In this article, we are doing a deep dive into the present situation of software development and the IT industry of Bangladesh. So if you want to understand what its current state is and what its future might hold, keep reading.
Software development is a multi-step process consisting of the ideation, definition, design, programming, documentation and testing of an application. In Bangladesh, the size of the software development industry is small, yet impactful. In line with the 200+ million population, there are more than 4500 software and ICT companies registered in Bangladesh. These businesses employ over 300,000 local software developers and ICT specialists while collectively supplying software valued at $1.18 billion.
How is the Bangladesh Government patronizing its software industry?
The Digital Bangladesh movement focuses on four crucial goals.
- Educating and preparing human resources for the digital age.
- Interconnecting people in a meaningful way.
- Delivering services to citizen’s reach with help of digital measures.
- Empowering the private sector and industry by utilizing digital technology.
Even during unstable times such as April to September of 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was at its worst stage, the government provided grants to software development companies so that they could keep their development processes running.
What are the organizations supporting software development in Bangladesh?
Let’s discuss a few such organizations that have helped our software development industry to expand and flourish.
• Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS)
• Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS)
• Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC)
What is the situation of human resources in the software industry of Bangladesh?
The human resources of our software industry are largely divided into two groups – freelance tech professionals and software developing companies.
• Freelancers
• Software development companies
With 4500 registered software and ICT companies in Bangladesh, there has been a significant contribution to the government’s processes by said companies. From their partnership with Access to Information (a2i) to innovating and developing a dynamic portal such as corona.gov.bd, software development companies have been a key player in the government’s Digital Bangladesh agenda.
Which software categories are popularly worked on in Bangladesh?
• Web development
About 50% of the country’s ICT enterprises currently offer web design and development services. As more and more Bangladeshi citizens move towards digitization, the need for web development becomes greater and greater. Companies are leaning towards building an online presence thanks to the growing number of online audiences.
• Mobile app development
People around the world spend a daily average of 3.25 hours on their mobile devices. Not too long ago, mobile phones were considered a rare item, a luxury even. But now, it is a mere necessity for almost everyone in the country who is old enough to own it. Mobile phones assist our social connections, communications, entertainment, and finances thanks to multiple social media apps, greater connectivity features, and other software components embedded into the phone.
Mobile applications can be a great marketing tool for businesses in Bangladesh and most companies seem to have cracked that code already. Because of their handy usability and user-friendly experience, mobile apps enable businesses to retain existing customers and draw in new ones.
What impact did COVID-19 have on the software development scenario in Bangladesh?
About 175 BASIS members export software and outsource the development work as their primary business. A Daily Star investigation showed that 74% of international customers ceased making purchases during the Covid-heavy months. This is because the two main markets for Bangladeshi software exports, the United States and Europe, were under attack by the viral pandemic.
However, against a request by BASIS, the Bangladesh government granted software companies in the country BDT 660 crore in April to September of 2020 to help them maintain their operations as well as pay employees’ salaries and office rent.
In a nutshell
The Bangladesh government is making investments and building infrastructure, but there is still a long way to go. With enough hard work and perseverance, software developers can have a significant impact in the development of Bangladesh as a globally powerful country.
