The winners of the International AI Innovation & Leadership Consortium (IAILC) Prestige Awards 2026 have been officially announced. The announcement was made on Wednesday during a “Meet the Press” event held at a local hotel in Dhaka by IAILC Founder and President Prof BC Pandey.
The awards, organised by the Canada-based Universal Humanity Foundation (UHF), will be presented during an international ceremony on 25 July at Hotel Sonargaon, Dhaka. Bangladesh’s Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Zahir Uddin Swapan is expected to hand over the awards to the recipients.
According to the organisers, the awards recognise outstanding contributions to human-centered artificial intelligence, ethical leadership, education, research, innovation, cybersecurity, digital transformation, and sustainable development, read a press release.
Prof Pandey said the 57 winners, including both individuals and organisations, were selected following an extensive research and international assessment process.
The evaluation followed five internationally recognised stages: institutional research, due diligence, compliance screening, governance review, and independent international evaluation.
The selection covered a wide range of sectors, including universities, government institutions, international organisations, research institutions, corporate entities, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, and development organisations.
The organisers emphasised that the IAILC Prestige Awards 2026 is not a commercial or sponsorship-based programme. They clarified that paid nominations, sponsorships, lobbying, or advertising purchases played no role in the selection, with recipients chosen solely on the basis of merit, verified evidence, and demonstrated achievements.
All selected winners will receive an official confirmation letter, invitation letter, and VIP delegate invitation. During the ceremony, they will be presented with a medal, crest, official recognition certificate, and international CPD dual certification. No registration or administrative fees are required to receive the award.
In his closing remarks, ASEAN Regional Advisor and Bangladesh Ambassador of the UHF Sachindra Nath Haldar said the recognition would showcase the recipients’ contributions on the global stage and promote responsible technology and ethical leadership.
The press conference was attended by Advisor of the UHF Global Consortium ASEAN Chapter Md Mizanur Rahman, Sanjit Barai, advocate Mintu Kumar Mondal, entrepreneur Ontu Karim, and High-Tech Coordinator of the UHF Global Consortium Headquarters in Canada Adita Haque.
List of award recipients
Government & Public Institutions: Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC); Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC); Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA); Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Science and Technology; Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology; National Board of Revenue (NBR); Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA); Bangladesh Data Center Company Limited; and Cyber Security Agency/BGD e-GOV CIRT.
International Development & Humanitarian Organizations: UNDP Bangladesh, UNICEF, and BRAC.
Banking & Financial Institutions: Bangladesh Bank, BRAC Bank PLC, Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC, City Bank PLC, Eastern Bank PLC, bKash, Prime Bank Limited, and Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC.
Universities & Research Institutions: United Nations University, University of Toronto, University of Dhaka, BUET, BRAC University, North South University, Daffodil International University, United International University, AIUB, East West University, Islamic University of Technology, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Stamford University Bangladesh, UGC Bangladesh, London School of Leadership & Management, and Accuracy Education.
Chambers & Business Organizations: Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI), Bangladesh Association of Contact Center and Outsourcing (BACCO), BGMEA, and BKMEA.
Corporate & Technology Organizations: HRC Group, Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC, ACI Limited, PRAN-RFL Group, Akij Group, Grameenphone, Banglalink, Asia Star Bangladesh & Thailand, Pentagon Films & Media International, Robi, Amlaki Bangladesh & Thailand, and Mintu Kumar Mondal & Associates.
Global Changemaker Prestige Award 2026: Prof Dr Nidhi Nagabhatla.
