Niaz Morshed Elite is one of the most talked about young entrepreneurs of the country. Along with contributing to the information technology sector, this successful businessman from Chittagong has done significant work. He is the companion of the successful journey of cash that has revolutionized the mobile financial services of the country. Ahead of BASIS, the software and related services sector organization, Elite spoke about the problems and prospects of young ICT entrepreneurs in Bangladesh.
Jago News: Basis selection why?
Niaz Morshed Elite: Bangladesh has already developed several areas including the garment industry which is contributing to the country’s economy. But if you look at the global economy, software and related services are the winners across the board. Neighboring India has shown its capabilities by building IT hubs. We are talking about building Smart Bangladesh from Digital Bangladesh. The Prime Minister has handed over Bangladesh to the youth like us to fulfill the dream. But this sector is still not ready to stand tall. Especially in software export and related service assurance, policy making and benefit acquisition could not be made significant space. I think this is a place where working can bring collective success for the country rather than individual success. That is why I am contesting the Basis election.
Jago News: The tax holiday is coming to an end in June, what is the real challenge in that case, what will be your job?
Niaz Morshed Elite: The whole world is gearing up to stay ahead of the fourth industrial revolution. At such a time our tax holiday in this sector is ending. This time is the most important for us. Now young entrepreneurs have to take up the challenge. The biggest challenge will be in terms of export earnings and business management of young entrepreneurs in this sector. Because we have not been able to make much progress in this sector in a short period of time, there is also the challenge of creating a smart Bangladesh by 2041. So I think this tax holiday should be extended till 2041 at least. If that is not possible then at least it should be kept for the sector where it is needed. If BASIS wins the elections, it will be given utmost importance.
Jago News: What will be the other important place in the work?
Niaz Morshed Elite: Apart from this we will try to ensure how to provide unsecured loan facility for young entrepreneurs. If this can be done, more entrepreneurs will be created in the information technology sector and new service sectors will come to the smart platform. Since BASIS works at the policy-making level, we hope it will be easier for us to work on this.
Jago News: Are you talking about unsecured loans?
Niaz Morshed Elite: Definitely possible. In this regard, I need to share my personal experience with you. When I first went to get a loan for my own business, the bank wouldn’t give me a loan. Because there was no collateral. I know the hurdles a young entrepreneur can face not getting a loan from a bank because he or she has no family support. We are now working on digital bank in cash. One of our goals here is to ensure loan facilities for entrepreneurs without collateral. It will be based on credit rating. Cash Digital Bank can provide loans without collateral based on the entrepreneur’s transaction history, regular payments and all transactions. We hope that digital banks will create great opportunities for the entrepreneurs of this sector.
Jago News: What do you have to do to prepare the young ICT entrepreneurs of Bangladesh for this competitive market?
Niaz Morshed Elite: The government is training hundreds of thousands of youth every year. They are developing various facilities including hi-tech park. But it is not enough to sit here only looking at the government. I think organizations like BASIS have a lot to do in this space. BASIS itself can provide training to young manpower and new IT entrepreneurs. Can develop them as skilled human resources. Besides, it can take various programs in coordination with the government. In this regard, both the projects of the government will work with training in the information technology sector. BASIS has the opportunity to act as a partner to the government here.
Jago News: Coming to the topic of BASIS election again, you are participating in the election from Team Smart Panel, what is going to be your election manifesto?
Niaz Morshed Elite: See that a council is formed for a term of two years only. Where it is really difficult to work in this short time. But I have prepared my election manifesto in such a way that there are some short-term works like tax holiday, loan facility and human resource creation. Apart from this, a 15-year-long manifesto has been prepared by thinking about various issues such as what will the future BASIS actually look like, at what stage of policy making, AI facilities or the role of BASIS in the formation of smart Bangladesh in the fourth industrial revolution, which will be forwarded with the young entrepreneurs of this sector. It will help us all to move forward.
Jago News: If you win the election, what changes do you want to make first?
Niaz Morshed Elite: We want to introduce a culture of working together with everyone. Basis wants to create conditions where members feel that the organization is there to solve their problems. Moreover, there are now 8-10 years of service members in the base. I promise that my panel and I will work to inculcate a culture in which each of them feels important.
MIHS/JIM
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