Bangladesh’s AI Journey: A Visionary Roadmap for a Digital Future

 

Bangladesh is charting an ambitious course toward becoming a technologically advanced nation, with a clear focus on leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) to drive its digital transformation. This journey is guided by a series of foundational documents and policy initiatives, including the National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2019-2024 and more recent frameworks like the National AI Policy (Draft) 2024 and the Bangladesh AI Readiness Assessment Report.

The Foundational Vision: National AI Strategy 2019–2024

The National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence 2019-2024 was Bangladesh’s first comprehensive attempt to outline a national AI roadmap. This draft document laid out a visionary framework for the ethical, secure, and inclusive use of AI, aiming to make it a powerful accelerator for the country’s digitalization process.

The strategy identified seven national priority sectors where AI could have the most significant impact:

Public service delivery 

Manufacturing 

Agriculture 

Smart mobility and transportation 

Skill and education 

Finance and trade 

Health 

For each sector, the strategy detailed specific applications and recommended actions. In the financial sector, for example, it proposed using AI for fraud detection, risk management, personalized banking solutions, and process automation.

At its core, the strategy was built on six strategic pillars designed to create a sustainable AI ecosystem:

Research & Development: Establishing a National AI Research Center and fostering innovation hubs.

Skilling & Reskilling: Equipping the workforce with AI-related skills and reforming educational curricula.

Data & Digital Infrastructure: Building a robust digital foundation with national data centers, a 5G network, and open data initiatives.

Ethics, Data Privacy, Security & Regulations: Creating specific laws and guidelines for fairness, transparency, and a “right to explanation” for AI decisions.

Funding & Accelerating AI Start-ups: Supporting 1,000 AI start-ups and promoting public-private partnerships.

Industrialization of AI Technologies: Encouraging widespread adoption of AI across various industries.

The strategy also acknowledged key challenges, such as a lack of high-quality data, a shortage of skilled professionals, and a need for a stronger legal framework to build public trust.

The Current Blueprint: National AI Policy (Draft) 2024

Building on the foundation of the earlier strategy, the National AI Policy (Draft) 2024 provides a more updated strategic blueprint for the country’s AI journey. It emphasizes innovation, inclusivity, ethics, and human-centered development, with the goal of driving economic growth and maintaining public trust.

The policy’s objectives include upholding ethical and responsible AI use, promoting public awareness, and strengthening Bangladesh’s participation in the global AI ecosystem. A key proposal is the establishment of a National Artificial Intelligence Center of Excellence (NAICE) to coordinate AI initiatives across the country.

To address potential risks, the policy outlines a risk management framework that requires mandatory evaluation of AI products and continuous monitoring. It also stresses the importance of safeguarding privacy through the minimal use of sensitive data, strict consent requirements, and the use of encryption and anonymization.

The Roadmap for Readiness: Key Recommendations

Complementing the policy, the Bangladesh AI Readiness Assessment Report provides a detailed roadmap to guide the country toward a rights-based and inclusive AI ecosystem. The report’s recommendations are structured into three key areas:

Regulation: This includes finalizing the National AI Policy and strengthening data protection and cybersecurity laws. The recommendations are aligned with UNESCO’s ethical guidelines and also suggest developing comprehensive AI procurement policies.

Institutional Framework: The report proposes creating specialized institutions like an “Office of AI” and a multi-stakeholder steering committee with representation from various sectors. It also recommends a committee for AI vendor certification and the development of datasets in Bengali and indigenous languages.

Capacity Building: This section focuses on bridging the digital divide and enhancing public awareness of AI. The report recommends developing AI curricula in schools, investing in workforce training and reskilling, and building fairness checks into AI systems to combat bias.

Conclusion

By integrating the strategic vision of the National AI Strategy with the actionable recommendations of the AI Readiness Assessment Report and the updated framework of the National AI Policy (Draft) 2024, Bangladesh is laying the groundwork for a future where AI serves as a powerful tool for societal progress. This comprehensive approach, which focuses on ethical governance, institutional support, and widespread capacity building, positions the nation to successfully navigate the complexities of the AI revolution and achieve its national development goals.