Billion dollar outsourcing beckons Bangladesh: experts

Bangladesh can build a billion dollar outsourcing business by 2015 if the regulator ensures a business friendly environment, said experts at a seminar.

“We hope outsourcing business in the voice over internet protocol (VoIP) industry will touch more than a billion dollar within next five years,” said Habibullah N Karim, chief executive officer of Technohaven company.
“But the regulator has to create a congenial environment for this.”
VoIP is not only illegal but also an unethical business in the country because of the regulator's negative stance for the last couple of years, said Karim at a seminar organised by REVE Systems during BASIS SoftExpo 2011.
The stigma involving the VoIP needs to be addressed so that the young talented entrepreneurs feel encouraged to join the outsourcing business.
Speaking at a panel discussion, Sukanta Dey, ex-president of Tata Teleservices, said Bangladesh has a huge potential for outsourcing industry because it produces quality software.

BTRC slashes bandwidth prices by 31pc

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BTRC slashes bandwidth prices by 31pc

Md Fazlur Rahman
The telecom regulator has reduced the monthly rental bandwidth price for leased internet access through submarine cable by one-third to spread the communication services among the masses.
The monthly rental bandwidth price for leased internet access through submarine cable will be a maximum of Tk 12,000 per Mbps, said Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) in a circular on Tuesday.
There are more than 80 lakh internet users in the country, which will soon cross the one-crore mark, keeping pace with the boom of mobile users, according to BTRC.
Internet services providers said the internet users should get 20 percent extra bandwidth due to a 31 percent decrease in bandwidth prices.
“But it is difficult to say now how much the end-users will be benefited, as our operation and other associated costs will remain the same,” said Rashed Amin Biddut, joint secretary general of Internet Service Providers Association of Bangladesh.
The association will sit today to discuss the issue, he said, adding that the benefit would not be so high for the internet users if they pass on the amount of money they are paying to the industry regulator to get connected with Nationwide Telecommunication Transmission Network (NTTN).
“Each ISP is paying between Tk 12 lakh to Tk 25 lakh to be connected with underground network to operate services in the capital. We have no other way but to pass the costs onto the customers,” Biddut told The Daily Star.
This is the second time the present government has decreased the prices of bandwidth to spread uses of information and communication technology under its Digital Bangladesh vision. It brought down the prices to Tk 17,400 from Tk 28,000, soon after coming power in January 2009.
It was Tk 127,000 until 2006, before the caretaker government brought it down further. Industry people said the rate would be brought down to Tk 10,000 per Mbps.
Analysts say the prices should go down further if the government really wants to boost internet penetration.
“Mobile penetration in the country shot up because of its low-cost nature, and also the call charge is much lower. The same can be true for internet penetration,” said Bangladesh Computer Samity President Mustafa Jabber.
Jabber said the impact would be tremendous. “We had been fighting for long to bring bandwidth prices to this level. It’s a good step forward.”
He said the government should give up its mentality of making profit out of everything and cut bandwidth prices further. “The government buys each Mbps at Tk 6,000. They should make profit of maximum Tk 500. If they even give free bandwidth the return will be huge.”
Jabber said internet users using services of Wimax and mobile operators would be particularly benefited. “They hold the majority share of the growing market. It will spur more price war among operators, ultimately benefiting the customers.”
Mobile operators however said the fixing of the price from the regulator is a piecemeal solution and will not be beneficial for the market competition.

Software fair creates buzz

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Software fair creates buzz
Star Business Report
The country’s largest software and ICT-enabled services exposition — BASIS SoftExpo — started yesterday in Dhaka to bridge the gap between service providers and users.
Finance Minister AMA Muhith inaugurated the five-day event at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC). About 110 local companies and 10 firms from Denmark and Netherlands are participating in the ninth edition of the exposition themed “Digital Bangladesh in Action”.
Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS), the national trade association of software and IT-enabled services industry, is organising the annual event in association with the Ministry of Science and Information and Communication Technology and Access to Information (A2I) programme of the Prime Minister’s Office.
BASIS President Mahboob Zaman, while chairing the inaugural ceremony at BICC, said the government should use public private partnership initiative in the ICT sector, which could be the main lifeline of the economy in next five to seven years.
He urged the government to set up an ICT authority and also demanded fund allocation.
The BASIS chief said the government should continue tax exemption facility for the ICT sector for at least another 10 years for the development of the sector, after the fiscal immunity expires this year.
Speaking as the chief guest, Muhith said among the government’s programmes, the digital Bangladesh activity has advanced a lot.
He said although he is personally against allowing tax exemption facility to any industry, the demand of the country’s growing ICT sector would be considered while reviewing fiscal changes.
“All of us should make a habit of paying taxes. We are taking steps so that taxes are at tolerable level, and nobody gets into any trouble.”
The finance minister said many industries that earlier enjoyed tax exemption facilities have been awarded with low taxes.
Muhith also said his government would also consider awarding dedicated funds for the sector.
Commerce Minister Faruk Khan said they hope the ICT sector would also emerge as a billion-dollar industry in future like apparel sector.
He requested the finance minister to take steps to connect Bangladesh with second submarine cable network, instead of relying on one, which regularly witnesses troubles, creating disruptions.
Yeafesh Osman, state minister for science and information and communication technology, said there is no doubt that the ICT sector would outperform the garment industry.
“We have cut the price for bandwidth. We are trying to lower it further,” he said, referring to 31 percent cut in bandwidth prices from Tk 17,400 to
Tk 12,000 per Mbps last month.
Md Nazrul Islam Khan, national project director of A2I Programme, said the government has taken a raft of steps to take ICT services to the people.
He said: “We have already set up information services centres at union level. We have also completed the automation of district administration in Jessore, the first ever in the country.”
“Within a year, all offices at district levels will come under automation. We will also bring all upazilas under the automated system later,” Khan said.
On the sidelines of the exposition, an IT job fair would also be organised, which aims to create employment opportunities for IT professionals with over 400 BASIS member companies. Face-to-Face interviews will be arranged at the Expo venue.
The event will also feature over 20 seminars on software and ICT related issues along with a number of competitions.
BASIS Secretary General Forkan Bin Kashem, its Senior Vice President AKM Fahim Mashroor and GPIT Chief Executive Kazi N Islam also spoke.
The exposition will remain open to visitors from 10am to 8pm everyday. The entry fee is Tk 30. Students, however, will enjoy free entry, organisers said

