[🇧🇩] Artificial Intelligence-----It's challenges and Prospects in Bangladesh

[Saif]

DeepSeek’s AI triumph: A call for Bangladesh to retain its brightest minds

The global AI race is no longer just about talent migration—it is about fostering innovation at home.

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DeepSeek’s AI triumph: A call for Bangladesh to retain its brightest minds

The recent success of DeepSeek, an AI model developed in China, has disrupted the industry, proving that world-class AI can be created at a fraction of the cost. FILE PHOTO: REUTERS

The United States has long been the world's premier destination for innovation, drawing the brightest minds from across the globe. With its unmatched financial resources, world-class research institutions, and a risk-taking culture that fuels technological breakthroughs, the US has cultivated an environment where ambitious thinkers thrive. The country has built an ecosystem that rewards talent and creativity, making it a magnet for scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs who push the boundaries of possibility. This ability to attract and invest in global talent has been a key driver of the US's dominance in artificial intelligence (AI) and other cutting-edge technologies.

However, the landscape is evolving. The recent success of DeepSeek, an AI model developed in China, has disrupted the industry, proving that world-class AI can be created at a fraction of the cost. Unlike models from OpenAI or Google that require immense computational power and financial backing, DeepSeek demonstrated remarkable efficiency by utilising only a fraction of the GPUs typically needed for large-scale language models. This milestone underscores a broader shift: Asian countries are no longer just suppliers of talent for US companies; they are becoming AI powerhouses themselves. This shift is further reflected in the increasing presence of Asian talent in the US tech industry. With 71 percent of AI researchers in the US being foreign-born and a majority hailing from Asia, the statistics speak for themselves—35.9 percent of Microsoft's AI team and 44.8 percent of Google's AI researchers are of Asian descent.

What makes Asian talent so exceptional? The answer lies in the unique motivations that drive these individuals. Unlike their Western counterparts, who often have access to ample resources, many Asian innovators grow up in environments where they must navigate scarcity and intense competition. This fosters a problem-solving mindset, resilience, and an ability to maximise efficiency with limited means. In countries like Bangladesh, students develop an extraordinary work ethic from a young age, competing for a limited number of top university spots and thriving in challenging conditions. Despite the increase in higher education institutions, the quality of education remains a pressing issue. Many universities focus on infrastructure rather than investing in skilled faculty or research facilities, and there is no robust mechanism to measure educational quality. As a result, students seek better opportunities abroad, where they can specialise and gain practical knowledge tailored to industry demands.

Many of Bangladesh's brightest students have showcased their talents on the global stage, excelling in international competitions and pursuing higher studies at prestigious institutions abroad. A notable example of local ingenuity is Avro Keyboard, a free and open-source Bangla keyboard developed in 2003 by young innovator Mehdi Hasan Khan and his team. Over the years, it has become an indispensable tool for Bangla typing and was honoured with the 2025 Ekushey Padak in recognition. This innovation underscores Bangladesh's potential to contribute meaningfully to the technological landscape, demonstrating how the country's youth can drive innovation and make significant strides in the global tech arena.

Bangladesh, a country with immense intellectual potential, finds itself at a crossroads in this shifting global dynamic. The number of students going abroad for higher studies has tripled in 15 years, despite significant growth in local higher education institutions. In 2022, at least 49,151 Bangladeshi students went abroad to study in 58 countries, a sharp rise from 16,609 in 2008. Although the number of universities has doubled in the same period, the outflow of students has not slowed due to challenges such as limited research opportunities, outdated lab facilities, and political instability. The lack of skilled faculty, research funding, and infrastructure prevents them from thriving within the country, leading to a continuous brain drain.

To harness the potential of its bright population, Bangladesh must learn from countries that have successfully reversed the brain drain. China, for instance, implemented policies to bring back top researchers by offering competitive salaries, advanced research facilities, and government-backed funding programmes. Similarly, India's expanding AI and tech ecosystem is creating opportunities that encourage talent to return home. Bangladesh can adopt similar strategies by investing in AI research centres, fostering collaboration between academia and industry, and providing financial incentives for researchers to develop groundbreaking technology within the country. Creating a startup-friendly environment and strengthening AI infrastructure will allow Bangladesh to not only retain talent but also attract global investments.

