Bangladesh has released its first National Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report, presenting a comprehensive overview of the country’s standing across legal, institutional, social, skills and technological capacities as it prepares for an AI-driven future.
Developed using UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM), the report is being viewed as Bangladesh’s first formal roadmap for building an ethical, inclusive and human-centred AI ecosystem.
The report was unveiled on Thursday at an event jointly organised by the ICT Division, a2i, UNESCO and UNDP Bangladesh at the Bangladesh Computer Council auditorium in Dhaka’s ICT Tower.
Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant for Posts, Telecommunications and ICT Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb said the report comes at a decisive moment as Bangladesh transitions into an era shaped by artificial intelligence.
He said decisions taken today will influence the country’s administrative, economic and social landscape for decades and the assessment outlines where Bangladesh stands and where urgent investment must be prioritised.
He said AI must not become a replacement for human judgement but a tool to strengthen public institutions and ensure the protection of citizens’ rights.
ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury said policymaking must be grounded in evidence and the report provides a strong basis for finalising the National AI Policy.
UNESCO Bangladesh Head Susan Vize said the assessment acts both as a reflection of progress and challenges and as a roadmap for national priority setting.
She said strengthening data protection and cybersecurity, developing high-quality datasets in Bangla and minority languages and increasing girls’ participation in AI education and future leadership roles are among Bangladesh’s most urgent tasks.
The report notes that Bangladesh has achieved international-standard progress in digital governance and enjoys high public trust in government digital services.
However, it cites irregular internet connectivity outside Dhaka, persistent gender and urban-rural digital divides, frequent power disruptions and limited high-capacity computing infrastructure as major barriers to nationwide AI adoption.
On the regulatory front, the draft National AI Policy is currently under review, while recent steps such as the Personal Data Protection Ordinance and the Cyber Security Ordinance mark important advances. The report highlights the need for responsible data practices, updated RTI legislation and modern AI-based procurement frameworks.
Bangladesh’s AI startup ecosystem remains in its early stage and the country accounts for only 0.2% of global high-tech exports, underscoring the need to build stronger economic readiness.
The assessment points to the absence of structured AI curricula and ethical AI training in the education system, though it notes nearly 2,000 AI-related research publications in 2021 as a sign of growing academic interest. It calls for expanded research capabilities and greater inclusion of women and girls in AI-related fields.
To strengthen AI governance, the report recommends establishing a central AI governance office, forming a national multistakeholder steering committee, creating an independent data protection authority and developing datasets in Bangla and ethnic minority languages.
It also calls for a certification system for AI vendors, broader reskilling and upskilling initiatives and increased public awareness regarding AI and its risks and opportunities.
The report positions AI adoption as an opportunity to strengthen rights protection, expand inclusion and usher in a new era of efficient and citizen-centred public service delivery in Bangladesh.
The event was attended by UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative Stefan Liller, a2i Project Director Md Abdur Rofiq and Michał Krężel, Head of Development Cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, along with senior officials of the ICT Division.