A good year for IT

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A good year for IT

Country's first software park. Photo: Rashed Sumon

Mehdi Musharraf Bhuiyan
The country’s nascent IT arena was all-abuzz recently. There was news of Bangladesh finding a spot among the annual rating of the top 30 spots best places for IT outsourcing around the globe by Gartner, a leading research and consulting firm.
“Bangladesh, an emerging country from an offshore location, offers a good cost proposition, but ranks poorly in language, infrastructure and data, and intellectual property security,” Gartner said.
Sounds like a rational observation, but it was quite heartening to see that global IT giants have finally started recognising the potential of Bangladesh as the next big hub for a digital revolution.
The news caps off an eventful year, which saw some bold steps in taking IT services to the doorsteps of the common people.
“The most significant aspect of the outgoing year is that we have been able to draw the attention of Bangladeshis living aboard,” said Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) President Mahboob Zaman.
“In October, the US Bangladesh Technology Conference was held in New York, where we received response from the Bangladeshi IT professionals living abroad.”
“Their global exposure, investment, and expertise is invaluable to our sector and in this regard, we have already opened an NRB cell in BASIS,” Zaman added.
Software export reaches $35 million
According to Export Promotion Bureau statistics, the country earned a total of $35.36 million from the export of software and IT enabled services in 2009-10, while the target till the end of 2010-11 is $37.48 million.
“One notable achievement is that apart from overseas export, a significant domestic market has been created for the local IT companies, thanks to the ongoing automation and digitisation drive,” the BASIS president said.
Janata Tower becomes the country’s first Software Park
The year also saw the Digital Bangladesh Taskforce, the country’s apex body for formulating ICT sector policies, sitting together for the first time in 24 months.
In a significant move, the taskforce, headed by the prime minister, decided to turn the abandoned and much talked about Janata Tower in Karwan Bazar, Dhaka, turn into the country’s first software park.
The tower was formally handed over to the science and ICT ministry and it was inaugurated in December.
The 11-storey tower is now being renovated and is expected to be ready for use by hi-tech companies in nine to twelve months.
BB softens international fee clamps for software firms
In September, the software and ITES companies were given a green light to remit up to $1,000 at a time and $10,000 a year in foreign exchange, without prior approval of the central bank.
The software exporting and outsourcing companies were also allowed to receive payments for their exports and services via internet, V-Sat or other electronic media.
All unions joined the information super highway
Taking IT services to the rural doorstep was a great challenge.
In November, a total of 4,501 Union Information Service Centres (UISCs) were launched across the country.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally inaugurated the service by talking to United Nations Development Programme Chief Helen Clark.
“With the opening of 4,501 UISCs, all unions of Bangladesh will be linked with the information super highway,” said Nazrul Islam Khan, national project director of A2I Programme.
USB drives, mid range PCs and dual SIM handsets, all the rage
Significant growth was seen in the sale of ultra portable equipments, such as USB flash drives, MP3 players, digital media players and memory cards. Related accessories, like card readers, USB hubs, data transfer cables and HDMI cables, also witnessed growth.

Remitting by mobile comes on stream

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Remitting by mobile comes on stream
Star Business Report

Sending money home has become easier and faster as two banks and a mobile operator yesterday launched a cellphone-based remittance transfer system.

The joint move by Eastern Bank, Dhaka Bank and mobile operator Banglalink will allow the remittance receivers to cash in a day instead of three days to one month through different existing channels.

The new service styled ‘Mobile Wallet’, which will also serve the unbanked population at no cost, got a shape after Bangladesh Bank (BB) gave a go-ahead to the move a few months ago.

Presently more than 90 percent of the population in Bangladesh do not have access to regular banking facilities.

However initially the mobile remittance service will be available at 19 Banglalink points in Dhaka for a month, and then will expand to 100 points.

The service will hit 2,222 Banglalink ‘cash points’ across the country within the next three months.

Remittance inflow increased by 20 percent to $10.72 billion in 2009. More than one crore Bangladeshis are now living abroad and their remittances contribute over 10 percent to GDP (gross domestic product), according to BB statistics.

However sending remittance to Bangladesh remains as a hassle in some cases, as the expatriates somehow are compelled to remit through illegal channels due to absence of a proper legal platform.

