4IR in the Wake of COVID-19:

Bangladesh Perspective  

Sajid Amit
Associate Professor
University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh

09/28/2020 Keynote Presentation

 What is the 4IR?
 The Fourth Industrial Revolution, also referred to as 4IR or Industry 4.0 describes
the current and developing environment where the boundaries between the
physical, biological and digital worlds are gradually blurring. 

 It indicates to a new era where technologies and trends are changing the way we
live, work and relate to one another.

 Compared to the previous industrial revolutions, the 4IR is evolving at an

exponential rather than a linear pace.

 Most importantly, it is disrupting almost every industry in every country while

transforming almost entire systems of production, management, and governance.
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 What is the 4IR? (Contd.)
 Such emerging technologies include:

 Artificial Intelligence (AI),   Cyber-physical Systems, 

 The Internet of Things (Iot),   Genome Editing, 

 Cloud Computing,   Blockchain Technologies, 

 Cyber security,  Big Data and Analytics, 

 The Sharing Economy,   Virtual Reality (VR), 

 Robotics,   Augmented Reality (AR), 

 Autonomous Robots and Vehicles,   Hybrid or Mixed Reality (MR)

 Additive Manufacturing (3D Printing),

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 What is the 4IR? (Contd.)
 At-risk: manufacturing, logistics and retail and wholesale and lower-skilled occupations,
routine work and old technologies

 At-risk: Office workers, administrative personnel, law and big data analysis, such as
credit analysts, financial advisers, mathematical technicians

 Harder to automate jobs that requires a high degree of imagination, creative analysis,
strategic thinking and higher level of human interactions

 Education, training, supervision, technology and artificial intelligence developing will

gain popularity

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 What Does it Mean in the Context of BD?
 WEF: 800 million people could lose jobs by 2030, ~5.7 million unskilled Bangladeshis may
lose overseas jobs

 About 80% of BD workforce employed in the informal economy and 40% engaged in low-
skill and low-wage agricultural sector. These sectors will suffer greatly

 The RMG sector which contributes 76% of export earnings, will experience techtonic shifts
due to automation

 Failure in adopting e-commerce will force the SMEs into extinction

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The Challenges and Opportunities of 4IR
Challenges Opportunities

• Potential Job Losses • Increased productivity

• Skills Challenges • Scopes for innovation
• Greater Inequality • Sustainable production and
• Social tension consumption
• Infrastructural Challenges • Reduced waste
• Digital Security and privacy • Promotion of circular economy
• Increased connectivity
• Improved quality of life

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Economic and Social Impact of 4IR

 Widening economic inequality => social fragmentation, political polarization and lack of trust in
institutions

 Compounded by massive industrialization, increased urbanization, excessive deforestation, limitless

resource depletion, desertification, rapid population growth, water scarcity, food insecurity etc.

 Cyber-bullying, hate speech and spreading of false news will increase.

 Over-reliance on technology and e-services may end up decreasing people’s intellect and physical
power/fitness.

 Increasingly competitive environment, scarcity of jobs and socio-economic inequality and isolation
will affect general mental health

09/28/2020 Keynote Presentation 6

What is the Impact of 4IR on SMEs?

 The SMEs either face extinction or gain empowerment from the 4IR

 The ones unable to adapt with technological advancement and grasp the current
market demand will risk being disappeared

 However, the rise of digital marketplaces and online services can connect them to
huge regional markets beyond the local customer bases

 Technologies such as blockchain will revolutionize payments and logistics, enabling

small firms to interact on a trusted basis even without direct interactions

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What is the Role of Telecommunication in 4IR?

 The telecommunication industry will be a key facilitator of the digital transformation of

4IR

 Telecom is the river on which 4IR will flow. It creates the infrastructure for the digital
revolution in terms of access, interconnectivity and applications

 As 4IR will come with Internet of things (IoT) and automation, telcos will need to step
up their game to stay at the center of the revolution

 They must take a customer-focused approach by focusing on delivering personalized

customer experience in not only connectivity, but also other unique digital services.

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Policy Recommendations 

 Focus on relevant skills and critical thinking based curriculum

 Introducing diploma programs on 4IR technologies (not generic ones!)

 Investments in research and policy recommendations on what 4IR may look like in BD
context; what skills are required; etc

 Creating enabling environment for entrepreneurship development and gig economy

 Fostering circular economy with sustainable cycle of production, manufacturing,

transactions and resource management

09/28/2020 Keynote Presentation 9