#Title

Reliable data, policy reforms needed to boost tech sector

Experts say at BRAC Bank-The Daily Star ICT Awards
PHOTO: COLLECTED
STAR BUSINESS REPORT
The technology sector of Bangladesh is facing critical bottlenecks due to data inaccuracy, experts said at the 9th edition of the BRAC Bank-The Daily Star ICT Awards held last Friday.
Addressing a panel discussion during the event at the Le Méridien hotel in Dhaka, they emphasised that policy reforms and trust-building will be crucial for unlocking the sector’s full potential.
Adnan Imtiaz Halim, founder and chief executive officer of Sheba Platform Limited, identified inaccurate data as the sector’s primary hurdle.
“The biggest problem for the country is that our data is not accurate,” he said.
Halim questioned that if previous stats placing the number of tech-savvy and device-equipped individuals in Bangladesh at around 50 million are to be believed, then how come the country is still unable to monetise technology.
Against this backdrop, he highlighted the need for precise data to avoid misguided forecasts and called for increasing the affordability of mobile devices and data.
Also, he urged relevant regulatory authorities to replicate the rapid digital transformation seen in India by being bold in policymaking.
Besides, there is the issue of highway elements, such as the lack of mobile phone penetration and availability of associated technologies, which represent a choking point in the technology sector.
“These need to be made completely accessible so that people in rural areas can afford them too,” Halim said while stressing how data costs need to be made even cheaper.
“In India, what was forecasted to take 40 years to achieve was unlocked in just six years because of some key policy decisions,” he added.
The discussion moderated by AKM Fahim Mashroor, cofounder and chief executive officer of Bdjobs.com Limited, explored peoples’ trust issues with technology and healthcare as well.
Sylvana Quader Sinha, founder chairperson and chief executive officer of Praava Health, stressed that technology alone cannot solve healthcare challenges.
“The real problem is trust. Patients don’t trust healthcare in Bangladesh even if technology improves the service quality,” she said.
Sinha emphasised the importance of having well-trained doctors and reliable lab tests in building trust.
Raisul Kabir, chief executive officer of Brain Station 23, said clients in Bangladesh are more willing to pay foreign companies higher fees for technology solutions instead of engaging local providers.
“Local entrepreneurs must break through this reluctance in order to achieve sustainable growth,” he said.