Artificial Intelligence (AI) will be a key economic engine for Bangladesh to achieve the trillion-dollar economy target, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam said on Thursday.
She made the remarks at an “AI and Innovation Dialogue” held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as Bangladesh seeks to place AI at the centre of its technology diplomacy.
Reflecting on her recent ministerial visit to Silicon Valley, Shama called for reducing the gap between Dhaka and Silicon Valley in technological capabilities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with the Governance Innovation Unit (GIU) of the Prime Minister’s Office, organised the dialogue.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Humaiun Kobir said garments and remittances, whose foundations were laid by Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman, have long formed the “double helix” of Bangladesh’s economic DNA.
“But the trillion-dollar economy that Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has set as the goal for 2034 needs a third strand: the knowledge worker,” he said.
“Bangladesh First does not mean Bangladesh alone. It means Bangladesh ready,” he added.
Opening the dialogue, Foreign Secretary Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury said AI had evolved from a domestic technology issue into a core pillar of Bangladesh’s foreign policy and digital sovereignty.
As global rules on AI are being shaped “in many rooms at once”, Bangladesh’s approach is “independent, and open to the world”, he said.
Chief guest Md Ismail Zabihullah, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Administration Affairs, stressed the importance of a whole-of-government approach to harnessing the benefits of AI.
Rehan Asif Asad, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Posts, Telecommunications, Information Technology and Science and Technology, briefed participants on the government’s latest progress and plans on AI and innovation.
The session was moderated by Dr Syed Muntasir Mamun, Director General of the Ministry’s International Trade, Investment and Technology (ITIT) Wing.
He said the dialogue examined Bangladesh’s AI trajectory across five strategic priorities: policy and governance; connectivity; digital public infrastructure; AI, cybersecurity, workforce and startups; and manufacturing, jobs and economic growth.
The dialogue sought to identify concrete actions under each priority and establish clear responsibilities among ministries. Its conclusions will be shared with Bangladesh’s international partners and missions abroad.
Senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, and representatives from the technology industry, startups, academia and think tanks attended the event.