ICT Division inaugurates ‘Bangabandhu Innovation Grant 2020’

The inaugural ceremony and press conference of Bangabandhu Innovation Grant 2020 (BIG) was held on Wednesday at the BCC Auditorium of ICT Tower in Dhaka’s Agargaon.

The event was organised while maintaining proper social distance & adhering to hygiene rules. 

State Minister of ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak inaugurated the "BIG" at the press conference. 

Among others, the senior secretary of ICT Division N M Zeaul Alam, the executive director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Parthapratim Deb and the project director (Additional Secretary) of the iDEA Project Syed Mojibul Huq attended at the program. 

Besides, many more from the ICT industry were connected online due to the pandemic situation.

Zunaid Ahmed Palak, in his speech as the chief guest, said that Bangabandhu, with his foresight, thought ahead of time, took big steps to solve problems and take many big initiatives. 

He added that the work was started on the idea of ​​"Bangabandhu Innovation Grant" to commemorate the Mujib Barsho. Bangabandhu's lifestyle, Bangabandhu's struggling life and Bangabandhu's political philosophy which is an example to be emulated and inspired for our present and future generations. 

“If we want to encourage and inspire our youth if we can present Bangabandhu's lifestyle and his political philosophy and history of his struggles to our present and future generations, but they will never be defeated in the struggle for life. That is why we are organizing this competition to inspire our entrepreneurs and innovators,” he added.

The birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is being celebrated across the country in 2020-21.

Under the ICT Division of the Bangladesh government, different initiatives have been taken by the Bangladesh Computer Council's iDEA project to organise the Mujib Year, most notably the "Bangabandhu Innovation Grant 2020 (BIG)" event. 

To build a startup ecosystem in the country by encouraging new entrepreneurial startups through "Big" and establishing the event as a flagship programme at the international level, 3 events will be organised in 2020-21. 

The programmes are - University and Stakeholder Activation Campaign, TV Reality Show and the International Roadshow.

There is a plan to include different countries including the USA, Cambodia, India, South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Turkey, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Italy in the "International Road Show". 

The best 36 startups selected from these events will be given a grant of $1,00,000 and will be nominated for the "Big" final round. 

Later, from this final round, the final results of the grand event of Mujib Barsho will be selected through a selection panel consisting of experienced judges from home and abroad. One of the best startups will be given a special honour as a prize of "Bangabandhu Innovation Grant 2020 (BIG)" and a grant of $1,00,000.

Initially, interested ICT-based startups will be able to register at www.big.gov.bd on the website of "Bangabandhu Innovation Grant 2020" from November 25. Any IT-based entrepreneur can submit their ideas in this competition between December 25 at the national level and January 25 of the next year at the international level.