The Government of Bangladesh and UNESCO on Monday launched a three-day training program in Dhaka aimed at strengthening public sector capacity for the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The training, being held on June 15, 16 and 18 at Lakeshore Hotel in Dhaka, brings together senior government officials, public procurement professionals and ICT focal points from various ministries and agencies.
It focuses on building practical understanding of AI systems, ethical safeguards and governance frameworks needed for the safe and effective adoption of AI in public institutions.
The initiative comes as governments worldwide expand the use of AI in public administration, service delivery and decision-making. In Bangladesh, UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology (RAM) has identified capacity development among policymakers and public officials as a key requirement for responsible AI adoption.
UNESCO Dhaka Head of Sciences Khalid Bin Masud said artificial intelligence is already reshaping how public institutions operate.
“Artificial intelligence is no longer a future issue for governments. It is already influencing how public institutions design services, make decisions and engage with citizens,” he said.
He added that strengthening AI literacy among civil servants is essential to ensure ethical, transparent and public-interest-driven use of the technology.
Bangladesh Public Procurement Authority (BPPA) Chief Executive Officer (Secretary) S M Moin Uddin Ahmed said the initiative aligns with the country’s digital transformation agenda.
“This AI literacy and ethics training is both timely and relevant as we advance our digital transformation journey,” he said.
He added that the authority is working to integrate AI into its systems, including potential enhancements to the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) platform to improve service delivery.
Participants will receive training on AI fundamentals, public service use cases, governance and ethical challenges, along with practical approaches to responsible implementation in government institutions.
The program is being delivered through UNESCO’s AI Ethics Experts Without Borders network, with facilitators from UNDP Sri Lanka’s Citra Social Innovation Lab, BRAC University and North South University.
Officials said the collaboration will support regional knowledge exchange and strengthen South-South cooperation on AI governance.
They added that the initiative is part of UNESCO’s broader support to member states in implementing the Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence and aligning international best practices with national governance priorities.
Strengthening institutional capacity and promoting ethical AI use will be crucial as Bangladesh expands its digital transformation agenda and integrates emerging technologies across public services.