The grand tech gala

The new venue has given the largest software exposition of the country a new dimension. PHOTO: Syed Zakir Hossain

Identifying the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as a high priority sector, the president also said, "The government is ready to make efficient decisions that will lead to effective growth of the ICT sector in Bangladesh."

With 83 stalls and 26 pavilions at different levels of the Novo theater, the BCS Computer Show promises to be an exciting one this year. Besides the exhibition of ICT products and services, eleven seminars, gaming contests, programming contests and animation competitions have also been arranged. The grand exposition showcases colorful laser shows every evening of the event.

The Science and ICT Minister Abdul Moin Khan described the efforts the government is taking towards ICT growth as "adequate" and encouraged the ICT sector to acquire positions in the global market.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Anwar Choudhury talked about the potential of the ICT sector in Bangladesh. "Good leadership is a must, in order to ensure the growth of the ICT sector," said Choudhury.

Science and ICT Ministry and BCS jointly organised the gala event having international brands such as -- Asus, Intel, Lexmark and Philips as sponsors and SKYbd as the official ISP.

Most participating companies offered discounts on their products. Flora is giving out lottery coupons on their printers, WinTrade is offering a 7% discount on all of their products, while Daffodil Computer is cutting their retail prices by a generous 20%.

Akiz Barnamala software developed by Akiz Computers is being offered for only Taka 70. Renowned brand Asus has introduced wireless products, CPU coolers and notebooks. Lexmark is handing out free jackets with its printers.

On the first floor, ten ICT exporter companies are showcasing their export items and software. BCS has arranged the floors such a way, so that the youngsters and students of Bangladesh will get a glimpse of the items that are being exported by our country all together.

A gaming show is also being arranged everyday at the basement of the Bhasani Novo Theatre. Organised by Sparkle AGP, such a networked gaming environment has been arranged at an ICT fair for the first time in Bangladesh.

Three seminars took place on the second day of the BCS computer show huge presence. The first seminar was titled, Skill based IT Education for the under privileged youth and was based on a project, under which, more than 200 under-privileged children would receive computer training and thus make a living through IT means. Two private sector companies, Scholastic Netpreneurs and Aporajeyo Bangladesh jointly organised the seminar.

S M Iqbal, president, BCS cited how efforts should be made to bring the rural people under one establishment of technology training as soon as possible. "We should also get prepared for the optimised usage of the upcoming nano-technology," said Iqbal, while referring to the worldwide dominance of nano-technology in the ICT production phases.

In the second event of the day, Texas Group launched their web portal deshimobile.com. Syed Marghub Morshed, chairman, Bangladesh Telecom Regulatory Commission (BTRC) as the chief guest of the seminar. The third seminar was about bridging the digital division that exists among the ICT users of Bangladesh.

Special arrangements have been made to facilitate more visitors at the show, including free bus rides throughout the city. A total of six buses with a seating capacity of 40 each will run on circular routes covering Bijoy Sharani west crossing, Agargaon crossing, Shyamoli, Aarong (Manik Mia Avenue west) crossing, Science Laboratory, Shahabag, Banglamotor, and Farmgate to the Bhasani Novo Theatre. This service is available for free from 9:30 a.m. till 8:30 p.m.