State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam highlighted opportunities to deepen Bangladesh-US cooperation in education, science, research and technology during talks with Arizona State University (ASU) representatives in California.
A Bangladesh delegation led by Prime Minister’s Adviser for Finance and Planning Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir met the ASU representatives at the Four Seasons Hotel Silicon Valley on September 27, said a foreign ministry’s press release Tuesday morning.
The talks focused on linking engineering education, research, workforce development, industry and investment to build a semiconductor ecosystem in Bangladesh.
Potential areas of cooperation included microelectronics curricula, faculty training, applied research and partnerships between universities and industry.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Boby Hajjaj underscored STEM education and teacher development, while Prime Minister’s Adviser Rehan Asif Asad called for a semiconductor roadmap connecting research and education with investment and commercial use.
Titumir stressed sustainable planning and stronger links between education and industry to turn technology partnerships into skilled jobs, research capacity and investment.
The two sides also explored cooperation with ASU’s University Design Institute on higher education reform.
They discussed developing a memorandum of understanding covering semiconductor education, workforce and faculty development, research and institutional cooperation.
Prime Minister’s Protocol Officer-2 Kamrul Islam, Deputy Press Secretary-1 Md Jahidul Islam, Bangladesh ambassador to the US Tareq Md Ariful Islam, and Consul General in Los Angeles Kazi Muhammad Jabed Iqbal also participated.
Bangladesh’s Consulate General in Los Angeles will facilitate follow-up discussions to identify specific projects and partner institutions, the release said.