Staff Reporter:
Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus yesterday stressed on gearing up the technological advance-ment in the country to roll with the rapidly changing world, saying this sector will shape the future.
“The coming world will be fundamentally different. The things we can’t imagine now will become reali-ty. The world is changing rapidly . . . so if we can’t gear up our speed and align with this global momen-tum, we should think how far we will fall behind,” he said.
The Chief Adviser made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the ‘Digital Device and Innovation Expo 2026’ at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC) here.
The ICT Division, the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) and the Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS) are jointly organising the four-day technology showcase with the theme ‘Bangladesh to the World’, which will continue till January 31.
He said that although it may appear that Bangladesh is moving alongside others, in reality the country is far behind-behind in thinking, behind in action, and behind in self-preparedness.
The country lags behind, Prof Yunus said, because sufficient attention has not been given to the ICT sec-tor, which he described as the “core sector” from which the future of the world will be shaped.
“I am talking about this sector, because it is a key sector. The future will be created from this sector,” he added.
The Chief Adviser said though other traditional sectors will exist, the technology sector will remain the driving force-like wind or air-touching and reshaping every other sector.
Stressing that preparation must therefore begin now to advance the sector; he called upon the concerned authorities to come out of the traditional thinking while formulating policies for this sector.
About the expo, Prof Yunus said, “The country’s future will depend on what kind of conversations we hold and what kind of visions we imagine in such gatherings, and the institutional arrangements we de-sign”.
Highlighting the generational shift, he noted how children yesterday interact with technology almost instinctively.
This growing distance between generations, he explained, is creating a leadership crisis. The Chief Ad-viser said older generations are increasingly unable to lead younger ones-not because of ill intent, but because their minds simply do not function the same way.
Noting that outdated worldview is still reflected in Bangladesh ICT sector, he emphasized on introducing true digital governance to reach the government services the people directly.
People would not come to the government, rather government service will go to them, he said, adding if this could be introduced, corruption will reduce significantly.
Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb spoke at the function as the special guest with Information and Communication Technol-ogy (ICT) Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury in the chair.
BHTPA Managing Director Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan and BCS President Mohammad Zahirul Islam delivered the welcome address at the function.
Earlier, he launched the website and logo of the ‘Bangladesh Innovation Challenge’, a platform to further accelerate the innovative initiative of Bangladesh at school and college levels.
The inaugural session began with the playing of the national anthem, followed by a theme song of the expo. An audio-visual presentation on the future digital innovation with the theme ‘Create Here, Connect Everywhere’ was also screened.
Later, Prof Yunus visited different stalls on the expo premises.
