Bangladesh’s first national AI-driven design competition, the National AI Art-A-Thon, ended on Thursday at the ICT Tower in Agargaon, Dhaka.
Organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Bangladesh and the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) under the ICT Division, the event was held as part of the Partnerships for a more Tolerant, Inclusive Bangladeshproject, supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Dhaka.
This two-day event brought together a diverse group of participants—professional and student artists, creators, architects, designers, content makers and technologists for a creative challenge that used artificial intelligence to reinterpret and showcase Bangladesh’s rich cultural heritage.
Partners included Microsoft, the University of Toronto, the University of Cambridge, BacBon Limited and Peace Maker Studio.
Speaking at the event as chief guest Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, special assistant to the Hon'ble Chief Adviser Dr Yunus at the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology, highlighted the importance of ethical AI integration.
Faiz said: “As we work towards comprehensive AI policy frameworks, it is vital to preserve the voices of our ethnic communities and cultural narratives. The creative community plays a pivotal role in shaping AI’s values and societal impact.”
UNDP Bangladesh’s Resident Representative Stefan Liller, emphasized the importance of responsible innovation.
Stefan said: "At UNDP, we see AI not merely as a tool, but as a transformative force that must be shaped responsibly, ethically, & inclusively. Our global vision is to ensure that AI is human-centred, rights-based, and accountable, in support of SDGs"
Shish Haider Chowdhury, NDC, secretary of the ICT Division, in his remarks said: “It is essential to guide and question AI, not blindly follow it. This competition encourages ethical engagement and critical reflection—particularly relevant for students and creative professionals.”
Marianne Rabe Knævelsrud, chargé d'affaires at the Royal Norwegian Embassy, praised the initiative for working for better integration of cultural diversity into AI tools.
He said: “Bangladesh’s diverse heritage deserves proper representation—not just by people, but by the AI systems we train and use.”
