BTRC Chairman Urges Responsible Use of Technology to Safeguard Employment

Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman Major General Md Emdad Ul Bari has cautioned against adopting technologies that reduce employment opportunities, urging young innovators to focus on innovations that sustain and strengthen the country’s workforce.

Speaking before the prize distribution ceremony of the Bangladesh ICT and Innovation Awards 2025 on Saturday, 18 October, at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) in Bashundhara, Dhaka, he said, “Whatever we innovate, whatever technology or AI we use, it must consolidate our employment. We must preserve our demographic dividend. Employment cannot be replaced.”

Emphasizing Bangladesh’s demographic reality, he added, “We are a densely populated country. Our challenges are not like those of Western nations, where machines are used because there are not enough people. We must move towards productivity. The demographic dividend is our biggest advantage — but if we fail to use it properly, it becomes a liability. Therefore, innovation and technology must not replace employment.”

In his special address, the BTRC Chairman highlighted imbalances among Bangladesh’s three major sectors — agriculture, industry, and services. “About 34–35 percent of employment is in agriculture, but it contributes only 10–11 percent to GDP growth. Industry employs 20–21 percent yet provides 38–39 percent of GDP, while the service sector accounts for 43–44 percent of employment and contributes around 50–51 percent to GDP,” he noted.

He emphasized that while technology — including AI and frontier innovations — is necessary in agriculture, automation should be approached carefully in other labor-intensive sectors. “Many countries are now talking about robotics, but in our largest export sector, the garments industry, robotic adoption should not be an immediate priority because it provides massive employment. What we need here are predictive maintenance, behavior prediction, and supply chain management systems,” he said.

Highlighting the complexity of the service sector, Bari observed, “We do not need to replace human interaction in customer care with technology. However, in healthcare, AI-based tools can be used, as the number of doctors is insufficient compared to patients. In this area, technology can actually create new employment opportunities.”

The BTRC Chairman warned that Bangladesh’s online freelancers face significant risk from AI disruption. “Bangladesh is the world’s second-largest supplier of online freelancers, making up about 60 percent of the global freelance market. Their skills must be upgraded urgently. If they are not trained to use AI, they will lose work,” he cautioned. He also emphasized formalizing informal sectors: “Those who once sold clothes from door to door are now online. Domestic companies must be formalized, and our services must be integrated and customized.”

Reflecting on the future, Bari added, “Imagine 15 years from now — AI-driven avatars doing my work. What then will our role be? Which of these tasks will define our lives? We should dedicate to technology the tasks we do not want or cannot do. But the work that gives meaning to our lives — that, we must not give away to technology.”

The event was presided over by Syed Almas Kabir, President of the Bangladesh ICT and Innovation Network (BIN). Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Dr. Anisuzzaman Chowdhury attended as Chief Guest, while ICT Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury was present as Special Guest.