Dhaka:State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam emphasized the need for Bangladesh to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) to foster a technology-driven economy, enhance productivity, and expand employment opportunities without compromising existing jobs. She made these remarks at a session of the Bangladesh AI Business Summit 2026, co-organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) at the Bangladesh China Friendship Conference Center.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the session titled "AI for everyone Solving Real Problems with Local Intelligence" featured discussions by Science and Technology Secretary Md. Anwar Hossain, former DCCI Presidents Md. Sabur Khan and Hossain Khaled, and Tausif Ishtiaque, Managing Director and Partner of the Boston Consulting Group. The session was moderated by DCCI President Taskeen Ahmed, with a keynote presentation from Firoz Muhammad Zahidur Rahman, Founder and CEO of Loosely Coupled Technologies.
Shama Obaed highlighted the necessity of developing AI solutions that align with Bangladesh's socioeconomic realities and cater to various societal sectors, including farmers, workers, small entrepreneurs, and women. She advocated for the development of localized intelligence to make AI beneficial to all, from grassroots workers to businesspeople.
She also underscored the potential of AI in aiding farmers to adapt to climate change by providing vital information on weather patterns and suitable crop varieties. Highlighting AI’s role in industrial development, she noted its capacity to enhance productivity in sectors beyond the ready-made garment industry, thereby assisting the government’s goal to diversify the economy.
The state minister stressed the importance of cultivating a tech-savvy workforce to harness the country's demographic dividend and emphasized the need for workers to acquire new skills in response to technological advancements, ensuring economic transformation does not lead to job losses.
Shama Obaed identified potential areas for AI to drive industrial innovation, including electronics, pharmaceuticals, and green industries, and stressed the role of AI in strengthening economic diplomacy and expanding export markets. She highlighted AI's utility in identifying global labor-market demands, aiding in the development of vocational training programs.
She concluded by urging young people to become technology developers and cautioned against the misuse of AI for spreading misinformation. The state minister called for the summit's recommendations to be shared with relevant government bodies to support the building of a skilled and inclusive society, aligning with the government’s vision of "Bangladesh First, Bangladesh for All."