From government offices to classrooms, hospitals to farms, Bangladesh is preparing to take a broader leap into the age of Artificial Intelligence, with the government placing AI at the centre of its development and modernisation strategy.
The ambition goes beyond simply introducing new technology.
According to the budget document for the 2026-27 fiscal year, the government is undertaking a series of initiatives to deploy AI-based technologies to address inefficiencies and complexities in public services, enabling faster decision-making, improved data analysis and enhanced service quality.
The document says wider use of AI across government agencies is expected to make administrative processes more efficient, transparent and timely, while improving citizens’ access to public services.
The government is also pursuing AI-driven initiatives to develop smart cities and make citizen services more user friendly.
As part of its broader digital transformation agenda, AI is being incorporated into the education system to equip students with the skills required for future workplaces.
Beyond education, the government plans to expand AI applications in the health, agriculture and public service sectors, aiming to create a technology-driven and service-oriented Bangladesh.
The budget document also highlights the rapid growth of Bangladesh’s electronics industry, describing it as one of the country’s fastest-growing and most promising sectors after the ready-made garments industry.
It says the availability of affordable digital devices is essential for the development of the country’s ICT sector. To achieve this, the government intends to encourage domestic production of electronic devices, making them more accessible to citizens while creating opportunities for exports.
Through appropriate policy support, the government expects Bangladesh to emerge as one of the world’s leading electronics manufacturing hubs within the next five years.
The budget also places strong emphasis on harnessing the country’s youthful population, describing young people as Bangladesh’s greatest asset and a major force for future economic growth.
To capitalise on their talent and innovation, the government plans to promote startups, freelancing and digital entrepreneurship through technology-based training and skills development programmes designed to prepare young Bangladeshis for the global labour market.
The government believes the expansion of the ICT and automation-based economy will generate new employment opportunities and enable young entrepreneurs to become key contributors to economic development.
As part of these efforts, it has initiated work on a modern startup policy and plans to consolidate various startup funds into a unified financing mechanism to improve access to funding for innovative businesses.
The government’s broader objective is to build an innovative and self-reliant Bangladesh by empowering its youth and fostering a vibrant technology ecosystem.
The budget document says that with adequate policy support and investment, Bangladesh’s talented young innovators will be capable of establishing world-class technology hubs comparable to Silicon Valley in the United States, Shenzhen in China, Singapore and Dubai.