The global AI race is no longer just about talent migration—it is about fostering innovation at home. While the US continues to benefit from Asia's intellectual capital, the balance is shifting. However, Bangladesh has a golden opportunity to leverage its human potential and become a significant player in AI. By investing in its brightest minds and providing them with the resources they need, the country can position itself at the forefront of the AI revolution. If Bangladesh embraces the momentum of innovation, it can transform from a talent exporter to a leader in global AI innovation.

Ruhina Tabasshum Prome is research associate at Bangladesh Institute of Governance and Management (BIGM).

Shirin Sultana is research associate at BIGM.​

 

[Saif]

Growing AI market to stir global economy

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly change the global economy in the near future due to the fast-growing competition among nations that tap its benefits. Advanced countries are well ahead in the competition thanks to their cutting-edge knowledge and technology, wh

thefinancialexpress.com.bd

Growing AI market to stir global economy
Asjadul Kibria
Published :
Apr 12, 2025 22:06
Updated :
Apr 12, 2025 22:06

There is no doubt that artificial intelligence (AI) will significantly change the global economy in the near future due to the fast-growing competition among nations that tap its benefits. Advanced countries are well ahead in the competition thanks to their cutting-edge knowledge and technology, whereas developing nations are struggling to catch up. The net result is that there exist a wide gap between the two in regards to AI, which will leave a far-reaching impact on millions of people in the coming days. It is also likely that millions of jobs will vanish, creating severe social tension and chaos in the world. However, there is a big potential to explore diversified opportunities due to the proliferation of AI.

UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD) made these observations in its Technology and Innovation Report 2025, released in the first week of this month. The theme of the latest report is Inclusive Artificial Intelligence for Development, which stresses strategic investments, inclusive governance, and global cooperation to ensure that the benefits of AI are shared equally by all rather than reinforcing current discriminations.

It is to be noted that AI is one of the key frontier technologies and is generally defined as the capability of a machine to engage in cognitive activities typically performed by the human brain. AI implementations focusing on narrow tasks are widely available and used, for example, in recommending online purchases, for virtual assistants in smartphones and for detecting spam or credit card fraud. New implementations of AI are based on machine learning and harness big data.

Again, frontier technologies are defined as new and rapidly developing technologies that take advantage of digitalisation and connectivity. These are emerging at the intersection of radical scientific breakthroughs and real-world implementation. UNCTAD report mentioned 16 more frontier technologies besides AI. These are the Internet of Things (IoT), Big data, Blockchain, 5G, Metaverse, 3D printing, Robotics, Drone technology, Solar photovoltaics (Solar PV), Concentrated solar power, Biofuels, Biogas and biomass, wind energy, Green hydrogen, electric vehicles, Nanotechnology, and Gene editing. These technologies are changing our lives, communication, innovation, creation, and business. Moreover, these are helping to address some of the most pressing global issues we face.

UNCTAD report mentioned that AI is expected to reach US$4.8 trillion in market value within a decade, by 2033, to be precise. At present, the share of AI in the leading frontier technologies market is only seven per cent, while the Internet of Things grabs 36 per cent. Due to rapid growth, by 2033 the share of AI may reach 29 per cent. The UN agency report, however, pointed out that access to AI infrastructure and expertise remains concentrated in a few economies. For instance, only 100 firms, mainly in the United States (US) and China, account for 40 per cent of global corporate research and development (R&D) spending. "Leading tech giants, such as Apple, Nvidia and Microsoft, each have a market value of around $3 trillion, rivalling the gross domestic product (GDP) of the whole African continent," it added. Thus, the report cautioned that market dominance, at both national and corporate levels, is likely to widen technological divides, leaving many developing nations at risk of missing out on the benefits of AI.

