President Warns of AI Risks

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has emphasised the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to increase productivity, modernise industries, expand exports, attract new investment and create dignified employment. At the same time, he urged stakeholders to ensure the technology is used sustainably, appropriately and safely, taking into account potential risks involving unemployment, security and the future of human civilisation.

He made the remarks as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the first Bangladesh AI Business Summit 2026, held on 5 November, Thursday at the Hall of Fame of the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in the capital.

Referring to the word “artificial” itself as a source of concern, the President called for greater attention to making AI sustainable and useful. He said artificial intelligence is not merely a technology of the future; it could become a major driving force behind Bangladesh’s future development. AI, he added, is now regarded as a revolutionary invention comparable to electricity.

Emphasising the need to assess the country's capacity to adopt this rapidly evolving technology, the President said a large portion of Bangladesh’s vast population remains unemployed. Whether AI could create further unemployment, he said, must be considered with utmost seriousness.

Highlighting what he described as the greatest concerns and dangers surrounding AI, he stressed that safe and effective use of the technology must be ensured at every stage. Otherwise, he warned, the entire human civilisation could face an existential crisis.

Held under the slogan “AI-fication for Tomorrow’s Economy”, the summit was chaired by Faqir Mahbub Anam, Minister for Post, Telecommunications and Information Technology, and Science and Technology.

In his presidential address, the minister said initiatives were being pursued to strengthen data-driven technologies, broadband and 5G internet, high-performance data centres and cloud infrastructure. Training programmes on AI-based health technology, agricultural technology and financial technology have also been planned at the university level.

He said efforts were underway to develop a national pipeline of AI-skilled professionals, connecting universities with industry. Grants were also being provided to promote technology-based research addressing local challenges.

To maximise the benefits of AI while minimising its risks, the minister said initiatives were being taken to establish a strong legal framework that would ensure data protection, privacy and ethical AI practices. Necessary legal reforms were also underway, he added.

The minister further said that people across the country would be able to access all types of digital services through Bangla voice commands in the future. To achieve this, the government was working to develop skilled citizens in AI algorithms, machine learning and data science.

Emphasising that technology must be used for human welfare, Faqir Mahbub Anam called on the private sector to play a more active role in the adoption and development of AI.

Welcome remarks were delivered by Taskeen Ahmed, president of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), and Md Anwar Hossain, secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology.

An audiovisual presentation titled “Artificial Intelligence for Economic Transformation of Bangladesh” was featured at the event. The keynote presentation was delivered by Professor Alamgir Hossain, CEO of Digital Readiness and Intelligent Systems Ltd., UK, and former chairman of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Dhaka.

Mahbubur Rahman, president of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Bangladesh, and M. Ruhul Quddus Talukder Dulu, chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Science and Technology, spoke as special guests.

//DBTech/IH/SMP/MIST//