First Youth Tech Summit, participated by over two thousand young tech enthusiasts, called for no new tax on the technology sector as it might hurt the potential technology revolution the youth is preparing for.
With the theme “Are we ready for AI?”, the summit was held at the KBI auditorium in the capital and 20 young and successful startup entrepreneurs presented their journey to use artificial intelligence (AI) in building AgriTech, Health Tech, Ed Tech startups having huge potential to grow and solve many problems.
“The young talents are going to lead the AI-driven journey and they need investments alongside all other supports,” said technology entrepreneur AKM Fahim Mashroor, founder of the country’s largest job portal Bdjobs.
Any new burden of tax or Value added tax in the upcoming budget would hurt their journey, he added.
“We are not looking for grants or free launch, our entrepreneurs just need a supportive environment for global competitiveness,” said Venture Capital and Private Equity Association Chairman Shameem Ahsan, adding that the tax waiver should continue for at least three years and then the government may think gradually impose a tolerable tax on IT and IT enabled services.
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“By using AI-based open source models to solve so many problems of 18 crore people, startups can prove Bangladesh to be a global capital of AI usage cases,” he added.
Praising the local technology talents, PRAN-RFL Chairman Ahsan Khan Chowdhury, informed his conglomerate is planning to start funding tech startups by the youth that have brilliant ideas.
Golam Samdani Don was the host of the Youth Tech Summit.
The session titled “What Young IT Entrepreneurs Want from the Government in the Upcoming Budget?” featured Bangladesh Open Source Network General Secretary Munir Hasan, JCI Bangladesh President Imran Kadir, ‘Nijer Bolar Moto Ekta Golpo’ Foundation Founder Iqbal Bahar Zahid, Bangladesh ICT Journalist Forum President Naznin Nahar, Bangladesh Innovation Forum President and NASA Space Apps Challenge Bangladesh Advisor Ariful Hasan Apu, Bangladesh Skill Development Institute Executive Director KM Hasan Ripon and JCI Bangladesh Head of Business Engagement and National Apps Store’s Training Commissioner Md Altamis Nabil.
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The program was jointly organized by Bangladesh Innovation Forum, JCI Bangladesh, BIJF, ‘Nijer Bolar Moto Ekta Golpo’ Foundation, BDApps, VCPEAB, Youth in Tech, Freelancers of Bangladesh, Rise Above All, BYLC, Youth for Policy, Global Shaper, Global Entrepreneurship Network Bangladesh and Daffodil Network.
