Dhaka: The government has officially sanctioned the formation of a National Semiconductor Taskforce, spearheaded by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), aimed at fostering collaboration among Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) industry leaders, academics, and top government officials to catalyze growth in the semiconductor sector. This initiative is poised to enhance Bangladesh’s capabilities in testing, assembly, and chip design, positioning the nation for significant advancements in this high-value industry.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the taskforce’s creation marks a pivotal moment for Bangladesh, leveraging the country’s strategic positioning near the Asia-Pacific supply chain, competitive labor costs, and a youthful, skilled workforce. Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman of BIDA and BEZA, emphasized the importance of uniting expertise from the Bangladeshi diaspora, industry, academia, and policy-making to strengthen Bangladesh’s role in the global value chain and foster an innovation-driven economy.
The taskforce is charged with identifying immediate growth opportunities, addressing policy and skill gaps, and proposing infrastructure and incentive frameworks to attract global investment. It aims to deliver actionable results by the end of January. The taskforce is headed by Ashik Chowdhury as convener, with Nahian Rahman Rochi, Head of Business Development at BIDA, serving as member secretary.
Other notable members include the Chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), ICT Division; Mohammed Enayetur Rahman, CEO of Ulka; Istak Ahmmed, Chairman of Prime Silicon Technology (BD) Ltd; MA Jabbar, Managing Director of Neural Semiconductor Ltd; Prof. Dr. A. B. M. Harun-ur-Rashid, Head of the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET); Maj Gen. Md. Nasim Parvez, Commandant of the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST); Prof. Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, Pro-Vice Chancellor of BRAC University; Mashuk Rahman, Founder of Green Quest in the USA; Mustafiz Choudhury, a semiconductor expert from Silicon Valley; and Zahirul Alam, Executive Director of the Integrated Development Foundation (IDF).