According to the central bank statistics, the rate of illegal remitting came down to 23 percent in 2009 from 50 percent a year ago.

Bankers said the newly introduced mobile remittance service will help stop money transfer through illegal channels as the service will be available at grassroots level soon.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Atiur Rahman inaugurated the service at Sonargaon Hotel in the capital.

The service will work under a ‘bank-led’ model and the banks will offer mobile wallet accounts to the remittance receivers through Banglalink network.

The banks will also act as cash custodian for the users, and the mobile operator will be the information carrier and platform manager by ensuring cash point rollout and connectivity.

Selected Banglalink distribution outlets will be used as remittance disbursement cash points for the remittances sourced by the banks.

The remittance receivers with Banglalink mobile connections can open accounts either at Dhaka Bank or Eastern Bank from selected mobile remittance points of the operator by submitting necessary documents.

Once activated, the account holders will be notified by SMS (short message service) and get a secret PIN (personal identification number), which will be needed for withdrawing money. The ceiling of encashment is Tk 35,000 at a time.

However if the beneficiaries do not have Banglalink mobile connections, they can also receive remittance by getting a secured and unique transaction reference number, which will be forwarded by the remittance sender.

In that case, the recipients will have to go to designated Banglalink points with proof of identification and request disbursement by submitting the transaction reference number, the amount and the bank name.

The bankers said the service will benefit both mobile operators and banks. The banks will pay Tk 150 to Banglalink for each transaction, while remittance cash flow to the banks will help them make more profit.

Private banks’ annual operating profits grew up to 40 percent in 2009, mainly due to increased remittance inflow.

Zia Ahmed, chairman of Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission, urged other mobile operators to introduce the service.

Chowdhury Mohidul Haque, executive director of Bangladesh Bank, Khondker Fazle Rashid, managing director of Dhaka Bank, Ali Reza Iftekhar, managing director and CEO of Eastern Bank, and Ahmed Abou Doma, CEO of Banglalink, were present at the function.

BTSS to produce low-cost phone-mobile sets, laptops

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2009/11/09/news0007.htm

BTSS to produce low-cost phone-mobile sets, laptops

Rafiqul Islam Azad

The government has decided to produce low-cost land phone and mobile phone sets, laptop and different telephone tools and machinery in the country.

Under the imitative, Bangladesh Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (BTSS) has already floated an international tender to procure necessary technology and equipment from abroad, according to sources in the Ministry of Post and Telecommunications.

The state-run company would be the first in Bangladesh to manufacture and market cellular phones early next year and in the process reduce dependence on import in the fast growing telecom sector, a well placed official source said. He said the BTSS mobile phone was expected to be available in the market by February next.

“The price range of the hand-sets will be between Tk 1,500 and Tk 10,000, depending on their options and features,” said the official.

According to the official a tender in this regard has been floated on November 1 and tender documents will be scrutinised on November 15, the source said.

With the implementation of the project, huge foreign exchange will be saved and employment opportunity will be created, he said.

The BTSS would be able to produce modern land phone and mobile phone sets, laptop and different telephone accessories adding more technologies and equipment with the existing one as “There is trained manpower and necessary infrastructure with the BTSS,” the official said.

Earlier, following a meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Post and Telecommunication, Hasanul Haque Inu, chairman of the committee told journalists that the government is also planning to produce low-cost laptop at the BTSS factory in Tongi.

He said the government would try to reduce technological discrimination by providing tele-equipment to the people at affordable prices in line with the government’s Vision 2021 for Digital Bangladesh.

The production of the BTSS was stopped following change over of Ershad government due to mismanagements, lack of planning, indecision and corruption. Earlier, it produced different telecommunication machinery including telephone set, EMD switching, DP, pole, cabinet and joint materials.

Record shows that since establishment the BTSS supplied about 3,00,000 EMD switching, 5,00,000 telephone sets, 655 trunk exchanges, 403 analogue PABX, 7 digital exchanges, installed mobile exchange for important institutions in public and private sectors.

TSS to produce mobile set

http://www.newagebd.com/2009/dec/21/busi.html#7

TSS to produce mobile set
Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha . Dhaka

The government has taken an initiative to produce mobile phone sets in the country in view of the phenomenal rise in the number of mobile phone users which may hit 80 million in next two years.

Telephone Shilpa Sangstha under the post and telecommunications ministry has taken the move, ministry secretary Sunil Kanti Bose told the news agency on Sunday.

He said the initiative has mainly come from post and telecommunications minister Raziuddin Ahmed, who wanted to rejuvenate the TSS.

Sunil said the TSS has not produced anything since last 12 years despite having 525 people on the pay roll. The last caretaker government reduced the manpower to 260 and let go of unnecessary people.

He said the TSS is now producing land phone sets, besides having set up 200 network towers for TeleTalk mobile under the public sector. He said the government wants to further expand its activities and has taken up producing digital meters, mobile charger, laptop and such other gears.

The minister told the agency that he had taken steps to use TSS and other agencies under the ministry to developing digital gears and appliances to create a new digital Bangladesh.

The ministry has taken short, medium and long-term projects accordingly, he said mentioning the plan to produce mobile phones, laptops and other telecommunication gears.

TSS secretary Osman Ghani Sheikh said these mobile sets would be produced using local technology. TSS is initially planning to produce four lakh mobile sets annually. Such mobile sets may sell at Tk 2000 in the market. These will also allow the use of double sim and other communication gears.

