Experts on Saturday said that the growth of Bangladesh’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector was significantly hindered by a lack of integrated planning and supportive policy reforms.

They emphasised that urgent reforms were essential to transform this sector into one of the country’s leading industries.

Speaking at a seminar titled ‘Reform for ICT Industry Growth’, organised by the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry, experts from various sectors highlighted the need for cohesive strategies, infrastructure development and accessible financing to realise the sector’s potential.

Ashraf Ahmed, president of DCCI, underscored the need for policy reform and workforce development to position Bangladesh’s ICT sector competitively within the global market, valued at nearly $3 trillion, according to a press release.

‘Our IT industry, generating nearly $2.5 billion in revenue, still holds only a small share despite one of the largest pools of IT talent worldwide,’ he remarked.

The DCCI president advocated for short-, medium-, and long-term strategies, urging investment in skills development, logistics, and education to address skill gaps and advance Bangladesh’s ICT sector.

The seminar highlighted the challenges facing local ICT entrepreneurs, particularly in accessing affordable finance.

Mir Shahrukh Islam, managing director of Bondtein Technologies Limited, shared that over 2,600 IT companies currently operated in Bangladesh, yet they struggled with stringent collateral requirements for financing.

‘ICT entrepreneurs are struggling to get easy access to low-cost finance due to a lack of friendly regulatory policies and stringent collateral requirements,’ Mir Shahrukh explained while presenting the keynote paper, adding that incentives for semiconductor industry could spur growth in this emerging sector.

Lutfey Siddiqi, chief adviser’s special envoy on international affairs, addressed the importance of streamlined policies and accurate data for effective planning.

Siddiqi noted, ‘The present government is working in a changed environment, which needs to be considered by all. If the existing policies are properly implemented, it will be easier to do business activities along with citizen services.’

Experts highlighted the need for an ICT-friendly academic curriculum and industry-academia collaboration to enhance graduates’ practical skills.

Bangladesh Bank executive director (ICT) Muhammad Zakir Hasan proposed forming a steering committee to oversee coordinated development across the ICT sector, emphasising that ‘integrated planning’ and ‘industry-academia coordination’ were vital to create skilled graduates.

The seminar concluded with recommendations to expand export incentives, update telecommunication policies and strengthen data privacy laws, as stakeholders urged collaborative efforts between public and private sectors.

DCCI senior vice-president Malik Talha Ismail Bari moderated the discussion, with other DCCI officials present in the seminar.