e-Commerce fair ‘Award Night’ honors the best and the brightest of ICT

Recently, Computer Jagat, under the presence of many successful ICT professionals, academicians, businessmen and ICT journalists honored 17 persons for their outstanding contributions in the ICT sector of the country. The Award Ceremony took place at the opening day of Dhaka e-Commerce Fair 2014 held at Public Library auditorium.

In total, 16 persons were honored with this award. Of them, 3 persons were honored with posthumous award. Md. Nazrul Islam Khan, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division Secretary, was announced as the ICT Personality of the Year 2013. He received this award from the Chief Guest of the Award Night event- Mr. Jamilur Reza Choudhury, Vice Chancellor of The University of Asia Pacific.

The opening remarks were delivered by Mr. Golap Munir Editor, Computer Jagat. Eminent ICT personality Mustafa Jabbar anchored the event. The Posthumous awards were given to M N Islam, Nazim Uddin Mostan and Major Gen Zia Ahmed.

The special guests who were present and handed the award crests to the award recipients were: Shaikh Abdul Aziz Managing Director Leads Corporation Limited, Abdullah H Kafi Chairman ASOCIO, Md. Akhtaruzzaman Manju President Internet Service Provider’s Association of Bangladesh (ISPAB), Nazma Kader, Publisher Computer Jagat, Baasa Bagchi

Chief Operating Officer, Thakral Information Systems Private Limited, Arild Klokkerhaug,  Director, Ekhanei.com, Md Mazharul Islam, Chairman, SMART TECHNOLOGIES (BD) LTD., Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mahfuzul Islam, President, Bangladesh Computer Society, TIM Nurul Kabir, Secretary General & CEO Association of Mobile Telecom Operators of Bangladesh (AMTOB), Mr. Shahzaman Mozumder, Chief Executive Officer, Thakral Information Systems Private Limited and Syed Rezaur Rahman, Advocate Bangladesh Supreme Court.

Brief description about the award recipients are given below:

Government Sector

Mr. Kamal Uddin Ahmed, Additional Secretary, MoICT. He has contributed in expanding the country’s horizon of ICT through his valuable contribution. His noted contributions are ICT project management and organizing e-commerce fair in London in 2013.

Mr. Tarique M Barkatullah, Director (in-charge) National Data Center BCC. His contribution in managing ICT projects has been outstanding. His contribution has touched the government as well as industry. He has been successful in bringing service delivery attitude in the service through data center. He is also contributing positively as Deputy Project Director in WB funded LICT Project to expand the IT/ITES industry i the country.

Banking Sector

Ms. Nazneen Sultana, Deputy Governor, Bangladesh Bank. She has tirelessly worked in simplification of banking formalities to expand e-business and IT/ITES industry. Ms. Nazneen by dint of her merit is the first women IT expert to be appointed as Deputy Governor of BB.

IT/ITES  Industry

Mr. M Rezaul Hassan, CEO, REVE Systems. Mr M Rezaul Hassan has established REVE Systems started in 2003 with a focused approach of serving the IP based communication industry. The company serves customers in over 75 countries, where more than 2200 VoIP and telecommunication service providers have placed their trust in it.

Mr. Raihan Shamsi, CEO, GPIT. His strategy and dedicated work has brought global giant in Accounting BPO to Bangladesh through acquisition of majority share in GPIT. He has established a new arena of accounting BPO in Bangladesh. This is the start of new dimension in ITES sector.

Mr. Rafiqul Islam Rowly, Managing Director CSL Software Resource Ltd. ERP developed for the garments sector has opened new avenues for software export. His contribution id expanding IT/ITES sector through is invaluable advise has benefited many new entrepreneurs. Mr. Rowly has also served in various capacity of BASIS management.

Women Sector

Prof. Momtaj Begum Advocate, Chairman, JMS has been trying to empower women through ICT by Tottho Apa project in her organization as well as providing support behind the growth of E-commerce sector in Bangladesh. The initiatives taken by JMS earned a lot of praise.

Telecom Sector

Major Gen (Retd.) Zia Ahmed. He has been instrumental in deregulating the telecom sector for private operators. He died while serving as Chairman, Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC). His contribution to the telecom sector is well recognized in the industry.

Academia

Dr. Md. Mostofa Akbar, Professor, CSE, BUET. His contribution in academic and research arena has been remarkable. He is regarded highly by the students and the industry for his dedication towards the development of ICT industry in the country.

Civil Society

Mr. AHM Bazlur Rahman, CEO, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication. Mr. Rahman has been instrumental in building the community radio network in Bangladesh. The community radio now serves the million of marginalized citizen.

Hardware Industry

Mr. M. N. Islam, Late Chairman of Flora Ltd has been the true dedicated soul for the development of our IT industry. He is one of the pioneer of IT business in Bangladesh. We lost this soul on the 1st January 2013. We will remember his contribution for the IT sector in the country.

e-Business Sector

Mr. Shameem Ahsan, CEO, akhoni.com. He has been a leader in e-Business for the country. He has mentored many new entrprenuers to setup e-business. He is also a diroctor of Agrani Bank Ltd. and President of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS).

ICT4D Sector

Mr. Forhad Zahid Shaikh, IT Manager, A2i, Prime Minister’s Office. his innovation and implementation of National e-Service System (NESS) has brought phenomenal change in e-service delivery from the DC offices. The system is now being rolled out to all government offices to transform Bangladesh into a true digital nation.

Freelancing Sector

Mr. Sharif Muhammed Shahjahan, 36, from Savar, Dhaka, decided to leverage his image editing skills by working online as an image editor in 2009. Four years later, in 2013, Sharif was the highest earning freelancer on Elance from Bangladesh in 2013.