Another big risk the fast-growing AI market poses is the loss of jobs. UNCTAD report estimated that AI could impact 40 per cent of jobs worldwide as the 'benefits of AI-driven automation often favour capital over labour.' This may widen inequality and reduce the competitive advantage of low-cost labour in developing economies, cautioned the report. At the same time, the report expressed optimism that AI is not just about replacing jobs; it can create new industries and empower workers. To use AI to enhance employment opportunities rather than eliminate those, the UN agency stressed investing in reskilling, upskilling and workforce adaptation. In this connection, it is critical to formulate effective AI policies in the countries, so they can focus on infrastructure, data and skills.

So far, most AI policies have been formulated by developed countries. The UNCTAD report showed that at the end of 2023, around two-thirds of developed countries had a national AI strategy, and only six of the 89 national AI strategies were from LDCs. Bangladesh and Sierra Leone took the lead in 2019 to formulate AI policies and were joined by four other LDCs in 2023.

Another critical aspect is global AI governance, which will play a significant role in determining the status of different nations in the world of AI. As AI regulation and ethical frameworks take shape, UNCTAD strongly recommends that developing nations join the initiative. This is crucial to ensure that AI serves global progress, not just the interests of a few. The report argues that stronger international cooperation is necessary to create a global AI framework prioritising equity, transparency, and shared benefits.

The analyses of the pros and cons of AI globally in the near future by UNCTAD will definitely serve as a valuable guideline for developing nations like Bangladesh. Though the country has taken a number of steps in digital transformation and is also trying to move ahead in terms of AI, a lot of work is needed in this connection. The Digital Bangladesh initiative, launched one and half decades ago, successfully pushed digital transformation in various sectors. The country's potential is also reflected in the frontier technologies readiness index, as revealed in the UNCTAD report.

In 2024, Bangladesh ranked 112th among 170 nations in the frontier technologies readiness index overall, jumping from 121st in the previous index. The index has five key components, and ranking in those areas can provide more details of readiness.

The country's position is significantly low in ICT and skills rankings, 140th and 132, respectively, reflecting the bad governance, flawed planning and wrong investments that drove the Digital Bangladesh initiative from its optimal paths to a large extent. The country's position is slightly better in industry and finance rankings, 108th and 90th, respectively. In the research and development (R&D) ranking, Bangladesh stood 61st, showing that the country has developed a research repository, although it is still unable to translate the research outcomes into action significantly. To put it another way, Bangladesh has developed a good research base to tap into the future AI market and contribute to the global AI policy-making discourse and governance. Now, a long-term realistic plan is required to continue the advancement in research and draw adequate investment from home and abroad. Securing jobs is also critical for the country, as AI-driven displacement is unavoidable.​

 

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How AI can help build a fairer Bangladesh

To ensure a sustainable future, it is imperative to reform state policies and eliminate corruption.

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How AI can help build a fairer Bangladesh

File Illustration: Salman Sakib Shahryar

Bangladesh has faced systemic corruption with various public and private sectors, resulting in inefficiencies, economic disparities, and hardships for the common people. Under the former regime, corruption was rampant, leading to biased policymaking that benefited vested quarters at the cost of national wealth and public welfare. To ensure a sustainable future, it is imperative to reform state policies and eliminate corruption. This can be done through the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated data-driven systems to monitor societal transitions. This initiative aims to empower the youth and universities in Bangladesh with AI-driven tools to actively participate in societal transition. By leveraging AI for unbiased decision-making and transparent monitoring, it seeks to eliminate corruption, enhance policy efficiency, and ensure equitable national development and public welfare.

The negative impact of corruption has permeated all key areas, including: (1) Energy security: predatory costs and economic inefficiencies and energy-related challenges have led to a severe energy crisis and financial burdens on the people putting their energy rights in danger. (2) Food security: poor policies and productivity, an oligopolistic market, especially in import, mismanagement of subsidies, and exploitation by middlemen have resulted in food shortage, adulteration, and price hikes. As a result, consumers' right to food is unprotected. (3) Health security: oligopolistic market, inaction by regulatory bodies, unethical business practices in the private sector and corruption in the healthcare and medicine sector have led to inadequate medical facilities, mismanagement of resources, and lack of affordable treatment options. Therefore, health rights are at stake. (4) Education security: poor-quality, corruption in recruitment and physical infrastructural development, and mismanagement of resources plague the sector. Former government officials, such as vice-chancellors of public universities and faculty members, have used employment as business opportunities, accepting bribes to recruit unqualified people. The same model was followed by the schools and colleges under Monthly Pay Order (MPO) all over the country. This not only compromises standards but also violates the right to quality education of the people. (5) Other areas: from financial security to national safety, biased policies and inefficient governance have created systemic instability and public dissatisfaction.

