The professor was chairing a workshop titled Issues for the Development of Software Industry: Bangladesh Perspective, co-organised by Institute of Science and Technology (IST) and Bangladesh Computer Council on June 29 at the IST auditorium.

"At present academia and industry are like two different poles and they need to be brought together for the overall development of the software industry," said Dr. Hasan Babu of Dhaka University.

Babu also pointed out that most Computer Science and Engineering students who are graduating from the various public and private institutions need to have a real-life programming experience, which needs to be facilitated by the academia and government authorities together.

Speakers also pointed out lack of proper education, research and training for skilled manpower, lack of infrastructure, lack of public awareness and participation and improper choice of technology as major drawbacks of the software industry.

"Most employees and officials working for software firms lack proper communication skills, which could have aided them to develop adequate solutions tailored to satisfy the customers' needs," pointed out Ahmedul Islam, chief operating officer of Bangladesh Japan Information Technology (BJIT).

Islam also mentioned that the industry is at a budding stage and problems like taxation, which was initially imposed in the proposed budget, may hamper it from properly culminating into the two billion dollar sector that the government has always dreamt it to be. The speaker also pointed out the lack of a proper internet infrastructure.

Prof. Shamsher Ali later pointed out that the evaluation of the software industry is not being done properly and is extremely necessary in order to document and facilitate its future progress.

Members of the audience also participated and were given the opportunity to ask various important questions to the speakers, later a question and answer session.

"We need to update the existing National University syllabus in order to be in tune with the global computer science and engineering academic institutions," said Manjurul Karim, a former IST student.

"Students can gain a better experience through internships and group-based work while studying at the academic institutions, which will be extremely helpful for their careers," said Mahmud Hossain, CEO of Millennium IT while answering a student's query about effective job experiences.

During the end of the event, Professor Shahida Rafique, chairman, Governing Body of IST, who presided over the workshop, briefly summarised the notable solutions, which can be undertaken by the Ministry of Science and ICT (MOSICT) and other concerned departments to improve the current situation of the software industry.

"Apart from developing skilled human resource in the institutions and provision of high-speed communication facilities, Government, academicians and entrepreneurs should co-ordinate their efforts," said Rafique.

She further pointed out that the proper evaluation of local and international demand for software and proper pricing techniques has to be formulated by the concerned authorities.

"A copyright law and appropriate strategies to attract local and international customers are also extremely necessary considering the current situation," concluded Rafique.

Also present at the event as special guests of honor were noteworthy individuals such as Engineer Monjurul Ahsan Munshi, Member of the Parliament, M M Bahauddin, editor, The Daily Inqilab, Ms Tasmima Hossain, editor, Anannya.

Dr. A M Choudhury, executive director, Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) was the co-chairman of the session while Hasan Sarwar, assistant professor, IST was the coordinator of this workshop.