Staff Reporter :
The National Semiconductor Taskforce has outlined a strategic roadmap to guide the development of Bangladesh’s semiconductor industry, focusing on three core priority areas: skills development, business environment improvement, and fostering international collaboration.
This was announced by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Executive Chairman and Taskforce Chair, Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, at a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka on Thursday.
Ashik Chowdhury explained that the taskforce had assessed the country’s potential to participate in different segments of the semiconductor value chain – including chip design, fabrication, testing, and packaging.
Based on this analysis, the taskforce recommended prioritising chip design as well as testing and packaging in the short to medium term, while deferring capital-intensive fabrication investments to a later phase.
“The roadmap proposes a phased approach with targeted actions across short-, medium-, and long-term horizons,” he said.
One of the major recommendations is the establishment of industry-standard training labs equipped with Electronic Design Automation (EDA) tools in at least five selected public or private institutions by 2027.
To offer hands-on experience, a rotational training programme involving selected industry and academic participants has been proposed, particularly focused on chip testing and packaging.
The roadmap also includes outreach initiatives such as nationwide hackathons, innovation contests, and awareness campaigns to build interest and capacity within universities and startups.
In support of long-term talent development, the taskforce has urged academic institutions to offer specialised programmes, including postgraduate diplomas, MSc, and PhD courses in semiconductor disciplines.
It also recommended regular updates to certification and course content to keep pace with advancements in technologies such as AI accelerators, signal processors, and next-generation computing chips.
To attract investment, the taskforce has proposed tax exemptions of up to 10 years for companies engaged in R&D, assembly, and packaging, subject to defined criteria. It also recommended the establishment of a dedicated “semiconductor fund” under the ICT Division or Bangladesh Bank.
This fund, modelled on existing startup funding frameworks, would provide venture capital or term loans for eligible semiconductor projects.
Ashik Chowdhury noted that semiconductors have been identified as a priority sector in the National FDI Heatmap, underscoring the need for supportive policies and institutional backing.
“Bangladesh now has a valuable opportunity to position itself in the global tech value chain. With a solid pool of engineering graduates and support from skilled non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs), we can make immediate progress in chip design and testing,” he said.
“Global firms are actively looking to diversify their sourcing destinations, and Bangladesh can emerge as a competitive player through strategic investment in talent, policy, and partnerships.”
Also speaking at the event, Professor Dr ABM Harun-ur-Rashid, Head of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at BUET, outlined the taskforce’s plans to develop a virtual knowledge platform offering a three-tier certification system aligned with international standards.
“This hybrid programme will combine online and in-person training, enabling rapid deployment of design engineers through selected public and private universities,” he said. He emphasised the importance of offering advanced elective courses in undergraduate curricula to allow students to specialise in semiconductor design.
In addition, the taskforce recommended integrating short, globally recognised technical modules into selected technical institutes. These would include 12-week certification courses in key areas such as Register Transfer Level (RTL), Synthesis, Design for Testability (DFT), and Static Timing Analysis (STA).
The roadmap also stressed the need for faculty development through academic exchange, international collaboration, and active engagement with experienced professionals from the Bangladeshi diaspora.
