Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) yesterday urged the government to earmark Tk 300 crore in the next budget for the development of information and communications technology (ICT).

At a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity office in the city BASIS President Habibullah N. Karim also called for expansion of tax holiday for software industry till 2010. The existing tenure of tax holiday for the sector is to expire by the end of this year.

He said positive and realistic government support for the software and information technology service industry can ensure significant economic development country through creation of substantial employment opportunity.

Karim said the government should provide soft loan for ICT firms at the rate of seven per cent

instead of the present 15-16 per cent.

Highlighting the achievements of Bangladeshi entrepreneurs in software sector, he said some 83 firms in this sector are exporting knowledge-based products to 13 countries including USA, UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Vietnam and Sudan.

BASIS will arrange Basis Soft Expo Bangladesh-2002, an international software fair, in the city from October 24 to 27, the press conference was told. Software giants like Microsoft and Oracle will attend the fair and software tycoon Bill Gates will be invited in the fair.

Meanwhile, BASIS, Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) and ISP Association of Bangladesh (ISPA-B) jointly have prepared a draft ICT policy in association with the FBCCI, which will be handed over to the government soon, BASIS leaders said.

Software exporters of Bangladesh are optimistic of earning $ 2 billion in foreign exchange by 2006 provided the government extends necessary assistance, they said.

BASIS President also requested the authorities to establish two software promotion and liaison offices in London and New York under the joint control of the Ministry of Commerce and BASIS for exploring West European and North American ICT markets.

The BASIS leaders also said the government should immediately take steps to join the submarine optical fibre consortium of SE-ME-WE-4, besides implementing the phase-1 of the proposed hi-tech park at Kaliakoir in Gazipur.

BASIS Secretary General Mustafa Rafiqul Islam, Vice President Shafiqul Haider, Treasurer Nurul Kabir and Director Mustafa Jabbar also attended the press conference.