Bangladesh’s drive to establish itself as a future semiconductor destination gained further momentum this week as the BSIA Silicon River USA Roadshow 2026 arrived in Phoenix, Arizona, bringing together leading Bangladeshi-origin semiconductor professionals, academics, entrepreneurs and policymakers for a series of high-level engagements focused on talent, innovation and international collaboration.

Following its successful launch in Austin, Texas, the roadshow’s Phoenix chapter highlighted Arizona’s emergence as one of the fastest-growing semiconductor hubs in the United States, often referred to as the “Silicon Desert” due to its rapidly expanding chip manufacturing and advanced technology ecosystem.

The Arizona program commenced on June 7 with a BRAINGAIN Reception that attracted more than 80 Non-Resident Bangladeshi (NRB) semiconductor professionals representing over 30 global companies.

Collectively, participants brought more than 1,600 years of semiconductor industry experience spanning chip design, manufacturing, advanced packaging, testing, equipment development, artificial intelligence and executive leadership.

Welcoming the delegation, Nokibul Islam Tapan, Director of Business Development at Stats ChipPAC (JCET), emphasized Arizona’s growing role in the global semiconductor value chain.

He highlighted the state’s expanding capabilities in advanced packaging, testing and semiconductor manufacturing and encouraged stronger engagement between Bangladesh and the international semiconductor community.

BSIA President M. A. Jabbar thanked the Arizona Bangladeshi community for hosting the delegation and called on expatriate professionals to play an active role in supporting Bangladesh’s semiconductor aspirations.

He stressed that achieving national ambitions would require coordinated efforts among industry leaders, academic institutions, entrepreneurs, policymakers and the global Bangladeshi diaspora.

A key highlight of the event was a presentation by veteran semiconductor professionals Zabir and Dr. Riyad, who showcased the work of the Arizona Bangladeshi Semiconductor Society (ABSS). Operating as a volunteer-driven initiative, ABSS has been supporting semiconductor education, workforce development and technical mentoring programs in Bangladesh.

More than ten Arizona-based semiconductor experts are currently involved in online training and mentorship programs for Bangladeshi students and young engineers, with participation continuing to grow.

Professor Muhammad Mustafa Hussain of Purdue University and Chief Architect of the Silicon River Initiative delivered the keynote address, outlining Bangladesh’s long-term semiconductor vision and progress toward building a sustainable deep-technology ecosystem.

He encouraged attendees to think beyond traditional boundaries and contribute to a coordinated national effort aimed at positioning Bangladesh as a globally recognized semiconductor and innovation hub.

The future impact of artificial intelligence on the semiconductor industry was explored by Dr. Rezaul Islam Pavel of IBM, who discussed the rise of Agentic AI and its potential influence on chip design, manufacturing processes, business operations and technological innovation.

He urged Bangladesh to prepare strategically for the next wave of intelligent autonomous systems that are expected to reshape industries worldwide.

Representing the Government of Bangladesh, Consul General Qazi Muhammad Jabed Iqbal of the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Los Angeles reaffirmed the government’s commitment to supporting technology-driven economic growth, semiconductor development and international partnerships.

The evening also featured presentations from Cactus Materials, DSi, Neural Semiconductor Ltd., iTest, Ulkasemi and ChipMentors, providing attendees with insights into emerging technologies, business opportunities and potential avenues for collaboration.

Closing remarks were delivered by Syed Zaki Huda, President of the Bangladesh Association of Arizona (BAAZ) and Lead Software Engineer at New Relic. Huda praised the efforts of BSIA, Silicon River, BRAINGAIN and the Arizona semiconductor community in creating a platform that connected professionals across industry and academia.

He emphasized that sustained mentorship, knowledge-sharing and community engagement would be critical to Bangladesh’s long-term technological advancement.

The event was organized under the leadership of veteran semiconductor professional Noor Jamil Sarwar, whose efforts played a central role in mobilizing Arizona’s Bangladeshi semiconductor network.

On June 8, the delegation continued its engagements with a visit to Arizona State University (ASU), where discussions focused on expanding educational and research collaboration between Bangladesh and the university.

The three-hour meeting resulted in a shared commitment to increase admission opportunities for Bangladeshi students, create internship pathways, strengthen research partnerships and establish formal engagement through the university’s CREST program.

Professor Hussain presented a proposed 10-year collaboration roadmap covering student mobility, workforce development, entrepreneurship, faculty exchange and ecosystem-building initiatives.

The proposal received positive feedback from ASU leadership, including Associate Vice Provost Jeff Goss. University officials also accepted an invitation to participate in the upcoming BEAR Summit 2026 in Dhaka.

The Arizona chapter concluded with a visit to Cactus Materials, founded by BUET alumnus and semiconductor entrepreneur Dr. Rafiqul Islam. Discussions centered on Bangladesh’s growing engineering talent pool and the intensifying global competition among nations seeking to secure a place in the semiconductor industry.

As the Phoenix engagements concluded, the BSIA delegation departed for Silicon Valley, where the next phase of the Silicon River USA Roadshow 2026 will continue through industry meetings, university partnerships and BRAINGAIN initiatives aimed at accelerating Bangladesh’s semiconductor ecosystem development.

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