The Bangladesh government has taken a significant initiative towards building a Smart Bangladesh by launching the `Hire and Train Program’ to provide training and employment to 20,000 IT graduates by 2026. The program was inaugurated by State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak at a city hotel on Monday.

The program is part of the EDGE project financed by the World Bank in partnership with the Center for Project Management and Information Systems (PMIS) and the Institute of Information Technology (IIT) of Dhaka University and RISE of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (Buet). The program aims to provide training on advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), internet of things (IoT), robotics, and blockchain through the country’s IT companies.

The ICT state minister stressed the importance of keeping up with the fourth industrial revolution (4IR) and developing skills in advanced technologies. The government is working on four areas of technology: microprocessor design, artificial intelligence, robotics, and cybersecurity, following the instruction of the ICT Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister, Sajeeb Wazed Joy.

The program is designed by the three stakeholders– public, private, and academia. The IT companies will hire IT graduates according to their demands and then provide them with training. The hire and train model has become an ideal example to reduce the gap between public, private, and academia, building an excellent partnership among these three stakeholders. The success of building a Smart Bangladesh is dependent on innovation, research, and skills in advanced technologies.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has a vision to transform Bangladesh into a sustainable, intelligent, and knowledge-based innovative Smart Bangladesh by 2041. The government is hopeful about materializing her dream combinedly before the stipulated time.

The function was attended by CEOs of more than 100 IT companies and panelists from different organizations. A panel discussion was conducted on `Skills for Smart Bangladesh‘, which highlighted the importance of empowering graduates with advanced technology skills.