Dhaka: Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the ICT Division, announced today that the government anticipates releasing a gazette on the 'Cyber Safety Ordinance' by the end of this month. "We're working seriously on the ordinance. We have consulted various stakeholders and tried to address all concerns," Taiyeb stated during his presentation on 'Digital Economy-Through the lens of Policymakers' at a local hotel.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the event was organized to discuss inclusive digital growth, with Md Moinul Huq, Country Officer for Citibank NA, delivering the opening remarks. Taiyeb underscored the government's commitment to providing necessary policy support to businesses, emphasizing the importance of addressing societal issues in collaboration with the government.
A panel discussion titled 'Inclusive Digital Growth-Breaking Barriers through Policy and Technology' featured prominent figures such as Rohit Jamwal, Head of Public Sector Solutions for Citi Asia South; Ruzan Sarwar, Head of Public Policy at Meta for Bangladesh and Nepal; Otto Magne Risbakk, CFO of Gramophone; Yinfan Zhang, Director of International Public Policy and Government Affairs; and Debdulal Roy, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank. Mohammad A Akher, Director and Head of Treasury and Trade Solutions Citibank, N.A, Bangladesh, moderated the session.
In his remarks, Moinul Huq highlighted the resilience of the digital economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, stating, "It wasn't just a backup, it became the backbone," and noted how technology enabled remote work, powered e-commerce, and maintained connectivity. He further discussed the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR), identifying technologies such as AI, machine learning, AR/VR, blockchain, and IoT as transformative forces shaping industries and societies.
Huq revealed Bangladesh's aspirations, guided by the new draft of the National Digital Transformation Strategy, to become a leading AI and 4IR hub in South Asia by 2030. He also mentioned targets for the same year, including ranking among the top 15 nations in the e-Government Development index, nurturing 7-8 million skilled ICT professionals, increasing startup funding by 50 percent, and boosting ICT exports to $5 billion.
Despite traditional foreign direct investment (FDI) in Bangladesh focusing on sectors like textiles, banking, and energy, Huq noted a growing interest in the digital sector. With telecommunications ranking fifth among the current $17.68 billion in FDI, Huq emphasized Bangladesh's emergence as an attractive destination for digital investment across sectors such as electronics, IT-enabled services, semiconductors, and digital platforms. "As we build an algorithm-driven digital economy, it's important to remember-every line of code still touches a human life," he added.