The post and telecommunication minister said TSS has been asked to produce laptops for students which they may buy at Tk 10 to 12 thousand.

Sunil said the government wants to enter into joint venture with foreign firms to produce mobile phones locally and international tenders have already been invited to this effect.

He said multinational companies like Goldcom China, ZT, Erickson and China Electric Co have so far showed interest to enter into joint venture following the government tender.

Local-made laptop to be available by June

http://nation.ittefaq.com/issues/2010/02/25/news0701.htm

Local-made laptop to be available by June
BSS, Dhaka

The Telephone Shilpa Sangstha, the state-run telecom industrial unit, is going to strike a deal with Malaysian TFT company to manufacture laptops in joint venture and market the product in the country at a cost of Taka 12,000 per unit only.

Telephone Shilpa Sangstha Managing Director Ismail Hossain said international tenders were invited for manufacturing laptops in the country.

Four local and overseas companies took part in the tender.

The foreign companies were from Malaysia and China.

Ismail Hossain said the tender documents were sent to Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) for scrutiny of the technical sides.

As the recommendation of the BUET, the Malaysian company was picked up for the job, he said and added that a letter would be sent to the TFT of Malaysia in a day or two seeking details of its offer. After getting the offer letter, an agreement would be signed and the laptops are expected to be marketed by June, he said.

Telephone Shilpa Sangstha sources said there are preparations to manufacture 10,000 pieces of laptops per month. Most of the raw materials of the product would be procured from Bangladesh and a few would be imported.

The Malaysian TFT company would give technical assistance and the Telephone Shilpa Sangstha would manufacture laptops independently gradually.

Post and Telecommunications Ministry sources said the Telephone Shilpa Sangstha did not have any production for the last 12 years. Therefore, the number of staff was reduced to 260 in 2007 from 525.

The present government has taken initiatives to make the Telephone Shilpa Sangstha functional and manufacture land-phone sets. Initiatives are also on to manufacture digital metres, mobile phone battery charger and laptops.

Post and Telecommunications Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju said his Ministry has taken various measures to implement the government’s plan of building a digital Bangladesh.

As part of this, he said, initiatives have been taken to manufacture laptops, mobile phone sets and other equipment.

Laptop to be produced in Bangladesh soon

http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=95889&date=2010-03-20

Laptop to be produced in Bangladesh soon

DHAKA, Mar 20 (BSS)- Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (TSS) will sign an agreement with Malaysian company Think F Transistor (TFT) to produce laptop in the country for Taka 12,000 only.

TSS Managing Director Ismail Hossain told BSS that all paper works in this connection has been finalized.

Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) experts gave technical opinion saying that the tender floated by TFT is acceptable.

Laptops of three brands with a measure of 8.9, 10.2 and 12.2 inches will be produced, which are expected to come in the market by June.

TSS is taking preparation to produce 10,000 laptops per month. Most of the accessories will be procured from local market.

At the initial stage, TSS will take technical support from TFT and later, TSS will produce laptop by its own. Four international companies took participate in the tender for producing laptops.

Laptop to cost only Tk 15,000

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Laptop to cost only Tk 15,000

Staff Correspondent

Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (TSS) will start manufacturing and assembling laptop and notebook computers in the country within six months in collaboration with a Bangladeshi IT company and a Malaysian equipment manufacturer.

Under the joint venture initiative, the highest price of a laptop or notebook will be Tk 15,000.

The decision came at the weekly cabinet meeting at Bangladesh Secretariat with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair.

The meeting approved a proposal to merge TSS Ltd, the state-run telephone equipment manufacturer, with 2M Corporation Ltd, Dhaka and TFT Technology, Penang, Malaysia for assembling and production of laptop and notebook.

TFT Technology Group is a leading original equipment manufacturer of audiovisual products and computer peripherals including LCD monitors, LCD TVs and integrated home theatre solutions while 2M Corporation is a trading house and service provider of renewable energy, hi-tech security and surveillance products.

The decision was taken with an aim to make laptop and notebook available to common people in rural areas as part of the government’s pledge to build digital Bangladesh.

The joint venture company, to be named as TSS-2M-TFT, will manufacture laptop and notebook in three sizes–8.5″, 9.5″, 12″ and the highest price will be Tk 15,000, prime minister’s Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told reporters after the meeting.

Total capital for launching the project has been fixed at Tk 148 crore in which TSS will have 30% share, he said adding this initiative will create employment opportunities and also save foreign currencies.

Talking to The Daily Star, Mesbah Ahmed, managing director of 2M Corporation, said the laptop and notebook will be manufactured maintaining international standards. “The prices of the notebook and laptop will be less and their quality will be better than other similar items in the market.”

It would take at least six months to sell laptops and notebooks in the market because TFT would take at least two to three months time to bring machinery and set them up in the TSS factory in Tongi, he said.

TSS’s existing infrastructure will be used to manufacture laptops and notebooks.

“Primarily we will be manufacturing 5,000 laptops and notebooks per month although the government’s desires of supplying 10,000 units a month,” said Mesbah.

The initiative was taken a year back but remained stalled due to bureaucratic tangles, he said.

“After getting the official order, we will formally invite TFT to set up the machinery,” he added.

