Joy hopes Bangladesh to lead 4th industrial revolution

Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy has expressed his optimism that Bangladesh will be the key leader of the 4th Industrial Revolution.

"We belief Bangladesh is going to be one of the leaders in the upcoming 4th Industrial Revolution. We don't just hope rather we plan and we intend on Bangladesh being one of the key leaders of the 4th industrial revelation," he told a webinar on Thursday night joining it from the USA.

As part of Digital World 2020, the webinar titled 'Embracing Digital Technologies in New Normal' was arranged by the ICT Division.

Joy said: "I believe this is completely possible. It is not it's not just a dream, it's possible. We don't know what the next big technologies going to be. But I can promise that some of those technologies will be from Bangladesh".

"We have the ability. We have proved that we can do it. We are now looking forward to the next chapter of future technologies and the future," he added.

The prime minister's adviser said Bangladesh wants to develop next-generation technologies now instead of hiring technology from other countries.

"We are developing a centre of excellence in the 4th Industrial Revolution. We are focusing on research, not just focusing on technologies adopted by others. We want to become one of the leaders in the next generation of technologies," he added.

The government has set some goals for the development of the ICT sector to lead the revolution, he added.

The focus is on artificial intelligence or AI, blockchain, Internet of Things, nanotechnology, biotechnology, robotics, and microprocessor and software designing, he said.

Mentioning that the cybersecurity will play a curial role, he said "We have new cybersecurity law. We are setting up cybersecurity cells and national monitoring cells. All these initiatives will ensure online security in our country."

Referring to development in the ICT sector, he said because of digitization, time and distance is no longer a factor as he joined the webinar from Washington, DC and some others joined it from different countries.

Joy said the ICT sector played an important role in keeping going the wheels of the economy during the Covid-19 pandemic.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak presided over the webinar while ministers for ICT affairs from Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka and other countries joined it.