more affordable, reliable and accessible.

The government must provide clear policies and a supportive regulatory environment, while private companies should drive innovation, investment and service quality, he added.

Kamruzzaman outlined four priorities for the government’s digital development plan: affordable devices and data packages supported by Bangla-language services; stronger networks with more fibre-connected mobile towers and disaster-resilient backup systems; demand-driven investment in standalone 5G and future 6G technologies; and stronger public trust through cybersecurity, data protection and accountable AI use.

ICT Secretary Bhuiyan said the government had identified five strategic pillars for digital transformation: legal and policy reforms, reliable connectivity, digital public infrastructure, AI and cybersecurity, and domestic manufacturing.

He said work was underway to develop an integrated digital identity and wallet framework and improve interoperability among more than 100 existing digital public services, enabling smoother data exchange between government agencies.

Highlighting smartphone affordability as a major barrier to internet adoption, Bhuiyan said the cheapest feature phones cost around Tk999, while entry-level smartphones were priced between Tk9,000 and Tk10,000.

To address the gap, the government has launched an initiative to manufacture smartphones locally at prices ranging from Tk4,000 to Tk5,000, he said.

He also announced that work had begun on an Artificial Intelligence Act, with a target to develop the legislation within three to four months as part of the regulatory framework for emerging technologies.

Huawei South Asia President Jason Wu reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting Bangladesh’s digital transformation through partnerships with the government and industry.

He said Huawei would leverage its expertise in connectivity, cloud computing and AI to help local industries improve efficiency and develop new services.

In her keynote presentation, Sayeda Afroz reviewed Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure and its position in global technology development. 

She also outlined a phased roadmap for technology and cybersecurity development from 2027 to 2035, covering short-, medium- and long-term priorities.

The event featured three panel discussions on future technologies and connectivity, technology-driven industrial efficiency, and global AI trends and Bangladesh’s readiness.

The sessions were moderated by Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Commissioner Brig Gen (Retd) Iqbal Ahmed, Science and Technology Ministry Additional Secretary Dr Syeda Naushin Parnini, and National Cyber Security Agency Director General Dr Md Taibur Rahman, respectively.
Panellists discussed the commercial potential of 5G, Fixed Wireless Access and enterprise connectivity in sectors such as ready-made garments, ports, agriculture and healthcare.

Discussions on AI focused on its applications in banking, manufacturing, logistics and public services, with speakers emphasising the importance of reliable cloud infrastructure, data readiness, skilled workers and supportive policies.

A technology exhibition held alongside the event showcased innovations in smart government, education, digital power, smartphones, databases and AI applications.