Experts in the related sector have claimed that technology giant Meta is earning a huge amount every year through social media Facebook from Bangladesh. According to them, the company is earning more than 8 thousand crore rupees annually from Bangladesh alone, but it has no direct visible contribution to the country's economy.
This information was presented at a seminar titled "New Government's Vision in the Telecom Sector" organized at a hotel in the capital on Saturday (May 16). The event was organized by Telecom and Technology Reporters Network Bangladesh (TRNB).
Speakers in the seminar said that about 73 million people use social media in Bangladesh. A large part of it is being used by Meta's platform, Facebook.
According to experts, the company earns an average of about $15 per user. As such, their annual income from Bangladesh is about 700 million dollars or more than about 8 thousand crore rupees.
However, speakers expressed concern that compared to this huge income, the technology giant's tax or investment contribution to the country's economy is not enough.
TRNB President Sameer Kumar Dey presided over the seminar. Fakir Mahbub Anam was present as the chief guest.
He said the government is working to bring 5G technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to the rural level in the country. He also informed about the plan to create one crore jobs in the information technology sector in the next five years.
Top officials of various regulatory agencies and mobile operators of the telecommunication sector also spoke on the occasion. They discussed the future of the digital economy, investment and regulation.
Robi's Head of Regulatory and Corporate Affairs Saheed Alam presented the keynote at the seminar. TRNB General Secretary Masuduzzaman Ravi delivered the welcome speech.