3G mobile network in 3 months

Staff Correspondent

Bangladesh will launch third-generation (3G) mobile phone network in three months, Telecommunication Minister Rajiuddin Ahmed Raju said yesterday.

Teletalk, the state-owned mobile operator, will roll out the 3G services, followed by private operators.

“This 3G networks will be developed with Chinese assistance and users will get services at prices lower than India,” Raju told reporters at a press conference at the Press Information Department marking Bangladesh's winning the membership of International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Telephone Shilpa Sangstha (TSS), the state-run telephone equipment manufacturer, is working on producing low-cost laptops in a span of six months. The prices of laptops would range from Tk 10,000 to Tk 15,000, the minister said.

Recently, Bangladesh won the prestigious ITU membership by bagging 123 votes out of 161 and acquired the sixth position, beating giants like Australia, India and Thailand.

Talking to journalists, the minister dwelt on a wide range of issues such as digitalisation, 3G network, e-service, telephone and internet density, VoIP and communication satellite.

3G networks enable faster data transmission and advanced services. It supports a diverse range of applications. Download speed is much higher in 3G networks. Subscribers of 3G services could easily enjoy TV programme. But a user has to have the right instrument--high-end mobiles and smart phones--to get access to 3G services.

It is a new application services and Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) is now formulating a guideline on 3G services, the minister said at the programme.

“BTRC will issue the 3G licence on demand, but Teletalk will get the priority,” said Raju.

The minister said the government is now in talks with the Chinese government to borrow $211 million to develop the capacity of Teletalk.

Regarding the production of low-cost laptops, the minister said it was supposed to be marketed soon but due to legal and official difficulties it was not possible. He also pointed out that the state-run telephone set maker had been shut for long nine years. “We hope we will be able to do it in six months,” he said.

TSS will also produce telephone sets and the prices will range from Tk 1,000 to Tk 3,000.

The minister also said 8,500 post offices across the country will be turned into e-centres.

In reply to a query, the minister said the government is talking to experts of different countries on the launch of a communication satellite.

Telecom Secretary Sunil Kanti Bose said licences for VoIP (voice over internet protocol) would be given soon.

Hasanul Huq Inu, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on telecommunication ministry, said winning the ITU membership is the biggest achievement since independence.

“Bangladesh will get lot of technical assistance from the ITU,” Inu added.

Bangladesh to emerge as software exporter in global market

Bss, Dhaka

Bangladesh will quickly emerge in the world market as a software exporting country as it has tremendous potentialities in the IT sector.

This observation came from Arndt Huesges, the newly appointed honorary consul general of Bangladesh in Germany, during an exclusive interview with the news agency here yesterday.

“Bangladesh will soon move in a dynamic speed in the international software markets as Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is making very high professional fundamentals to develop the country’s IT sector,” said Huesges, also a promising entrepreneur.

Responding to a question, he said although some neighbouring nations of Bangladesh have already been in the international software market for a pretty long time, there is no reason for Dhaka to lag behind as the country is blessed with huge energetic human resources and other necessary ingredients to venture into this ever-flourishing trade.

“Without going abroad for job-hunting at huge costs, the young and promising boys and girls of Bangladesh will be able to earn huge foreign exchange by producing and exporting software sitting at their respective houses.”

They will only create necessary facilities to distribute the local products to international business centres, Huesges added.

“Our company has household software programmes through which we provide services in 12 different languages,” he said, claiming that no other company in Europe has such capabilities.

Huesges, also the top executive of Huesges Group, a leading trade and business company of Germany, is now in Bangladesh leading a four-member delegation to explore investment potentialities here and identify the sectors where German investors may come for joint- venture initiatives.

Other members of the visiting teams are: Huesges Group Managing Director Hasanat Mia, Director of Sales of Relexa Hotel Group Tim Zerr and Director of AKH Group Shamim Haque.

The honorary consul general said he will devote wholeheartedly in enhancing Bangladesh’s image among the German and other European trade leaders.

On their current mission in Bangladesh, Huesges said they will invest in IT, tourism, leasing company and efficient traffic management. “We like to open office and operate Huesges Group in Bangladesh.”

When asked, the top executive of the German company that has 250 installations in Germany and other European countries said initially they want to invest 50 to 70 million Euros in Bangladesh.

After IT, development of tourism that has huge prospect and potentialities will be the second priority of the group in Bangladesh. “Primarily we want to construct a five-star tourist resort at a convenient place,” he said, adding that for this purpose they have already visited Chittagong and sea beaches of Cox’s Bazar and Innani.

He categorically said that tourism could be developed in Bangladesh showing respect to the country’s religious and cultural heritage.

Pointing to the fact that Bangladesh is blessed with picturesque natural beauties, world’s largest natural sea beach, mangroves forest of Sundarbans, oldest replicas of human civilisation and many places of historical interests, he said these are the ingredients that attract the real tourists.

The honorary consul general informed said since his delegation’s arrival in Bangladesh on February 15, they called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Tourism Minister GM Quader.

They also met Minister for Expatriate Welfare and Overseas Employment Mosharraf Hossain, Commerce Minister Faruk Khan, Communications Minister Syed Abul Hossain, State Minister for Environment and Forest Dr Hasan Mahmud and senior officials.

“We believe through our joint efforts, cooperation and strategy for economic development, our existing ties can reach to a new height,” Huesges said.

