Bangladesh’s First AI Summit Brings Bold Vision to the Fore at BRAC University
The country’s first artificial intelligence summit has commenced at BRAC University in Dhaka, drawing participation from top domestic and international business leaders, tech and AI experts, policymakers, and innovators. The daylong conference is featuring a series of sessions aimed at exploring various facets of artificial intelligence for registered attendees with a strong interest in the field.
The event comprises four keynote sessions, two panel discussions, five insight sessions, two case studies, one fireside chat, and five breakout sessions that focus on AI integration in key sectors such as education, agriculture, healthcare, fintech, and industry. Speakers highlighted the ways AI is transforming employment, businesses, and everyday life, while panelists addressed Bangladesh’s preparedness and strategic direction for this technological shift.
The conference was inaugurated on Thursday morning with a welcome address from Mohammad Mojibul Haque, Dean of BRAC Business School, followed by remarks from Reazul Hasan, Group CEO of event sponsor Reve Group.
Shariful Islam, Founder and Managing Director of Bangladesh Brand Forum and Bangladesh Innovation Conclave, earlier remarked on the event, stating, “Artificial intelligence is no longer merely a technological matter—it is touching every aspect of our lives. From manufacturing to agriculture, healthcare to education, governance to daily living—AI is bringing rapid solutions, fresh perspectives, and immense potential for advancement. But alongside the use of this technology, we bear a major responsibility—to ensure conscious usage and inclusive participation. Today’s summit is not just a discussion—it is a collaborative effort to shape the future. We’ve also been able to host a hackathon alongside the summit, where young innovators in the country have smartly developed AI-based solutions for key sectors.”
Microsoft’s Country Director for Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan, Md. Yousup Faruque, delivered a keynote presentation on the future of AI in Bangladesh. A panel on AI policies, ethics, and preparedness for nation-building was moderated by Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, President of the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB). Panelists included Rahat Ahmed, Founder and Managing Partner of Anchorless Bangladesh; Yasir Azman, CEO of Grameenphone Ltd.; and Mahmud Hossain, Commissioner of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC).
In a midday insight session titled “Hype vs. Reality: AI Scenarios in Bangladesh,” Rakibul Hasan, author of a Bangla-language AI book series, presented a compelling case for AI adoption. He stated, “If services are to be delivered to 170 million people swiftly by both government and private sectors, there is no alternative to artificial intelligence. The cost of AI inferencing is decreasing to such an extent that using local data, governance can be run with AI-generated decisions.”
In the second session, Professor Khondaker A Mamun, founder of CMED Health, presented on the global transformation of AI and its economic implications for emerging markets. This was followed by a case study from Shikho, an ed-tech startup, presented by its CEO and founder, Shahriar Chowdhury.
Among the other prominent participants were Muhammad Abdul Matin Iman, CEO of Praava Health; Mohammad Oli Ahad, Founder and CEO of Enterprise Tech Ltd.; Luciano Floridi, Director at the Yale University Center for Digital Ethics; M Monzur Mahmud, President of DataSoft Systems Bangladesh Ltd.; Osman Ershad Faiez, Additional Managing Director and COO of Eastern Bank; Sabbir Ahmed, Visa’s Country Manager for Bangladesh, Nepal, and Bhutan; Khalid Hossain, Chief Digital Officer of Mutual Trust Bank; Shams Zaman, Country Managing Partner at PwC; Krish Banerjee, Managing Director and Canada Lead (Data and AI) at Accenture; Sadiq Sayeed, VP and Global Head of Data, Wealth, and Asset Management at Manulife Financial; Frederick Scholl, Director of the Cybersecurity Program at Quinnipiac University; and Syed Almas Kabir, former President of BASIS.
The summit also addressed critical themes including the current landscape of AI, agricultural transformation, community empowerment, business innovation, and ethical technology design for justice. Additionally, discussions explored AI’s role in expanding access to education, its emerging ethical challenges—especially privacy and power dynamics—and the potential of AI in shaping the future of Bangladesh. Broader reflections were offered on global AI trends, the position of Bangladesh among emerging economies, and the importance of inclusive innovation in sectors such as agriculture, education, and social development.
