Task force formed to identify roadmap for developing semiconductor industry: BIDA Chief
The country needs extra attention for transition to capture the global market. He made this observation at a press conference at Foreign Service Academy in the capital on Thursday.
He said, “The government will provide whatever support is needed for the development of this sector. The gaps are being examined. For this, short, medium and long-term plans will be taken.”
Stating that work is being done with businessmen, government and academia, Ashiq Chowdhury said, “The government will work to increase the skills of those working in this sector. Where there is a funding gap, it will provide assistance. On the other hand, global connectivity will be increased. If necessary, people working outside the country will be hired.”
The BIDA chairman said hundreds of millions of dollars could be invested in the country’s semiconductor sector in the next five years. For this, an investment-friendly environment must be ensured.
BIDA Chairman said, “This roadmap shows a clear and realistic path for Bangladesh to join the global chip design and testing industry. If the right initiatives are taken, this can be an important milestone in the transformation of Bangladesh into a technology-based economy.”
Meanwhile, the final recommendations of the National Semiconductor Task Force were formally handed over to Chief Advisor, Prof Dr Muhammad Yunus, by Chowdhury Ashiq Mahmud Bin Harun.
The National Semiconductor Task Force, formed on January 1, this year under the direction of the Office of the Chief Advisor, has equal participation of representatives from the government, private sector, academia and the Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) community.
The main task of the task force was to assess the needs and gaps and identify opportunities for Bangladesh and provide recommendations for short, medium and long-term policies and capacity building.
The task force analyzed the extent to which Bangladesh has the capacity to compete at different stages of the semiconductor value chain (design, fabrication, testing and packaging). They recommended that Bangladesh should prioritize the chip design and testing and packaging sectors in the short and medium term.
The Task Force has developed a sequential action plan based on three key pillars: skill development, business environment and policy support, and international partnerships. The roadmap will be implemented in phases over the short, medium, and long term.
The short-term recommendations for 2025-26 include:
Launch a virtual knowledge portal with tiered certification programs based on world-class and industry-supported curricula. Establish industry-standard training labs in at least 5 public or private institutions by 2027.
Establish shared, accessible, and vendor-neutral cleanrooms for early-stage chip packaging and testing equipment. Introduce rotation-based on-site training programs for engineers to enhance practical skills.
Implementation of certification and training programs through selected universities and training institutions and a host of others suggestions.
It also includes formation of a ‘Semiconductor Fund’ which will provide venture capital or term-financing support to new initiatives based on specific criteria.
The long-term programme includes involvement of Non-Resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) in investment and training sectors. It also recommends developing strategic partnerships at government-to-government (G2G) level for knowledge transfer and technical cooperation.
The 13-member task force includes Md Abdur Rahman Khan, Shish Haider Chowdhury, Mohammad Enayetur Rahman, Istaq Ahmed, MA Jabbar, Prof Dr A B M Harun-ur-Rashid, Major General Nasim Parvez, Professor Dr Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, Mashuk Rahman, Mostafiz Chowdhury, Zahirul Alam and Nahyan Rahman Rochi.
