Experts at a programme on Saturday stressed the need for creating smart workforce and utilising human resources to build Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
Rapid transformation of artificial intelligence (AI) poses a big challenge to people trying to enter the job market, they said while speaking at “HR Summit 2023: Smart Employment for Smart Bangladesh” organised jointly by Daffodil International University (DIU) and Aspire to Innovate (a2i) Program on the DIU main campus at Savar in Dhaka.
Unique Group CEO Syed Sanowarul Hoque said, “Unique Group (UG) has expanded its business and also created huge jobs thanks to good governance. Now we are in leading position in hotel and hospitality management in Bangladesh. We are looking for talented officials. In job interview, we see candidate’s confidence and body language as well as knowledge.”
Calling upon students to acquire knowledge as per the job market demand and be confident of taking part in interview for any type of jobs, he said, “We have eco-system in our company. We offer job skilled people who do internship three or six months.”
Chairman of Unilever Bangladesh Zaved Akhtar laid emphasis on the smart workforce. “We have invested Tk 645 crore in the last five years. We are expanding our business. Skill based on AI is important. So, people must learn more and adopt new technology,” he said.
Fahim Mashroor, CEO of Bdjobs.com, called for utilising the country’s human resources to achieve the goal. “Communication and soft skill is now very significant.”
Executive Director of Nagad Ltd Mohammad Aminul Haque said there is a great opportunity for Bangladesh as the country has huge human resources. “They should be taught about AI.”
DIU Vice-Chancellor Dr M Lutfar Rahman said the government has announced plans to build Smart Bangladesh which stands on four pillars such as Smart Citizen, Smart Government, Smart Society and Smart Economy.
“AI is now very challenging. We have to overcome it through smart activities. However, we want happiness, peace and prosperity.”
While speaking as the chief guest, ICT Secretary Md Shamsul Arefin said, “Youth is life force. We are in demographic dividend. They should be utilised amply.”
Despite AI challenges, he said, seven sectors like data scientist, cyber security expert, software development manager, cloud architect, system analyst, UX design and technological manager, will always have the demand for people. “So, people should learn it.”
A2i policy advisor Anir Chowdhury said smart employment is very important now. “It is time to focus on skill manpower, supply chain and database system.”
