By Dr Aynal Haque

  RAJSHAHI, Nov 3, 2021 (BSS) - Around eighty percent infrastructure
development works of the under-construction Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib High-
tech Park here has already been completed creating a high hope among all
concerned in terms of generating job opportunities.

  The park is being built on around 31 acres of land in Nabinagar area
adjacent to Rajshahi metropolis aimed at establishing knowledge-based IT
industries together with ensuring an area-based development.

  Bangladesh Hi-tech Park Authority is implementing the Taka 335.51-crore
project initiated by the Information and Communication Technology Division
with the main thrust of creating scopes for the new IT entrepreneurs and
employment generation.

   Employment opportunities for around 14,000 youths both male and female
will be created upon successful completion of the project by December, 2022,
said Engineer AKM Fazlul Haque, Director of the project.

   The infrastructure development works included land development, a ten-
storey silicon tower in the area of 2.70 lakh square-feet, substation and
generation building, internal roads and drains, boundary wall and high-speed
internet.

  Construction works of 'Sheikh Kamal IT Incubation and Training Centre'
inside the park compound has already been completed, he said, adding a total
of ten IT farms have started working there after taking space. Besides, work
on the 'Sajeeb Wazed Joy Silicon Tower' is at the final stage.

  There is also provision of constructing Cineplex for showing video
documentaries to the investors from both home and abroad besides an
auditorium.

  Engineer Haque said the silicon tower will have multipurpose facilities
including two basement parking floors, high standard training, seminar and
conference rooms, rentable office spaces and lounge and recreation area.

  Besides, the 62,000 square-feet IT Incubation centre with an energy
efficient state of the art office building has multipurpose training
facilities, high quality start-ups, rainwater harvesting and renewable energy
sources.

  All sorts of business environment were ensured for attracting investors
from both home and abroad.

  He said the Bangabandhu Hi-tech Park aims to create an atmosphere for
establishing industries on ICT, engineering, electronics, telecommunication
and biotechnology. Besides, more avenues of employment for the ICT people
will be created in this venture.

  Haque said foreign companies would be allowed to provide technological
support for developing local industries.

  The present government is pledge-bound to promote the ICT sector for
overall development of the country. As a whole, the park will contribute a
lot towards the national economy, he added.

  Professor Rafiqul Islam Sheikh, Vice-chancellor of Rajshahi University of
Engineering and Technology, hopes that the park will play a key role in
building Digital Bangladesh, accelerating the national economic development
by expanding hi-tech industries, establishing hardware and IT industries and
creating an investment-friendly condition to attract foreign companies.