Dhaka: Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun announced today that the National Semiconductor Taskforce has outlined a roadmap with three priority areas for advancing the semiconductor industry in Bangladesh. Formed on January 1, 2025, under the guidance of the Chief Adviser’s Office, the taskforce aims to foster growth in skills development, business environment and policy support, and global linkages and collaborations.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the taskforce evaluated Bangladesh’s potential to compete across various stages of the semiconductor value chain, namely design, fabrication, testing, and packaging. It recommended that chip design and testing and packaging should be prioritized in the short to medium term. Chowdhury, also the convener of the taskforce, made these remarks during a press conference at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
In a bid to address the capital and technology-intensive nature of fabrication, the taskforce advised that chip manufacturing be considered at a later stage, contingent on progress in the initial focus areas. Chowdhury highlighted that the taskforce has proposed a set of recommendations spanning skills development, business environment and policy support, and global partnerships, outlining a phased roadmap.
The taskforce emphasized the importance of establishing industry-standard training labs equipped with appropriate EDA tools in at least five selected public or private institutions by 2027. They also called for the creation of a rotation-based on-site training calendar for industry players and universities to enhance training on the utilization of packaging and testing machines.
To foster interest within the talent pool, the taskforce suggested national-level outreach programs, hackathons, and innovation challenges for universities and startups. They also proposed that universities and training institutes periodically update certification and training modules to reflect evolving areas within the sector, such as processors and AI accelerators.
Chowdhury further recommended that selected universities offer MSc, PhD, and postgraduate diplomas in semiconductors. To incentivize the sector, he proposed progressive tax exemptions for up to 10 years for R and D, assembly, and packaging factories. Additionally, the taskforce urged the establishment of a ‘semiconductor fund’ under ICT or Bangladesh Bank to provide venture capital support for new initiatives.
Chowdhury emphasized that the semiconductor industry holds significant promise for Bangladesh, offering a pathway to become a high-value, high-growth sector within the global technology ecosystem. He stressed the immediate need to leverage the country’s engineering talent and expertise from non-resident Bangladeshis to focus on chip design and testing. With global companies seeking to diversify their sourcing countries, the recommendations on skills development, policy support, and global collaborations position Bangladesh as a competitive player in the emerging semiconductor industry.
Prof. Dr. A. B. M. Harun-ur-Rashid, head of the Electrical and Electronic Engineering Department at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), advocated for the creation of a virtual knowledge portal to launch a tiered certification program with a globally accepted curriculum. He emphasized the need for advanced courses in universities and internationally recognized certification modules in training institutes.
The taskforce also underscored the necessity of strengthening faculty development and curriculum updates through international collaborations and exchange programs. BIDA’s Head of Business Development, Nahian Rahman Rochi, was present at the occasion.