BTRC-BIGF Conference Urges Immediate Approval Of National AI Policy

Demanding a predictable, transparent, and enforceable regulatory architecture to guide the adoption of intelligent computing, technology researchers, policymakers, and civic leaders have urged the government to approve the National Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy without further administrative delay. The collective resolution was formally adopted at the conclusion of a three-day national conference jointly convened by the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) and the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF), held in Dhaka from 15 to 17 October 2026.

Organized under the overarching theme "Governing the Internet in the Age of Intelligence: An Inclusive, Safe, Resilient and Human-Centric Digital Future," the conference featured 12 thematic sessions and an intensive workshop covering digital public infrastructure, cybersecurity resilience, cross-border interoperability, and human rights. The proceedings drew more than 350 industry delegates and featured contributions from 82 domain specialists, including five international experts.

The closing resolution underscored that the prompt enactment of the National AI Policy serves as a foundational pillar for establishing an equitable and innovation-friendly digital economy. Delegates noted that technological expansion must incorporate algorithmic transparency, non-discrimination, institutional accountability, and rigorous data privacy protections. The declaration further urged the mobilization of capital investment toward local-context and Bangla-language AI research, targeted digital literacy initiatives for marginalized communities, women, and persons with disabilities, alongside the integration of responsible automated systems across public utility delivery.

The opening plenary commenced with welcome remarks by BIGF Secretary General Mohammad Abdul Haque Anu, while BTRC Chairman Major General Md Emdad Ul Bari (Retd) addressed the forum as Chief Guest. Anja Gengo, digital policy and regulation specialist at the United Nations Internet Governance Forum Secretariat, participated virtually as guest of honor.

Addressing opening deliberations, AHM Bazlur Rahman, member of the Multistakeholder Consultation Group of UNGIS and Responsible AI Ambassador, underscored the urgency of anchoring national tech policy to human rights to counter coordinated disinformation and technology-facilitated gender-based violence. Former Director General of BTRC's Systems and Services Division, Brigadier General Mohammad Khalilur Rahman (Retd), remarked that closing modern digital divides requires shifting regulatory emphasis from mere geographical network footprints to equitable digital literacy and reliable bandwidth capacity.

Technical panels over the course of the summit included presentations on ethics and judicial accountability featuring Gazipur Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Md Asaduzzaman, alongside a keynote by Prof. Dr. Lafifa Jamal of the Department of Robotics and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Dhaka on mitigating online violence against women. Other sessions brought interventions from BNNRC Program Coordinator Hiren Pandit, CEF Capacity Development Expert Md. Nurul Islam, and Member of Parliament Nilufar Chowdhury, culminating in a dedicated youth summit focused on ethical AI deployment among emerging creators, official sources confirmed.

 //DBTech/HPGIM/SMP/MIST//