To counteract these, a fundamental shift in governance is needed—one that replaces human bias and vested interests with data-driven, AI-powered decision-making systems. AI has the potential to revolutionise governance by ensuring that policies are designed based on real-time, unbiased, and verifiable data.

Power network AI can be deployed to collect real-time data from power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. By eliminating human intervention in energy allocation and pricing decisions, the system can ensure equitable distribution of electricity based on real demand and supply, power supply free from predatory costs, system loss reduction, power generation at the least cost, detection of fraudulent activities such as unauthorised power consumption, system loss and billing manipulation, and optimised renewable energy integration, reducing dependency on fossil fuels and enhancing power supply and economic sustainability.

Data-driven AI systems can be implemented to regulate the agricultural sector and ensure fair price monitoring to prevent market manipulation, automated tracking of crop yields, predicting potential shortages and suggesting policy adjustments in real-time, transparent subsidy distribution, ensuring that benefits reach the farmers rather than corrupt intermediaries, and control of market price to prevent manipulation.

The healthcare system can be improved through AI-driven solutions such as automated tracking of medical supplies and pharmaceuticals preventing corruption in procurement and distribution, predictive analytics for disease outbreaks allowing better allocation of resources, and AI-assisted telemedicine improving healthcare access in rural and underserved areas.

The education sector requires urgent intervention to eliminate corruption and improve quality. AI-driven solutions can help by automating faculty and staff recruitment, monitoring educational standards, identifying underperforming institutions and enforcing accountability. AI-based personalised learning systems can enhance the quality of education and make it accessible to all students. It can also detect fraudulent degrees and academic misconduct, ensuring credibility in educational institutions.

Governance and policy reforms must be guided by AI-driven analysis that eliminates human biases. Key benefits include unbiased policy recommendations based on economic, social, and environmental data rather than political influences, automated fraud detection systems in financial transactions, procurement, and contract management and real-time data integration from multiple sources, ensuring transparency and accountability in government decision-making.

For AI-driven systems to function effectively, it is essential to establish: (1) Automated data collection mechanisms, reducing human interference and chances of manipulation; (2) Data sanitisation protocols, ensuring that collected data is accurate, relevant, and free from bias; and (3) Blockchain and cryptographic security frameworks, preventing unauthorised alterations or misuse of data.

The integration of AI-driven systems in governance is not just a technological upgrade—it is a revolutionary step towards fairness, efficiency, and accountability. By replacing corrupt human interventions with data-driven AI decisions, Bangladesh can overcome the inefficiencies of the past and build a future where public welfare is prioritised over vested interests.

M. Shamsul Alam is energy adviser at the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), and professor of electrical and electronic engineering at Daffodil University.​

 

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The new canvas: how generative AI is changing the future of creative work in Bangladesh

Generative AI is rewriting the rules of creativity

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The new canvas: how generative AI is changing the future of creative work in Bangladesh
Generative AI is rewriting the rules of creativity

From the bustling alleys of Dhaka to the quiet courtyards of Netrokona, a new creative energy is rising across Bangladesh. Young people everywhere—armed with dreams, basic laptops, and a mobile connection—are entering the digital design world. Whether through a local ICT training centre in Jashore, an online course in Chattogram, or a freelancing group in Rajshahi, the goal is to earn, create, and connect with global opportunities. But while their ambition is clear, many are still learning tools that are no longer industry standard. The rest of the world is already designing with Artificial Intelligence, and Bangladesh must catch up fast.

Today, generative AI is rewriting the rules of creativity. Tools like Stable Diffusion and DALL·E 3 allow users to turn simple text prompts into stunning visuals in seconds. A person can type "a modern office logo with traditional motifs" or "a coastal village sunset for a tourism poster," and instantly receive professional-quality results. Meanwhile, platforms like Canva—already popular in Bangladesh—have introduced AI-based features that simplify layout design, video editing, and brand creation. The result is that what once took days of careful work can now be completed in minutes, with almost no prior training in graphic software. For a country with millions of digitally inclined youth, this is not just a trend—it's a turning point.

