"We have attached the highest priority to the IT sector for its development and expansion. Our goal is to strengthen our economy by entering the expanded IT market," said Khaleda while inaugurating a two-day national conference of inter-university IT professionals.

The opening of the conference at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre was also addressed by Science and Information and Communications Technology Minister Abdul Moyeen Khan, State Minister for Education ANM Ehsanul Huq Milon, Education Secretary Shahidul Alam, and member of University Grants Commission (UGC) Munirul Huq, with UGC Chairman M Asaduzzaman in the chair.

The prime minister outlined the move already taken for the development of IT sector and the upcoming programmes for further progress.

Referring to the fast growing software industries and business across the world, she called for private investment in the ICT sector.

She termed the world a realm of information technology and said her government has launched a project to install the submarine cable and formulate an IT act. She also emphasised standard IT education and more computer professionals in the country.

Jointly organised by the UGC and Bangladesh National Unesco Commission, the opening ceremony was attended by ministers, lawmakers, vice-chancellors of universities, academicians, IT experts and professionals, among others.