The delegation will leave for Germany today with a hope to start their work in Bangladesh within six months.

source:http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=127229

10 firms team up over digital land records

Md Hasan

The land record system is up for automation with the help of some local IT firms — a step that promises to reduce hassles and disputes originating from the existing process.

Fake ownership of lands spawns criminal activities in Bangladesh, according to a study. More than 80 percent of criminal activities stem from land disputes, according to the Association for Land Reform and Development, a nongovernmental organisation.

Ten local IT firms have come forward to introduce a digital mapping and land revenue management system. The firms have already formed a company, Terra Tech Ltd, and sought a government go-ahead to start work. The law ministry has hinted at the green light.

Once the system is automated, landowners or buyers will not need to visit more than 10 government offices for documents. All the documents will be uploaded to a database, to which the government officials and people, in some cases, will have access.

“Land management needs reforms immediately with a fully secured automated system,” said Mahboob Zaman, chairman of Terra Tech. He said initially the company will start digitalising land records and registration process of Dhaka by June this year.

Terra Tech has already developed a business model to run the project and urged the government to take it under public-private partnership initiative.

Citing an example, Zaman said the business model could be like that of Chittagong Customs House automation. Zaman’s company, Data Soft, automated the customs house under a deal with the government where both the parties share revenue after a certain period.

“Terra Tech will provide land management services in a few minutes in a sharp contrast to days or weeks required under the existing system. The cost will be lowered and the services will go on uninterrupted,” said Habibullah N Karim, president of Bangladesh Association of Software & Information Services.

“The entire infrastructure for the land record system will be built without any government investment,” said Karim whose company, Technohaven Group, is also a member of Terra Tech.

Data Soft, IBCS-PRIMAX Software (Bangladesh) Ltd, Development Planners & Consultants, Business Automation, Techno Vista, Spectrum, E-generation, Technohaven, Upload Yourself and HSTC Ltd form Terra Tech, which has estimated around Tk 25 crore for digitising land records and the registration process in Dhaka city.

Dhaka District Collectorate, Settlement Publication Camp, land record and survey departments, and land offices of Demra, Tejgaon, Mirpur, Dhanmondi and Kotowali will be automated initially.

Terra Tech is offering to provide technology, equipment, manpower and required software to set up computer centres in these offices.

Land digitisation is not new for local software makers.

Projects including Modernisation of Land Administration Project (1995-98), Computerisation of Land Management Systems of Dhaka City Project (2004-06), Dhaka, Manikganj and Gazipur Collectorate Land Record Room computerisation (2005-07), Digital Khatian Preparation Programme (2005), Coastal Land Zoning Project (2009) have already been completed by local software companies.

The Bengal Settlement Regulation 1793 is the first initiative of land management in the region. Later in 1889, a cadastral survey was initiated in Bengal. During the Pakistan regime a revise survey was initiated. However, that survey did not complete.

“Absence of a database is the major reason behind land disputes,” said Mahmudur Rahman, director of Development Planners & Consultants.

“In line with our plan, it will be a comprehensive link-up of all land-related organisations under a single network,” Rahman added.

He said although some digitalisation projects were completed, those did not work because of a lack of maintenance.

He said the existing land records show that maximum lands, even in Dhaka city, are owned by farmers. So, the government is losing a huge amount of revenue from the sector as farmlands are still beyond taxation.

Once the land digitalisation project is completed, the government officials sitting at their offices will be able to see any transformation of lands including infrastructure and ownership.

Bangladesh’s land management has been divided in terms of authorisation, which remains as a problem. The land ministry looks after the survey and record issues, while the law ministry handles the registration process.

The Terra Tech president, however, said a fully automated system will ensure the centralisation of land management.

source:http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=128155

Dhaka ranks third in global freelance outsourcing work

Fazlur Rahman

Dhaka has become one of the top destinations for freelance online work, outshining Indian cities such as Bangalore, as the Bangladeshi capital fast emerging as a major centre for data entry work that employs tens of thousands of people.

According to a new report by oDesk Corp, a United States-based leading marketplace for companies and online workers, Dhaka is now ranked third among global cities where online jobs are outsourced from the West.

A combination of cheap labour and good English skill has made Dhaka a “surprised winner” in freelance outsourcing jobs such as graphic design, data entry and check-up, translation and web development.

“Many businesspeople tend to think about Bangalore of India when it comes to ‘outsourcing’. Actually, Bangalore ranks fifth on oDesk’s list of top cities for online work,” the report released this week said.

The top four cities with more freelance work are: Chandigarh and Mohali of India, Dhaka of Bangladesh and Quezon City of the Philippines, it said, adding half of the freelance online workers in Dhaka do data entry work.

Among the countries, India still tops the list in outsourcing job destination, followed by the Philippines and the US, the report said

The oDesk’s report said Ukraine and Pakistan generated more online work in February, with jobs ranging from data entry to computer programming to translating, than Canada or China.

More and more people are today working online perhaps because of the economic downturn that has gripped the world since middle of 2008, the report added.

Reaz Uddin Mosharraf, secretary general of Bangladesh Association of Call Centre and Outsourcing, said Dhaka would soon supplant its Indian rivals as the biggest destination for online freelance jobs.

“We have estimated the number to be around 100,000 and most of them are students with hourly income ranging between US$ 10 to $100,” he told the FE.

