Bangladesh's National AI Policy: Governance and Innovation

Bangladesh is poised to become a key player in the global AI landscape, offering immense potential for both local and international stakeholders.

As artificial intelligence continues to evolve at a rapid pace, countries around the world are scrambling to position themselves as leaders in this transformative technology. Bangladesh, a country with immense growth potential, is no exception. In recent years, the nation has taken significant steps towards developing a comprehensive AI strategy, setting up governance frameworks, and fostering an innovative environment for AI adoption. By 2026, Bangladesh’s AI readiness will not just be about implementing new technologies but also about creating a responsible, inclusive, and future-proof ecosystem that drives both innovation and societal growth. For businesses, developers, and organizations looking to operate within this emerging AI landscape, understanding Bangladesh’s national AI policy and governance framework is crucial to tapping into the country’s growing digital ecosystem.

Bangladesh's national AI policy: A roadmap to a smart future

In 2024, Bangladesh took a major step by drafting a National AI Policy that aligns with global AI ethics and governance guidelines, including UNESCO’s Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. This forward-looking policy seeks to ensure that AI technologies are developed in a way that benefits society while adhering to values of human rights, inclusivity, and sustainability. The policy emphasizes several critical dimensions such as ethical AI practices, data privacy, cybersecurity, and public sector transparency. One of the key focuses is to create an AI ecosystem that ensures responsible deployment and prevents misuse or harm, particularly as AI becomes more integrated into sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, education, and public services.

A notable aspect of the policy is its multistakeholder approach, which involves government agencies, academia, private sectors, and civil society organizations in the policy-making process. By engaging these diverse stakeholders, Bangladesh is laying the foundation for AI development that is not only cutting-edge but also socially responsible. According to the draft, one of the core elements of the AI policy is building AI governance institutions that can oversee implementation and ensure transparency in AI systems, especially for high-risk applications like facial recognition or predictive analytics. The policy also recognizes the need for strong data governance frameworks to ensure that AI systems are built on diverse, high-quality datasets. This includes initiatives to curate datasets in Bengali and other minority languages, addressing the linguistic barriers that currently hinder the full potential of AI in Bangladesh. With such efforts, the government aims to ensure that AI systems are more inclusive, equitable, and capable of reflecting the cultural diversity of the country.

Institutionalizing AI governance and innovation in Bangladesh

AI governance in Bangladesh is designed to be dynamic and multi-layered, aligning with the rapidly evolving nature of AI technologies. The ICT Division, which plays a pivotal role in AI policy and regulation, has laid out clear institutional structures to facilitate AI adoption across the country. This includes the establishment of a central AI office to streamline efforts across ministries, ensure AI transparency, and create a cohesive regulatory environment. In addition, the government has taken significant steps to build a resilient AI infrastructure that supports both public and private sector applications. For example, the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) is leading efforts to improve AI education, research, and capacity building across universities and research institutions. At the same time, Aspire to Innovate (a2i), a government initiative, has been instrumental in promoting digital transformation by integrating AI into public service delivery and encouraging innovation at the grassroots level. These efforts are complemented by partnerships with international organizations and private-sector players, ensuring that Bangladesh remains at the forefront of AI development in South Asia. The AI Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), conducted by UNESCO in partnership with the government, has provided critical insights into the country’s AI ecosystem. The findings highlight both opportunities and challenges, emphasizing the need for institutional frameworks, data protection regulations, and capacity-building initiatives. With a clear roadmap in place, Bangladesh is positioning itself to leverage AI for both economic growth and social development, balancing the needs of industry with those of the general public.