Digging for manpower with brainpower

The BCS president also mentioned how the country's ICT infrastructure has been attaining an exponential growth towards a solid establishment with the combined efforts from all sector. "We carry a strong growing market for all kind of goods," he said, which he termed as very crucial for creating a panel of skilled-hands required for enhancement.

With only eleven members on board, BCS started their journey back in 1987. At present, the organisation carries four hundred and thirty-one ICT companies from all corners of the country. From the very beginning, the organisation has tried to comprise ICT companies towards a common environment of growth and versatility, involving foreign interactions, expositions, training and many more.

Citing the present time as a very acute and significant moment towards a technological outburst throughout the world, Iqbal mentioned that each ICT company needs to work towards a common goal of methodical expansion and skill enrichment. He stated that recently held South Asian Network Operator's Group (SANOG) V organised by Internet Service Provider Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), has provided the local network operators with a very updated package on network solutions. SANOG has brought in speakers and trainers from renowned international companies, such as Cisco, to evaluate and provide the present network infrastructure with a basis of currently used technology worldwide.

According to Iqbal, at present the country might use a little more of the government's positive intention towards the expansion of the ICT sector. He then spotted out some crucial industry factors such as the VoIP license and ICT-Tast-Force, which is being delayed and neglected for quite a long time.

The BCS president urged the local universities along with Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) to work together in the field of Nano-Technology, promoting research opportunities.

Science and ICT Minister, Moyeen Khan admired BCS, Bangladesh Association of Software Information and Services (Basis) and ISPAB for their contribution to the industry. While chairing the event, he also mentioned how ICT is not just a technology in use; it is much of a new way of life for the whole world in today's time. "We are currently going through a silent revolution in the ICT industrial growth," he said regretting how the nation had lost its chance to join the world's gateway of information through connectivity with submarine cable ten years back. "These ten years have caused the world to go at least twenty-five years ahead of us," he stated, while hoping such misjudgment should not repeat in the future.

"I do not think food-for-work is the only way for a nation to liberate itself from poverty," Khan said, citing how ICT sector can take charge in poverty dismissal of Bangladesh. "If we look into allowing ICT creativity among the population aged between 16 to 30, we may be looking at a well expanded nation in the long run," which he thinks as a very crucial step to follow in the days to come. He hoped that the policy-makers and the financers understand the realm of investments in ICT sectors.

The event came to an end through the distribution of awards and certificates among the winners of on-spot Programming and Multimedia Contest the BCS Computer Show 2004, held in December 2004. Winner of the gaming contest, Roger Modhu, won a return ticket to Malaysia-Dhaka.