ICT market reached $1bn from $26mn in 12 years: Palak

The size of the ICT industry in Bangladesh reached $1 billion in 2020 from $26 million in 2008, ICT State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak said on Saturday.

He made the statement while speaking at a ceremony held to mark 12 years of progress of the ICT sector under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, held at the BCC Auditorium in Dhaka.

During this period, human capital development and job creation reached 15 lakh, compared to that of 50,000 in 2008, the state minister further said.

The number of internet users reached 12 crore from 56 lakh and the number of government websites reached 51,000 from only 50 back in 2008.

"All these achievements were possible due to the vision of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and under the guidance of her ICT Advisor Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed," he said.

The government is expanding the technology services every day to ease people's lives, he said.

"Services like the 999 emergency hotline or 333 for other social services has made huge changes to the society and made it more technology enabled," he said.

He said services like online land registration or customs duty collection have reduced time and irregularities and also increased efficiency.

"Now we are on the way to join the 4th industrial revolution. I believe, with the leadership of our prime minister, we will reach an iconic stage in the world."