Speakers at a webinar here on Tuesday said there is a risk of job loss due to the emergence of 4IR, but the opportunities, including the creation of more jobs, are enormous. They also said if the opportunities are effectively utilised it would help create jobs double than the jobs loss. Bangladesh e-Government Computer Incident Response Team (BGD e-Gov CIRT) organised the virtual programme titled `Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR): Challenges and Opportunities’. Read: Voluntary disclosure of information helps establish good governance: Speakers IT-ITES Policy Adviser of LICT Project Sami Ahmed presented the keynote paper at the programme. Addressing the programme, National Data Centre Director Tarique M Barkatullah said the government will hold a series of discussions on the issues relating to 4IR and incorporate the suggestions of stakeholders and experts in formulating strategies in this regard to face challenges and utilize the opportunities of the fourth industrial revolution. In his keynote paper, Sami Ahmed referred to the research conducted by Aspire to Innovate (A2I) Programme of ICT Division about 5.5 million job loss and creation of 10 million jobs due to the emergence of 4IR and said jobs will be created more than the prediction of job loss. “The LICT project has also put forward a set of recommendations to the University Grant Commission (UGC) to change the academic curricula to cope up with the 4IR,” he added. Read:Global deal on plastic pollution is urgent: Speakers The frontier technology-based innovations and startups would contribute to creating the scope of jobs in different areas, including health, agriculture, education, finance, Sami said. “The government has been providing funds for innovations and startups to increase investment in the sector and promoting research and development.” Mentioning the government’s preparation for future works, including the establishment of Sheikh Hasina Institute of Frontier Technology (SHIFT), Sheikh Kamal IT Institute and Incubation Centre, Centre for 4IR, Leadership Academy, he said all these activities are being implemented keeping 4IR challenges and opportunities in mind. Sami also said frontier technology would be one of the biggest catalysts for turning Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041 and the government is working to ensure the optimal use of it. “Nearly three million people are expected to be provided training to build capacity on 4IR in the next five years,” he added.

Bangladesh has secured the top spot among SAARC nations in the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI). In fact, Bangladesh achieved the top position by moving 27 notches up in the National Cyber Security Index (NCSI) of Estonia-based e-Governance Academy Foundation this year. Read: China rejects hacking charges, accuses US of cyberspying Bangladesh currently occupies the 38th position among 160 countries with a score of 59.74. Bangladesh was ranked 65th in the December 2020 index. Project Director of BGD e-GOV CIRT Tarique M Barkatullah, who has been working on the cyber security of Bangladesh government, said that the country's capability in cyber security is increasing day by day, and thus gaining recognition in the world. "The BGD e-Govt CIRT is working tirelessly on cyber security. Such recognition will only encourage us to prevent cyber attacks and help increase Bangladesh's capability in cyber security," he added. Read: Bangladesh moves 25 spots up in Global Cybersecurity Index The National Cyber Security Index (NCSI) is created to assess cyber cases, crimes and major crisis management activities, and prevent basic cyber attacks by being prepared. Greece is in the top position with a score of 96.10 in the latest index published on the NCSI website. Czech Republic occupies the second position with 92.21 score, followed by Estonia with a score of 90.91. Read: UNDP launches 'MyResponse' campaign against cyberbullying The United States ranks 17th in the index, while the United Kingdom ranks 19th. Singapore is the only Asian country making it to the top 20, with 19th position. Among other Asian countries, Srilanka ranks 69th, Pakistan 70, Japan, 34, and China 83.