SICIP partners with BSIA for industry-oriented semiconductor training

The Bangladesh Semiconductor Industry Association (BSIA) has signed a contract with the Skills for Industry Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (SICIP) to implement an industry-oriented semiconductor workforce development programme.

The signing took place at the SICIP office in Dhaka today. Mohammed Walid Hossain, executive project director of SICIP, and M A Jabbar, president of BSIA, signed the contract on behalf of their respective organisations.

Under the contract, BSIA will train 3,500 graduates from EEE, ECE, CSE, applied physics and other relevant disciplines through six specialised courses:

• IC design and layout engineering

• Advanced physical design (RTL to GDSII)

• DFT and verification engineering programme for ASIC designers

• Applied semiconductor systems: power devices and industrial integration

• Smart systems engineering: embedded design and semiconductor application interfaces

• Packaging and testing

Each course will run for three months (240 hours).

According to the contract, the total cost of the programme is Tk35.14 crore, and the implementation period is from February 2026 to December 2028.

Speaking at the ceremony, SICIP Executive Project Director Mohammed Walid Hossain stressed the importance of ensuring quality training delivery, strong monitoring throughout implementation and achieving at least 65% job placement for certified trainees in line with the programme's objectives. He said the partnership, backed by oversight and industry linkage, would help produce professionals for Bangladesh's growing semiconductor ecosystem and the global market.

BSIA President M A Jabbar thanked SICIP and the officials from both organisations involved in finalising the initiative. He said the agreement marks a milestone for Bangladesh's semiconductor ecosystem and will help develop skilled manpower to support advanced electronics and semiconductor services, strengthen industry readiness and enhance Bangladesh's competitiveness in the global semiconductor value chain.

Among others, Mahfuzul Alam Khan, additional secretary, DEPD (programme management); Manjur Alam Prodhan, joint secretary, DEPD (programme management); Amina Fahmeen, joint secretary, DEPD (programme management); Myenul Hasan, DEPD (fund management); and Mohammad Afzal Hossain, AEPD (programme management), deputy secretary and SICIP focal point for BSIA, were present at the signing ceremony, alongside other senior officials.

From BSIA, M E Chowdhury Shameem, senior vice president; Munir Ahmed, director; and Hashim Ahmed, secretary, also attended.

SICIP is being implemented under the Finance Division of the Ministry of Finance, with financial support from the Government of Bangladesh and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).