The final recommendations of national semiconductor taskforce were presented to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, by Executive Chairman of the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun on Tuesday at the Chief Adviser’s Office.
The government has outlined a strategic roadmap to build Bangladesh’s presence in the global semiconductor sector, with an initial focus on chip design, testing, and packaging.
The 13-member National Semiconductor Taskforce, formed on 1 January 2025 under the Chief Adviser’s Office, has assessed the country’s readiness and recommended a phased entry into the semiconductor value chain.
The roadmap prioritises three pillars: skills development, business environment and policy support, and global linkages and collaborations.
Chowdhury Ashik Mahmud Bin Harun, executive chairman of BIDA and convener of the taskforce, shared the findings at a press briefing on Thursday, 3 July, at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka.
On the same day, BIDA confirmed the submission of the task force’s short-term (2025–26) recommendations to the Chief Adviser’s Office.
In its final report submitted on 30 June, the taskforce emphasised that Bangladesh should prioritise chip design and testing, as capital-intensive fabrication is not feasible in the near term.
According to the report, local engineers already provide chip design services worth an estimated $6 million annually, indicating untapped potential.
To expand capacity, the taskforce proposes launching a virtual knowledge portal offering tiered certification aligned with global standards.
The taskforce has proposed setting up a dedicated semiconductor fund under the ICT Division or Bangladesh Bank to support qualifying new initiatives through venture capital or term financing.
It also recommends targeted fiscal measures, including 10-year tax exemptions for R&D and packaging units, duty waivers on critical imports, and access to bonded warehousing.
To support global integration, the taskforce suggests launching joint ventures, fostering university exchange programmes, and engaging in major industry events such as SEMICON SEA and DAC.
Prof. Dr A.B.M. Harun-Ur-Rashid of BUET stressed the importance of internationally recognised postgraduate education and blended learning formats.
Ulkasemi CEO Mohammed Enayetur Rahman highlighted the value of leveraging Bangladesh’s diaspora and international networks.
The roadmap aligns with BIDA’s National FDI Heatmap, which lists semiconductors as a priority sector requiring policy and capacity support.
Implementation will be monitored by dedicated working groups under the Chief Adviser’s Office, as Bangladesh aspires to establish a foothold in the evolving global chip design and testing ecosystem.