A training on Internet of things (IoT) was organized online by the “Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA) project” of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division. The daylong training under the “Education for Nation” of the project started after the opening program through video conferencing.

The Senior Secretary of ICT Division N M Zeaul Alam was present as the chief guest at the inaugural function of the training on July 1, 2020.

The executive director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Parthapratim Deb and Technology Specialist Retired Professor of the department of CSE of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) Dr. M. Kaykobad were the special guests of the program.

As the chief guest, N M Zeaul Alam said that we could not be a part of the early industrial revolution. Now, we are in the fourth industrial revolution. Our expertise in the devices of the Fourth Industrial Revolution has now gradually increased. We all need to work harder to succeed. He further said that the country’s skills are being used in various government works. If we can see the path of the future by making the manpower we have more technologically advanced, then we think that we can achieve the dream of a developed world in 2041. To that end, we must all work together.

As a special guest, Parthapratim Deb said that through the iDEA project we are trying to create an innovation ecosystem by creating an innovative culture in Bangladesh. Explaining the need of IoT, he said that the contribution of IoT in creating a smart city or a smart environment is immense. He is hopeful that the trainees will learn a lot about IoT through this training.

As a special guest, Professor Dr. M. Kaykobad encouraged young people to improve their skills by referring examples from multiple countries, including Japan, Taiwan and Korea. “We don’t just have to have a computer, we also have to be connected to it and acquire skills,” he said.

Digital Bangladesh is the present form of Bangabandhu’s dream “Shonar Bangla”. It is not possible to establish the Digital Bangladesh by buying computers and parts from abroad, buying software from abroad, bringing foreign engineers to Bangladesh.

“Foreign consultants are expensive, so if the skills can be increased in the country, it can be more effective,” he said.

The online program was presided over by the project director (Additional Secretary) of the iDEA Project Syed Mojibul Huq. He highlighted the need for how we can use the internet in the Fourth Industrial Revolution and how we can use Frontier technology. He said that the iDEA project is currently organizing training in different technological topic intending to build skilled manpower.

The associate professor of Institute of Information Technology (IIT) of the University of Dhaka  B. M. Mainul Hossain, the professor of the department of CSE of Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology(BUET) Dr. A. B. M. Alim Al Islam, and the managing director of Bondstein Technologies Limited and the Global Shaper of World Economic Forum Mir Shahrukh Islam were present as the trainers of this initiative and also shared their experiences with trainees.

Through this daylong training, impact of IoT on our Lives, Local IoT Research with Global Impacts, and Understanding Industrial IoT were the topics of the training. More than 70 trainees from the Rajshahi Division joined the training through  Zoom and took part in Q&A session.

The Deputy Project Director (Deputy Secretary) of iDEA Project KaziHosna Ara, project’s senior consultant R. H. M. Alaol Kabir, Consultant of iDEA Project Sharmin Akhtar Shaz, Communication Consultant Shohag Chandra Das, project officerMomenul Islam, Students from different academic institute of Rajshahidivision, BCC and other officials of ICT division were present online at the time. The whole training was broadcast live at the official Facebook page of “Startup Bangladesh“.