Mosharraf said Bangladeshi freelancers – many of whom are based outside Dhaka – mostly specialised in graphic design, web development and data entry – with some earning up to $1000 a month.

He said the payment is determined on project-to-project basis and the students from Dhaka University and Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) also do some online software works.

According to the association, only a handful of smart techies used to do online freelance jobs five years back and Dhaka was “no where near the Indian cities in global outsourcing job map”.

“But in the last three years, online freelancing jobs have underwent a revolution in the country. Number of such jobs have grown exponentially with IT clubs in major universities acting as key catalysts,” Mosharraf said.

He said more students could land lucrative freelancing job contracts if broadband providers offer high-speed internet facilities and cheap bandwidth.

“A lot of people I know feel hesitant to take up big and lucrative projects for fear that they will not be able to complete the work in time due to slow bandwidth facilities,” he said.

source:http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=94272

Bangladesh advances on network readiness

Bangladesh advances on network readiness
World Economic Forum releases report
Star Business Report

Bangladesh ranked 118th in the global Network Readiness Index in 2009-10 up from 130th a year ago, showing an upward trend in the information and communication technology sector.

In South Asia, India ranked 43rd, Sri Lanka 72nd, Pakistan 87th and Nepal 124th in the ‘Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010′ released by The World Economic Forum (WEF) yesterday.

The report highlights the key role of ICT as an enabler of a more economic, environmental and socially sustainable world.

Sweden finished first for a ninth year, followed by Singapore and Denmark. Switzerland grabbed the fourth position, trailed by the US a step behind.

Other Nordic countries together with Canada, Hong Kong and the Netherlands completed the list of top 10.

With an extensive coverage of 133 economies worldwide, the report remains the world’s most comprehensive and authoritative international assessment of the impact of ICT on the development process and the competitiveness of nations.

Chad, Zimbabwe, Bolivia, Timore-Leste and Burundi are the bottom five.

The report is produced by the WEF in cooperation with INSEAD, the leading international business school, within the framework of the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Network and the Industry Partnership Programme for Information Technology and Telecommunications Industries.

source:http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=131612

Expert sees bright future for software sector

BSS, DHAKA

Bangladesh’s software development industry has a bright future as a good number of talented IT graduates are now entering into the industry every year, remarked an IT expert of an US-based software outsourcing company.

Presenting the keynote paper at a seminar, Samuel D Bretzfield, managing director of bGlobal Interactive Ltd, said adequate IT infrastructures and smooth supply of utilities have become inevitable to give a further boost to the booming software development sector.

bGlogal Interactive (www.bglobalsourcing.com) organized the seminar styled “SQABD Lighting Talks-4″ at a city hotel.

A good number of software development professionals of the country shared their views on new trends and common themes in the software development sector of the country.

Coordinator of SQABD Sazzadul Hakim moderated the seminar while Director of bGlobal Mishal Karim was also present, among others.

Bretzfield gave an overview of IT business highlighting product launching, development and working with clients across the world in the web-development and web-application industry.

He said Bangladesh has been observing a steady 20 percent yearly increase in the number of English Language Students, which would help compete in the world market.
Comparing Bangladesh with India in terms of IT expansion, Bretzfield said the earlier has lagged 10 years behind as India has adopted the internet vigorously and Bangladesh’s proficiency in English Language is not as good as India.

He, however, put forward a set of recommendations including introduction of better curriculums in IT graduation providers with special focus on the English language, redundant backbone, better project management and understanding of customer needs.

bGlobal Interactive has increasingly become involved in projects locally to help stimulate the IT sector of Bangladesh.

source:http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=168031

Software industry eyes Tk 70b market by 2014

Bangladesh has a bright prospect for substantially enhancing the domestic and international market of software products, said the BASIS president, reports UNB.

“There is a large scope for software market expansion. The domestic market and the volume of exports of software products could be raised to Tk 70 billion by 2014 if the government gives proper attention and support to the sector,” said Habibullah N Karim, president of Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS).

He said that the total size of software industry that includes software products, IT services, IT Enabled Services (ITES), graphic design, animation, business process and outsourcing in the country was presently around Tk 10 billion.

The country’s software industry was able to raise its export to US$32.91 million in the 2008-09 fiscal with an increase of around 32 per cent compared to that of the previous fiscal (2007-08).

But, according to statistics provided by Export Promotion Bureau (EPB), the export dropped in the July-November period of the current fiscal to US$10.5 million, a shortfall of US$4.4 million or 29.6 per cent compared to the corresponding period of the previous fiscal (2008-’09).

“I think, it will be tough for us to reach the export target of US$38.1 million in the current fiscal unless something unusual happens in the remaining seven months,” said the BASIS president.

He noted that export had declined due to a delayed effect of global economic recession, the ongoing power crisis and some other inconveniences.

Apart from the USA, the highest export destination, other export destinations for Bangladeshi software products are spread over 30 countries including Canada, Germany, Denmark, Holland, the UK, Norway, Sweden, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Australia and India.

The BASIS president observed that the industry witnessed uneven growth in the last 10 years although there had been a positive growth in terms of investment.

He said the BASIS membership, which was only 17 in 1997, now stood at 335. Besides, the trend of Offshore Development Centre (ODC) was also increasing.

