Startup Accelerator of Bangladesh University (BU) hosted a seminar on Making Sense of Big Data on Thursday at the university permanent campus in the capital.
State Minister for ICT Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP graced the seminar as chief guest while the Chairman, BoT, BU, Quazi Jamil Azher chaired the programme. Abdul Bari from Queen’s Land University of Australia presented the key note paper. CEO of Light Castle Partners, Bijon Islam was present as guest speaker. Project Director, Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA), Syed Mojibul Huq and Director (Admin) of Bangladesh High-tech Park Authority ANM Saiful Islam spoke on the occasion among others. Vice chancellor (in-charge) Kamrul Hasan, Registrar Brigadier General Md Mahbubul Haque (retd), Director Quazi Taif Sadat, all Heads of the Departments, high officials along with a huge number of students and startups were present in the seminar. The total programme was moderated by the Executive Advisor of Startup Accelerator, Tina F Jabeen.
Zunaid Ahmed Palak at the very outset of his speech, highlighted the overall progress of Bangladesh Government has made in the last 12 years. He told about the dream of the Prime Minister and the innovative ideas placed before the nation by Sajeeb Wazed Joy, ICT Advisor to the Prime Minister and also the initiatives already taken in the ICT sector to make the dream true.
He reassures the prospect of earning 5 billion US dollars by 2023 from this sector and creating job opportunities of 1 million people. He mentioned about the planning and action taken to achieve the target. Besides, the ICT Park in Rangpur, building of more 28 parks is underway, he added. He made a clarion call to the young generation to accept the enormous opportunity the Government has created in the ICT sector. ‘Startup Accelerator’ is the new platform for making the dream true of the new generation, he cited. He recollected the memory of 6 years back when he inaugurated the 1st digital 3D lab in Bangladesh at BU and also mentioned that at university level, BU started the 1 st startup accelerator activities in Bangladesh. He extends his hearty thanks to the Chairman, BoT, BU, Quazi Jamil Azher for his pioneering role in this concern. BU thinks in advance of time and steps ahead of time, he comments. The innovative idea and product produced by the startup accelerator of BU can change the country, he hopes.
He tells, Government provides policy support and creates congenial environment and provides financial support where needed to the Startup accelerator & the entrepreneurs. He mentions about the allocations of BDT 100 crores for Startup accelerator and BDT 50 crores for research support.
He declares, in Mujib Year, ICT Divisions will work one hour more each day. In this year, ICT Division will provide mentoring support to 100 startups accelerators to make them self-reliant. He informs that by this time 2400 handicapped meritorious students have been given laptops and announces of 100 laptops to be distributed among100 students of BU.
He emphasizes the exigency of acquiring capacity of process, analysis and use of data. In the modern world, that nation is considered more powerful which has got more data, he mentions.
Palak clarifies how big data, artificial intelligence etc are changing the world. He tells, we are to realize that and we are to cope with the pace of rapid change; we have to produce high skilled data analysts and Government is working in this line. He goes on Govt. plans to produce 1000 skilled data analysts by 2021. To create knowledge-based nation and to make the 4 th industrial revolution a success and also reach the queue of developed countries by 2041, we must have to build up digital Bangladesh. ICT Division has taken all possible measures to make all those happen in due time, he added.
He tells, information technology would be the main tool for building future Bangladesh and using this technology Bangladesh will march on the way to our desired destination with spirited indomitable steps. This new generation, using this technology with their merit and potential shape Sonar Bangla as Banga Bandhu, founding father of nation once dreamt of, he pointed out.
He then announces the setting up of data analysis lab at BU where not only the students and faculty members of BU would be able to use but researchers from other universities also have the access to use it. The ICT Division also will take the responsibility for marketing the innovative ideas and products to be produced in the lab, he declared.
The key note speaker Abdul Bari spoke on data, big data, data science, data process, data analysis and how data scientists use these data to change the scenario of the future world. He discussed volume, velocity, variety, veracity and value of data and the challenges of big data. He
points out the importance of data to know about the future changes and how data can help the startups. To shape the desired future the startups have to know how to explore data, collect and analyze them to use properly and effectively, he added.
Guest speaker Bijon Islam citing the examples of Shahaj, Pathao, Bkash etc draws the attention of Startups and inspires them to change their lot, the country and the world as well by using effective use of data.
Project Director, Syed Mojibul Huq, in his speech gives emphasis on the strategic analysis and use of big data to create successful startup. He informs that by this time, 120 startups have been provided financial grant and 1000 startups will get their fund also. He hopes to build a startup nation through the activities the ICT Division has taken. He makes an appeal to the UGC to help the ICT Division utilize the fund of BDT 50 crores reserved for research work of startup at university level.
ANM Safiqul Islam, Director, BHTPA informed in the seminar that high-tech park not only develops physical infrastructure to create facility for high tech, software, and technology park, it also establishes labs in educational institutions for research by teachers and students. It has also plan to set up innovation hub where startup can work together to carry out research and generate new products. A question-answer session was held at the seminar where Key Note speaker, Abdul Bari and Guest Speaker, Bijon Islam satisfied the questioners and startups.
At the end of the seminar a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between Bangladesh University and iDEA under ICT Division. Both the parties agree to mutually assist each other in relation to the exchange of information, expert advice etc. The iDEA agrees under this
MoU to provide grant up to BDT 1 million for up to 10 startups each selected by iDEA for their innovative ideas.
The seminar creates much enthusiasm, inspiration and hope among startups and students.
