The Governance Innovation Unit (GIU) of the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly organized a Conference titled “AI and Innovation Dialogue” today at its Auditorium in Segunbagicha, Dhaka. This is the third dialogue in a series which spawned from the Third Thematic of the Trade, Growth and Economic Diplomacy Conference held in June 2026. Both organizers reaffirmed the National Priority to put Artificial Intelligence (AI) at the heart of the country’s Tech Diplomacy and Public Service Delivery across the globe.
Mr. Md Ismail Zabihullah, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Public Administration and Head of the Governance Innovation Unit, was present as the Chief Guest, and Mr. Rehan Asif Asad, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Posts, Telecommunications, Information Technology and Science and Technology, was special guest.
Speaking as chief guest, Adviser Md Ismail Zabihullah highlighted that a whole-of-Government approach is essential for leveraging the benefits of AI. He recalled Late Prime Minister Khaleda Zia’s contribution in enacting the first ICT policy of the country. He reviewed the day’s proceedings and gave guidelines on putting an institutional focus on the Prime Minister’s priorities – particularly for operationalizing seamless interoperability across all public service delivery domains.
Special Guest Rehan Asif Asad gave a run-down of the government’s heightened emphasis on ensuring digital access for the people. Adviser Rehan highlighted on the need for ensuring wider and deeper public access to advanced digital devices and computing platforms. He said that because of the pragmatic policies taken by the BNP government, the country will soon be in a position to produce advanced feature phones at a very affordable price level. Adviser Rehan Asif Asad briefed the meeting about the progress already achieved in the Government’s plans for institutionalizing AI and innovation from a systems perspective. Government is taking all necessary measures to establish high speed & secure connectivity platform, he said. The Adviser also added that Bangladesh will have its own Sovereign AI within the next 12 months, with the computing chips and memory blocs for the platforms already secured.
“Artificial Intelligence will form the primary axis in the economic engine of the country to achieve the trillion-dollar economy,” said State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaed Islam, MP. Focusing on the Prime Minister’s approach towards indigenizing technology, State Minister Shama Obaed indicated the institutional reforms brought into the workings of the Foreign Office for instituting a renewed focus on creative economy and other emergent forces shaping the economic landscape of the people and the country. The State Minister highlighted on the Government’s support for tech startups and reprogramming the economic diplomacy. She also reflected on the recent ministerial visit to Silicon Valley and urged to reduce the distance between Dhaka and Silicon Valley in terms of technological competence. Referring to the Government’s priorities, she said that operationalising Bangladesh First means Bangladesh will be a net provider of Technologies, and not just a buyer. Recalling her days as a ‘coder’, she said that preventing the abuse of technology for gender violence stays a top priority. To achieve a trillion-dollar economy, Bangladesh First policy requires both Sovereign AI and a seamless integration of public services delivery into the institutional pipelines articulating the governance mechanism. The State Minister spoke about benefitting the full spectrum of people and the society – from farmers to women entrepreneurs. “We don’t want AI or automation to replace our people – rather, we want tech to augment our capabilities and business profiles”, she added.
The State Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Humaiun Kobir, during his special remarks said that 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 the country needs “a third strand: the knowledge worker”. He also highlighted that Bangladesh First does not mean Bangladesh alone. It means Bangladesh is ready for investment, for cooperation. State Minister Kobir emphasized on augmenting the national capability of the state systems in the domain of artificial intelligence. State Minister Humaiun Kobir highlighted on the need for greater collaboration amongst the different ministries for streamlining workflows and for delivering better results. The State Minister vowed to building a nation capable of benefitting from fast technology adoption.
Earlier, opening the dialogue, Ambassador Salahuddin Noman Chowdhury, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, mentioned that the fundamental question now is “Who controls AI and who benefits from it”. Bangladesh seeks to be an equitable beneficiary of AI rather than merely a consumer and Bangladesh will play a role of bridge builder among global quarters. The Ministry will coordinate stakeholders’ views to shape Bangladesh’s position at the UN Global Dialogue on AI Governance, he added.
ITIT Wing, MOFA and UNDP gave technical papers for benchmarking the session and establishing AI Policy Lab in Dhaka. Lt. General (Rtd.) Md Mahfuzur Rahman, Chairman, Osmani center for peace and security studies highlighted the security aspects of AI in the context of Bangladesh and beyond borders. Joan Ai, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Blanchard House Institute, delivered a special address. Dr. Delwar Hossain, Director General (Additional Secretary), GIU, offered Vote of Thanks.
Twenty-five international organizations and Eighty-five Diplomatic Missions of Bangladesh joined the session online. Senior officials from all relevant ministries and agencies, members of the diplomatic corps, development partners, and representatives of the technology industry, startups, enterprise, chambers, academia and think tanks attended the Dialogue.