“If we can provide the industry with right environment like adequate power facility, the ODCs can come up quickly resulting in employment generation, branding, reaching new technological skills and facilitating outsourcing.”

source:http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=96737

SAP India to expand business in Bangladesh

FE Report

SAP India Pvt Ltd, the world’s leading business software company Wednesday announced its plans to expand footprint in Bangladesh, focusing the country’s rapid growing telecom industry.

Bangladesh being one of the top mobile phone markets in the Asia-Pacific region, have a significant demand for mobile internet data and mobile entertainment services, said Ajay Turki, Head Telecommunication, SAP Indian sub-continent .

“Here SAP has much to offer to the telecom service providers to meet the growing demands of innovative and technologically advanced telecom services like 3G and others, Mr Turki said while addressing a press briefing at a city hotel called to announce SAP’s business expansion plan in the country.

He also said with approximately 52 million existing subscribers and several more potentials, the necessity to provide comprehensive value added services and excellent customer satisfaction is intensifying the competition amongst service providers. SAP ensures cutting edge business solutions and continued service innovation to them, he added.

SAP leads the enterprise applications market through its portfolio of flexible, cutting edge solutions and continued innovation. SAP’s software and services provide industry-specific solutions that enable Telecommunications companies automate and optimize their processes, gain better customer insights, manage risk, get superior visibility across all their assets and enhance global competitiveness.

To accelerate its growth plan in Bangladesh, SAP announced its partnership with Computer Services Limited (CSL) under its SAP Extended Business Programme, to cater to the demands of the telecommunications industry.

“The Telecommunications industry continues to be one of the biggest success stories in the subcontinent for SAP,” he expressed optimism.

SAP’s partnership with local Computer Services Limited will equip the company to provide customers with end-to-end enterprise applications and Business Intelligence platform that help in significantly reducing total cost of ownership while maintaining flexibility and adaptability to support business model innovation as well as rapid new service introduction”, he added.

Momluk Sabir Ahmed, CEO & Managing Director, Computer Services Ltd, said, “We strongly believe in the potential of the Telecommunication Industry in Bangladesh and the need for technology enablement through affordable solutions,”.

CSL has been working on addressing the unique needs of this segment by aligning with technology leaders and leveraging the best-of -breed technologies. Our partnership with SAP will provide us an edge to bring in the right solutions for our customers, Mr Ahmed added.

SAP is the world’s leading provider of business software, offering applications and services that enable companies of all sizes and in more than 25 industries to become best-run businesses. With more than 95,000 customers in over 120 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and NYSE, under the symbol “SAP.”

source:http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/more.php?news_id=98331&date=2010-04-23

Country’s first software launched for digitized Khasland management in Naogaon

NAOGAON, April 26 (BSS) – The country’s first digitized software has been launched for modernized system of allocation and management of agriculture khaslands in Naogaon keeping in view to build Bangladesh a medium income country by 2021.

Naogaon district administration launched the software yesterday at a function arranged in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) in presence of the district and upazila level officials, UNOs, upazila chairmen, professionals and journalists.

Naogaon DC Ahsan Habib Talukder formally launched the Database Software evolved by Pankouri Software and Services under the Khasland and Settlement Management Information System Project of Naogaon district administration.

Programmer of the software Abdullah Al Rafi Chowdhury elaborately narrated a series of advantages of the Software that will enable preserving all information in the Database of the Software about the Khasland of all 11 upazilas of the district.

The Software will ensure digitized systems for preserving the lists of the landless people, identifying the khaslands without any complexity for allocating those among the deserving landless people preventing double allocations for the beneficiaries.

It will also ease and expedite the whole process of khasland allocations, reduce time for the process, help implementing government decisions in allocating khaslands in a easier way and ensure complete transparency and accountability of the process.

Besides, the Software will help proper utilization of the khaslands to assist the landless people getting their due khaslands to change their socio-economic conditions and achieve economic self-reliance and eradicating poverty in the district.

“It is a step forward for the district in the process of building a digital Bangladesh and a medium-income nation by the year 2021 as envisioned by the present government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina,” the DC said in his speech.

source:http://www.bssnews.net/newsDetails.php?cat=0&id=102826&date=2010-04-26

SAP to expand operation footprint in Bangladesh

Economic reporter

SAP, the World’s largest business software company, yesterday announced plans to expand its footprint in Bangladesh.

The company has been witnessing potential growth in the market across industry segments including Apparel, Telecommunications, Higher Education and Research, Financial Services, Utilities, Consumer Products, Retail, Chemicals, Pharmaceuticals, Food Processing and others.

To accelerate its growth plan, SAP announced its partnership with Computer Services Limited (CSL) under its SAP Extended Business Programe, to cater to the demands of the telecommunications industry, says a press release.

Focused on continued growth and optimisation of IT processes, CSL and SAP together will recommend, implement, or develop solutions to yield significant benefits to their customers in Bangladesh.

The programme offers SAP training and enablement, as well as access to SAP solutions and resources. The partnership will enable CSL stay up-to-date with SAP software and technology – and drive profitability for customers by delivering SAP solutions for companies of all sizes.

Some of the key customers for SAP include Otobi, Meenabazaar (Gemcon Group), ROBI telecom (formerly known as Aktel), Banglalink, MGH, British American Tobacco, Aventis Pharma, Novartis and Bangladesh Oxygen Company Limited amongst others.

source:http://www.theindependent-bd.com/details.php?nid=171322