Bangladesh is developing artificial intelligence (AI) technology in mother tongue because existing global AI models frequently fail to meet the needs of Bengali-speaking students, Education Minister ANM Ehsanul Hoque Milon said at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris.
Speaking at a ministerial roundtable titled “Age Appropriateness and AI in Education”, Milon urged the international community to take proactive measures so that every child can access AI tools in their mother tongue across current educational models and future innovations.
He explained that building Bengali-language technology aligned with Bangladesh’s national competency-based curriculum is essential to bridge linguistic and digital divides.
Outlining Bangladesh’s draft “National Artificial Intelligence Policy 2026-2030”, the minister warned that unregulated generative technology could adversely affect students’ cognitive development and mental growth.
To address these risks, Bangladesh has created a specialised training manual to assist teachers in lesson planning and classroom instruction.
Milon also placed strong emphasis on safeguarding children’s data security and privacy, with his address receiving wide praise from visiting ministers, UNESCO delegates, and attending experts.
The discussions took place during “Digital Learning Week 2026”, organised by UNESCO at its Paris headquarters from 8 to 11 September under the theme “Education in the AI Era: Facts, Frictions, Frontiers”.
The high-level gathering features education ministers representing 25 countries alongside experts, academics, and students.
At the opening ceremony on Tuesday, UNESCO Director-General Khaled El-Enany extended a warm welcome to the education minister.
During the session, Amandeep Singh Gill, United Nations under-secretary-general and special envoy on Digital and Emerging Technologies, presented observations from the International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence.
On Wednesday, the education minister is scheduled to address two side sessions “Beyond the Pilot: Insights from AI in English Language Teaching at Scale” and “Teachers at the Center: Agency, Competencies and the Teacher-Student Relationship.”
He is also set to conduct bilateral sideline meetings with visiting ministers and representatives of international organisations throughout the gathering.
