By Md Aynal Haque

RAJSHAHI, June 2, 2022 (BSS) - The under-constructed Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-tech Park has started becoming an employment hub for youths creating an enthusiasm among the young generation.

At present, around 400 youths are engaged in various works, including software development, site maintenance of famous companies and file works as per demand from abroad, generating working atmospheres in the park.

Afroza Arbi Tusi, who is working in Fleet Bangladesh, said she has got chances of developing her career living in Rajshahi with her family members.

"I was very much anxious about developing my career during university life and always thought about going to Dhaka for career development," she said while talking to BSS here on Wednesday.

She added that the Bangabandhu Hi-tech Park has become a blessing for her as it has created scopes of building careers for many youths interested in the IT sector.

'Tech Rajshahi' has been working to deliver services related to mobile games and other software.

Mahfuzur Rahman, Chief Executive of the organization, said they have 142 workers and 28 of them are working in the hi-tech park.

He said the location of the park along with its modern facilities has enhanced the brand value of his institution.

Chief Executive Officer of 'MD Info' Monzurul Murshed said they have got spaces in Joy Silicon Tower and Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Building.

They have around 1,000 workers and 150 of them are working in the office as ninety-five percent of the workers are the residents of Rajshahi, he said.

Engineer Mahfuzul Kabir, Deputy Director of the hi-tech park, said there are two portions- Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Building and Sajeeb Wazed Joy Silicon Tower- in the park.

Construction works of the Sheikh Kamal IT Incubation and Training Centre were completed last year, while the Joy Silicon Tower is now on the final stage, he said.

Haque said ten companies have so far been given spaces in Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Building, while seven others in Joy Silicon Tower.

He added that the park has been built on around 31 acres of land in Nabinagar area adjacent to Rajshahi metropolis aimed at establishing knowledge-based IT industries together with ensuring an area-based development.

Bangladesh Hi-tech Park Authority is implementing the Taka 335.51-crore project initiated by the Information and Communication Technology Division.
 
Employment opportunities for around 14,000 youths both male and female will be created upon successful completion of the project by December, 2022.

The infrastructure development works include land development, a ten-storey silicon tower in the area of 2.70 lakh square-feet, substation building, internal roads and drains, boundary wall and high-speed internet.

The 62,000 square-feet IT Incubation centre with an energy efficient state of the art office building has multipurpose training facilities, high quality start-ups, rainwater harvesting and renewable energy sources.
 
Director of the "Establishment of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Hi-Tech Park" project Engineer Fazlul Haque said there is also provision of a Cineplex for showing video documentaries to the investors from both home and abroad besides an auditorium.
 
He said the silicon tower will have multipurpose facilities including two basement parking floors, high standard training, seminar and conference rooms, rentable office spaces and lounge and recreation area.
 
All sorts of business environments were ensured for attracting investors from both home and abroad.

As a whole, the park will contribute a lot towards establishing a knowledge based IT industry in Rajshahi side by side with creating a business environment through attracting domestic and foreign investors.

It will also play a significant role in the national economy through creating opportunities for new IT entrepreneurs besides creating employment scopes, experts hoped.