The government will allocate free space to 10 startups at Bangladesh's first software technology park that could represent the country positively on the global digital map.

At a ceremony today, the Information Communication Division will announce the names of the wining companies that took part in a startup incubation competition of more than 400 companies.

The winners will get space free of cost at Janata Tower Software Technology Park in Karwan Bazar and Tk 5 lakh each as seed money to set up their businesses.

The ICT Division opened the competition in October last year and identified the top 100 startups, and after an extensive process, the top 50 were nominated. Further scrutiny led to the selection of the top 10.

Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy and International Telecommunication Union's Secretary General Houlin Zhao will be present on the occasion.

Zhao is due to arrive in Dhaka today for a brief period to attend the programme, said Hosne Ara Begum, managing director of Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority.

Mobile operator Banglalink has agreed to finance the completion of the fourth floor of the tower that will be allocated to the startups.

Banglalink will also help groom the ten companies for the next one year -- free of charge.

Top officials from VimpleCom, the parent company of Banglalink, will also be present at the gala event, according to the operator.

Earlier last year, the government inaugurated the tower after a long legal battle.

Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services, and Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority are supporting the initiative of the ICT Division, while the other partners are Fenox Venture Capital, GAP and Kizki.