International Programmers' Day 2022

A glimpse of Programming in Bangladesh and its future

Did you know that the software industry of Bangladesh is valued at more than US$1.18 billion? And this number will be increasing further thanks to the rapid transformation and growth of the IT sector in Bangladesh. There is no doubt that the field of programming and software development has enormous potential here in the country. As the world is becoming more and more digitized, the need for programmers and developers is only going to increase. Since today, September 13, is recognized worldwide as the International Programmers Day – let us take a journey through the current scenario of programming in Bangladesh and its bright future ahead.

First let’s speak of the significant strides made by Bangladesh in the IT and software industries throughout the last decade. The local IT-ITeS industry of the country is currently valued at around US$0.9-1.1 billion. This is expected to grow 5 times to reach about US$4.6-4.8 billion by 2025. Government efforts have led to 39 Hi-Tech Parks (HTP)/Software Technology Parks (STP)/IT Training and Incubation Centers being set up across Bangladesh. The country’s people are receiving access to more than 300 types of public-private services via 8,280 digital centers. Thanks to this digital transformation era, the country’s startup ecosystem is booming, financial inclusivity among the public has increased, and there has been noticeable reduction of socio-economic gap amongst rural masses. Most importantly, this advancement is leading to more career opportunities, especially among the youth.

According to DCASTALIA, there are about 4500 software and ICT companies registered in Bangladesh currently, and these businesses employ over 300,000 local software developers and ICT specialists. Another interesting fact is that Bangladesh ranks 2nd when it comes to the supply of online labor force. This is quite remarkable since we are responsible for about 16% share of the global online workforce. Forecasts show that by 2025, IT exports will rise to US$5 billion and IT/ITeS based employment will grow to around 3 million. This is great news for aspiring programmers, computer specialists and engineers across the country.

Software and IT services, which is easily one of the top graduate employment sectors in Bangladesh, has also seen a lot of challenges over the years. And a lot of these challenges were also reflected upon programmers in Bangladesh. There is no doubt that it takes a lot of skill and experience to excel in the areas of project management, system analysis, software architecture, software engineering, coding, testing, debugging and documentation to create a software product. But with regard to numerous local software companies, it has been observed that there is a shortage of experienced workers in appropriate fields. One big reason for this shortage is that many good students, programmers or developers look for job/study opportunities abroad. They believe that the Bangladeshi market will not comply with their skill sets, hence they look for opportunities abroad. Due to this shortage of skilled employees, there also have been plenty of instances where a single employee has to perform multiple IT tasks. For example, an employee who is employed as a "Programmer" must perform all the tasks required to produce the program, all by themselves. In this situation, the developer suffers in that s/he is unable to gain the necessary expertise or maintain the required standard. When creating a new software system, developers sometimes face difficulties understanding the requirements and expectations of the client. Therefore, it is challenging for the corresponding developer to decide which facilities should be included in the new system and which should not. In reality, they usually travel through an irresolute path. After some time, when the developers are almost finished with the production, if the end result doesn't satisfy the customer, they must go through an additional drawn-out and an overly complicated process. These tedious local scenarios lead to unnecessary financial losses and inefficient resource management.

However, things are taking a turn for the better in this country, since more and more investments are being made to develop skilled resources here. Bangladesh has many talented programmers and developers, and with the right resources and opportunities, they can achieve great things. The future of programming looks bright as more young people are taking up this profession in order to build a smart Bangladesh. If you are interested in programming or software development, there are many opportunities available for you in Bangladesh. Anyone can learn a language, and work through tasks to become a better programmer, thanks to various online resources which are just one google search away. Typically, the best programming languages to start with are C or C++. However, the most rewarding experience is perhaps training your mind to think more logically. Python or R are very useful for research, machine learning applications, or when studying a dataset to determine its behavior. One can sign up for online courses and continue to learn Python, C, or C++, or catch up with the instructions that are already available. The beauty of Python is that there are countless resources available for learning, and you can't go wrong with any of them. However, it's important to remember that tutorials do not cover all the bases. You must put your thoughts into practice and use them and that is the most crucial component while learning.

Therefore, if you are looking for a challenging and rewarding career, programming and software development is a great option for you. GIGA TECH collaborates with the most resilient minds in the industry in order to achieve its goals and exceed expectations. Being a leading technology company from Bangladesh, we focus on building innovative solutions that addresses clients’ most complex digital transformation needs. At GIGA TECH, we value skilled programmers, and our passionate and dedicated team has been involved in around 40 projects across both public and private sectors. The road ahead looks positive, so don't hesitate to pursue the programming field in Bangladesh. GIGA TECH welcomes bright minds, their ideas and skills – and together we can contribute to the crafting of a Smart Bangladesh.