More than 60 percent of Bangladesh's population is under 35. This massive demographic advantage—often called a demographic dividend—can either drive the economy forward or weigh it down, depending on how we prepare our youth. We can turn this population into a force of value generation with AI-powered design skills. If even a small percentage of our youth become successful AI-enhanced freelancers or entrepreneurs, the country could earn billions in annual income, reduce youth unemployment, and grow a sustainable, knowledge-based export sector. This is not a theory; this is already happening.

In Khulna, a group of final-year students uses Canva and DALL·E 3 to create product packaging for small businesses in the UAE. In Bogura, a freelancer who switched from traditional Photoshop to Stable Diffusion now handles design tasks for three international clients and has tripled his income. In Barishal, a group of girls from a local ICT centre are designing Facebook campaigns for local fashion brands using Canva's AI layout generator. In Mymensingh, a graduate with a diploma now creates concept art for indie game developers in Germany using prompt-based visual creation through AI tools.

These are not rare cases but early signals of a larger possibility. If we can train and mobilise one million youth in AI-powered design and content creation, each earning even $300 per month, that would mean over $3.6 billion flowing into the economy annually—without factories, without exports, and with minimal infrastructure. That is the cumulative impact we are ignoring at our own risk.

But this impact is not just economic. When a young woman in Nilphamari earns her first dollar by selling an AI-generated design on Etsy, she gains income, dignity, and confidence. When a boy in Rangpur becomes a visual storyteller using Canva's AI tools, he doesn't need to migrate for work—he brings opportunity home. When a madrasa graduate in Cumilla learns to design Da'wah posters with DALL·E 3 and shares them online, he's contributing to community education while building digital skills. This is how we create an inclusive economy—by giving tools, access, and belief to every corner of society.

The government of Bangladesh has already committed to digital development through initiatives like the ICT Division's skills programmes, LEDP, and SEIP. However, most of these training curricula were created before the rise of AI. They taught basic freelancing, graphic design, and content marketing, but now need to evolve rapidly to meet global standards. We must revise our national curriculum in public education and private training centres to include Stable Diffusion, DALL·E 3, Canva AI, and prompt engineering as part of regular training. Our instructors must be retrained. Our content must be translated into Bangla. And our delivery must reach every district—from Cox's Bazar to Thakurgaon.

A district-focused model can multiply this impact. In Rajshahi, known for its rich culture and artistic heritage, AI can help digitise traditional patterns into sellable global merchandise. In Narayanganj, the design needs of small garment exporters can be supported by local youth trained in prompt-based branding. In Noakhali, AI-powered design kiosks can be set up in union digital centres, helping farmers or shopkeepers make marketing posters. Sylhet's diaspora connections can be tapped by creating freelance design agencies that serve the UK and European Bangladeshi community. In Bandarban, trained tribal youth can build visual stories of their heritage, promote tourism, and sell creative content globally. The canvas is limitless—if we provide the brush.

The private sector must join this movement. Internet providers, banks, telecom companies, NGOs, and universities can co-host AI design bootcamps, sponsor creative challenges, and offer microgrants to rural AI creators. A student in Gopalganj should not be denied the future because they didn't have Canva Pro access or didn't hear of DALL·E 3. Inclusion must be intentional.

Bangladesh has consistently proven that it can adapt and leapfrog. From basic phones to mobile banking, garments to digital commerce, we move when mobilised. Now is the time to mobilise around generative AI—not as a tech buzzword but as a national tool for income, innovation, and inspiration. With proper direction, this movement could become our next garment industry—only brighter, cleaner, and fully digital.

Our young people are ready. They are creative, connected, and courageous. All they need now is guidance, access, and trust. We must give them the tools of tomorrow—today.

Let us not wait for the future to arrive. Let us build it—with our youth, talent, and a new canvas filled with AI-powered creativity.

The writer is the chairman of Bitbyte Technology Limited.​