The Inclusive Digital Model (IDMODEL) Forum for Bangladesh was held on Sunday, 19th December 2021 online. The forum comprised three sessions. Professor Xiaolan Fu, the Director of The Technology and Management Centre for Development (TMCD), gave the opening keynote address, and reported on project progress, the research findings, and the policy implications from the IDMODEL project.

Sonia Bashir Kabir, the Founder of the SBK Foundation chaired the 1st Session. Dr. Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, the Speaker of the House of the Bangladesh Parliament, was the special guest for this session. Dr. Sharmin noted that there was no alternative to digital technology for inclusive development, and said that the newly launched 'Haate Haat' app would play a vital role in taking  the 'Digital Bangladesh' progress forward. The other speakers who presented during this session were Zunaid Ahmed Palak MP, the Minister of State for Information and Communication (ICT); Dr. Dipu Moni MP the Minister for Education;  Courtenay Rattray the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), and Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor, Aspire to Innovate, ICT/UNDP.

Professor Pervez Ghauri, University of Birmingham Business School, chaired the 2nd Session. The speakers who presented during this session were Nihad Kabir, the President of the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industries; Arfan Ali,  the Managing Director of Bank Asia,   Lila Rashid, the former General Manager of the Payments Division of the Bangladesh Bank; Syed Farhad Ahmed, the Managing Director of the Aamra Network; and Kamal Quadir, the CEO of  Bkash.

Professor Xiaolan Fu chaired the 3rd Session. The speakers who presented during this session were Dr. Fahmida Khatun, the Executive Director of The Center for Policy Dialogue (CPD); Yasir Azman the CEO of Grameenphone; Dr. Parveen Mahmud, the Chairman of the Under Privileged Children’s Education Program (UCEP); Rizwan Rahman the President of Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industries (DCCI); and Humaira Azam, the Managing Director of The Trust Bank. 

While digital business models have the potential to enhance the capabilities of small-business owners and drive economic growth, there are still several gaps in understanding how this process works. The IDMODEL project has brought together researchers from the fields of technology, development studies and responsible business studies to fill these gaps.

                                     Prof.Fu's speech at the conference

                                     Haate Haat as a product of IDMODEL project