National blockchain strategy on cards to reduce cost, corruption

The government is going to make a national strategy to use blockchain technology in different domains including governance, banking and finance, agriculture, health and cyber security for reducing cost, checking corruption and ensuring transparency.

The emergence of blockchain technology will open up window of opportunities to build and utilise a system where every possible state and interactions are verifiable by any authorised entities, speakers said at a seminar in Dhaka on Tuesday.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, in his speech at the seminar, said the government is taking steps to make separate policy, strategy and guideline on emerging technologies like blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), robotics to use its potential for economic development.

He said the government is very much aware about the emergence of fourth industrial revolution that would create both challenges and opportunities.

“We want to exploit fully the potential and opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution through mitigating its challenges,” said Palak.

Executive Director of Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) Parthapratim Deb said the cutting-edge blockchain technology has already been incorporated in training certificates rendered by BCC to present fraudulent practice.

The Leveraging ICT for Growth and Employment of the IT-ITES Industry Project of BCC has already held two workshops as part of the government’s move to make the national strategy on blockchain. It will hold more such workshops and seminars to take opinion of experts, industry, academia and government for strategy.

Managing Director of Techno Haven Habibullah Karim, Executive Director of Economic Research Group (ERG) Dr Sazzad Zahir, Managing Director and CEO of IPDC Finance Ltd Mominul Islam, Managing Director of The Computers Ltd Khondkar Atique E Rabbani, Assistant Professor of Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) of Shahjalal Science and Technology University (SUST) Md Sadek Ferdous, Managing Director of bdtask Sumch Muhammad Tarek, among others, attended the workshop that was held at the LICT conference room.

Dr Sazzad Zahir said a comprehensive research should be launched to identify the domains where blockchain application can be used.

IT-ITES Policy Adviser of ICT Division Sami Ahmed who moderated the function said a national strategy is needed on blockchain to use its application potential in different domains such as governance, land, agriculture, health, banking and finance, cyber security and so on.