Five companies and Two individuals were celebrated at the 9th BRAC Bank-The Daily Star ICT Awards for their significant contributions to advancing Bangladesh’s information and communication technology (ICT) sector.
The event took place at Le Meridien Dhaka, where Selim RF Hussain, Managing Director and CEO of BRAC Bank, and Mahfuz Anam, Editor and Publisher of The Daily Star, presented the awards.
Afeef Zaman, Founder and CEO of ShopUp, received the ICT Business Person of the Year, while Sadia Haque, Co-founder and CEO of ShareTrip, received the ICT Woman of the Year award.
In the corporate categories, Logic Software was recognized as ICT Solution Provider of the Year (Local Market Focus), while The KOW Company won in the International Market Focus category. Software Shop (SSL Wireless) was awarded Digital Commerce of the Year. Start-ups Shikho and Instasure were honored as ICT Start-ups of the Year.
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Mahfuz Anam highlighted the need for greater emphasis on the ICT sector in Bangladesh, emphasizing its potential to bridge the gap with developed nations. He noted the transformative impact ICT could have on education, healthcare, and governance.
Selim RF Hussain of BRAC Bank echoed this sentiment, underlining the importance of banks investing in ICT, including areas like artificial intelligence and digital banking, to remain competitive.
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The event also included a panel discussion themed “Deep Dive with Founders: Understanding Why a Large Population Isn’t Yet Driving Tech Market Growth in Bangladesh.” Speakers discussed challenges such as inaccurate data, affordability of smartphones, and the need for policy changes to unlock the sector’s potential.
The awards ceremony underscored the critical role of innovation and technology in shaping the future of Bangladesh’s economy.
