First National AI Readiness Assessment Report Published

Artificial Intelligence. Credit- Unsplash - Steve Johnson

Dhaka, November 20: The first National Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report has been officially launched in Bangladesh with the aim of building an ethical, inclusive and human-centric artificial intelligence system.

Faiz Ahmed Tayyab, Special Assistant to the Principal Advisor in Charge of the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, was present as the chief guest at the inauguration ceremony organized by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division, a2i, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the Bangladesh Computer Council Auditorium at ICT Tower in Dhaka today.

Faiz Ahmed Tayyab said at the ceremony that this assessment report has been published at a very important time when Bangladesh is entering an artificial intelligence-based era where decisions taken now will affect society for decades to come. He said, this report clearly shows us where we stand and what issues need to be prioritized, so that AI does not become a substitute for human judgment, but strengthens government institutions and protects citizens' rights without exploiting them.

ICT Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury highlighted the importance of the report in the ongoing policy-making process, especially in finalizing the National AI Policy. He said that policy-making must be evidence-based.

Dr. Susan Bize, Head of the UNESCO Office and Country Representative in Bangladesh, described the first National AI Readiness Assessment Report as both a 'mirror and a roadmap' and said that it is a reflection of progress and challenges in governance, infrastructure, digital inclusion and information-based systems on the one hand, and a clear roadmap to help determine priority actions on the other. She emphasized strengthening data protection and cybersecurity, creating high-quality databases in Bengali and minority languages, and ensuring the full participation of girls and women in AI-related education and work.

The report provides the first comprehensive picture of Bangladesh's institutional, legal, social and technical readiness for AI. It states that Bangladesh has already built a strong foundation in digital governance and citizens' trust in government digital services is high. At the same time, attention has been drawn to irregular internet connectivity and power supply outside Dhaka, persistent gender and urban-rural digital disparities, limitations in high-performance computing infrastructure, and a lack of skills development in information security, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence.

The assessment, prepared in light of UNESCO's policy-based recommendations on artificial intelligence, followed an extensive consultation process with various public and private stakeholders, in addition to national-level data analysis.

The report is being considered as an important milestone as a guide to protecting rights, increasing inclusion and strengthening government institutions through the adoption of AI.

UNDP Bangladesh Resident Representative Stefan Liler, Project Director of the a2i Programme Mohd. Abdur Rafiq, Head of the Development Cooperation Department of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, Michal Kreja, and senior officials of the ICT Department were present. – PID Handout