Visionary Tech Entrepreneur : Mohammad Shahriar Khan is Working for Shaping Future of Innovation.

Additional Opportunity of approx. $65 billion in expatriate income, says CEO of ICT Olympiad Bangladesh, Mohammad Shahriar Khan.

According to a BBC Bangla report dated September 23, 2020, Bangladeshis are employed in 172 countries worldwide. Data from the Bangladesh Association of International Recruiting Agencies (BAIRA) shows that approximately 2 million government and private workers from Bangladesh migrate abroad each year, the majority on labor visas. In FY2022, expatriate income amounted to nearly $21 billion. If an average worker earns between Tk 30,000-50,000 and sends 30% of their earnings back home, this contributes significantly to the country's economy.

Now, let’s consider a different scenario: if we can deploy 2 million skilled professionals in the field of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), their minimum monthly income could be around Tk 300,000. With higher incomes, a larger portion will likely be remitted to families. Even if 40% of their earnings are sent back home, this could potentially result in an additional $65 billion in remittances annually. Over a span of just ten years, this focus on developing ICT manpower could radically enhance Bangladesh's global economic and social standing.

According to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) 2022 Sample Vital Statistics report, there are about 40 million youths in Bangladesh between the ages of 15 and 24, accounting for more than 20% of the total population. In 2023, the report indicated that approximately 35% of this group, or about 10.2 million youths, are currently inactive. By providing these young individuals with education in healthcare, social security, and ICT, Bangladesh can make a critical long-term investment. A strategic focus on technical education will not only foster economic growth but also position Bangladesh at the forefront of the global talent-based labor market.

Information technology is one of the most crucial and widely discussed sectors in today’s world. The advancement of IT has transformed the world into a "global village" where communication across borders is instantaneous. However, Bangladesh has yet to fully harness the power of this global connectivity. While we take pride in being connected through the internet, there is much more potential to be realized, particularly in shifting from a predominantly cheap labor market to a technology-driven workforce.

Bangladesh is known worldwide for its low-cost labor market, but this image can be transformed by focusing on developing a technology-based talent pool. To achieve this, we must begin by engaging students and parents in ICT education from an early age. It’s not just about establishing Hi-Tech Parks, freelancing hubs, or digital training centers. We need to integrate ICT into the basic education system, where students learn technology from the ground up, just as they learn their ABCs. This approach can only succeed if all stakeholders—including teachers, parents, the government, and students—work together to make ICT education accessible and popular.

To revolutionize the education system, students should be exposed to cutting-edge technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Robotics, Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, Web 3.0, and Machine Learning. We must believe in our potential—if we can manufacture clothing for the world, we can also build robots. Achieving this requires more than seminars, workshops, or Hi-Tech Parks on paper; it calls for embedding robotics and advanced technology education directly into the school curriculum.

The ICT Olympiad Bangladesh Trust has taken up this mission. Launched in 2021, the initiative has faced numerous challenges but saw tremendous success in 2022, connecting over 200 educational institutions and 18,000 students in its first phase. Now preparing for Season Two, the Olympiad has grown to engage around 70,000 students, over 1,000 ICT teachers, 3,000 ICT ambassadors, and 61 IT companies. This platform is working with 15 different ICT segments to align Bangladesh with global technological trends. The core mission of the ICT Olympiad is not just to organize events, competitions, or courses—it is to make ICT education mainstream and popular across all levels.

Founder and CEO of ICT Olympiad Bangladesh, Mohammad Shahriar Khan, is an IT and tech entrepreneur with a background in computer science. Beyond managing his own software business, he is involved in several tech startups. Shahriar envisions ICT becoming one of Bangladesh’s leading export sectors, and he is dedicated to promoting ICT education both locally and internationally. His dream is to see ICT integrated into the very foundation of education in Bangladesh, starting from a student’s first day in school.

However, the reality on the ground is troubling. According to various reports, 60-70% of digital labs in educational institutions are in poor condition, and many of the computers and laptops provided have become unusable due to lack of proper maintenance. As a result, many students take practical exams without ever gaining hands-on experience. In some schools, there is only one computer, which the teacher uses while students observe from afar. Even more concerning is the lack of trained ICT teachers in many institutions, and where teachers are present, they often lack practical training in ICT themselves.

In this era of globalization, Bangladesh’s role in the field of ICT should not be limited to award ceremonies, workshops, and architectural projects. We must define our exact position in the global ICT landscape. Comparing ourselves with neighboring countries like India will reveal just how far behind we are. It is essential for both public and private institutions to step up and contribute to the advancement of ICT education in Bangladesh.

Shahriar stresses that the government must recognize the immense potential of the ICT industry and ensure that it does not wither away. To unlock this potential, ICT education should not be forced upon students but made attractive and accessible. This is precisely the goal of ICT Olympiad Bangladesh—to popularize ICT education and elevate Bangladesh to new heights in the global digital economy.

Source - The Bizman Magazine