State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, addressed the BPO Summit 2026 in Chattogram today. Photo: BSS

CHATTOGRAM, June 20, 2026 (BSS) - State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin has said Bangladesh has the potential to become a global leader in freelancing and the IT industry if young people are provided with specialized training and institutional support.

Addressing the inauguration of the BPO Summit 2026 at the Khulshi Convention Hall in Chattogram on Saturday, the minister praised the country's freelancers and content creators for their talent, dedication and achievements despite limited institutional backing.

"Our young people are exceptionally talented and hardworking. Through self-learning, they are already making significant contributions to the global freelancing and content creation sectors. With additional specialized training and government support, Bangladesh can emerge as a world leader in freelancing and information technology," he said.

Mir Helal also stressed the role of information technology in improving governance and public service delivery. 

He said modernization and the effective use of technology could significantly reduce corruption and the influence of middlemen in government services.

The summit, organized by the Bangladesh Association of Contact Center and Outsourcing (BACCO), is being held under the theme "Where Talent Meets Global Opportunity."

Reflecting on his 22-year career in law and politics, the minister said the establishment of the BNP Media Cell aimed to create a platform for engaging with the country's youth and ensuring access to accurate information.

"For nearly 17 to 18 years, the nation's history was presented to young people in a distorted manner. During that period, we worked with online activists to overcome censorship and controlled media and bring forward factual narratives," he said.

Highlighting the importance of public-private partnerships for the sustainable development of the IT sector, Mir Helal said policymaking should be undertaken in consultation with private-sector stakeholders to better understand grassroots realities and the aspirations of young people.

"Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman MP, we aim to take Bangladesh to new heights, with freelancers and IT professionals playing a key role in the country's future development," he added.

The minister also outlined several initiatives undertaken by the Land Ministry to modernize public services. He said most land-related services are now available online, enabling citizens to submit applications, pay land taxes and apply for mutations through the BHUMI app from their homes.

He added that 893 digital service centers have been established across the country to assist people who are unfamiliar with online platforms. Citizens can access various government services at these centers for a nominal fee.

Among the special guests at the event were Abdullah Al Mamun, Deputy Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division; Tanvir Ibrahim, President of BACCO; and Faisal Alim, General Secretary of the organization.

Representatives from government and private sectors, industry leaders, academics, freelancers, entrepreneurs, students and young professionals attended the summit.

Founded in 2011, BACCO is the country's central trade body for the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and IT-enabled Services (ITES) industry and currently represents more than 500 member organizations.