DHAKA, Jan 01, 2025 (BSS) - The government has officially approved the formation of a national taskforce on the semiconductor sector, to be led by the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) - setting a benchmark for uniting Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) industry leaders, academics, and top government representatives to drive sectoral growth. 

The initiative aims to advance Bangladesh’s capabilities in testing, assembly, and chip design, marking a significant step towards unlocking the country's potential in this high-value industry, said a press release. 

Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman, BIDA and BEZA, said that Bangladesh’s strategic location near the Asia-Pacific supply chain, competitive labor costs, and young, skilled workforce make it an ideal destination for global semiconductor leaders.
 
“By uniting expertise from Bangladeshi diaspora, industry, academia, and policy, we will strengthen our role in the global value chain and build a future-ready, innovation-driven economy,” he added.
 
The taskforce’s mandate includes identifying immediate growth opportunities, addressing policy and skill gaps, and recommending infrastructure and incentive frameworks to attract global investment, with the expectation of delivering actionable results by the end of January.
 
The respected taskforce members are:

Ashik Chowdhury, Executive Chairman, BIDA and BEZA, will lead the taskforce as convener while Nahian Rahman Rochi, Head of Business Development, BIDA, as member secretary.

Other members include Chairman, National Board of Revenue (NBR), ICT Division, Mohammed Enayetur Rahman, CEO, Ulka, Istak Ahmmed, Chairman, Prime Silicon Technology (BD) Ltd, MA Jabbar, Managing Director, Neural Semiconductor Ltd, Prof. Dr. A. B. M. Harun-ur-Rashid, Head of Department, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Maj Gen. Md. Nasim Parvez, Commandant, Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), Prof. Syed Mahfuzul Aziz, Pro-VC, BRAC University, Mashuk Rahman, Founder, Green Quest, USA, Mustafiz Choudhury, Semiconductor Expert, Silicon Valley and Zahirul Alam, Executive Director, Integrated Development Foundation (IDF).