Bangladesh - National AI Strategy

Overview

The National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence — Bangladesh (March 2020) is a government-issued strategic roadmap prepared by the Information and Communication Technology Division (ICT Division) to position AI as a transformational enabler of Bangladesh’s Digital Bangladesh agenda. The strategy sets out objectives, priority sectors, strategic pillars and a phased five-year implementation roadmap. The full published strategy document is available from the ICT Division’s publication archive: National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence - Bangladesh (March 2020). It is conceived as non-binding government guidance aimed at coordinating ministries, the research ecosystem, the private sector and international partners to advance research, human capital, infrastructure and governance for AI across multiple sectors.

Definitions

The strategy provides working definitions to align stakeholders: Artificial Intelligence (AI) as systems that perform tasks requiring human-like cognitive functions including learning, reasoning, perception and decision-making; narrow, general and super AI categories; and terminology around datasets, models, pilots, prototyping and commercialization. It clarifies ‘ethical AI’ as AI designed and deployed in ways that respect privacy, fairness, accountability and safety, and distinguishes between policy instruments (strategic guidance) and statutory regulation (laws enacted by parliament).

Governance and Institutional Framework

The document recommends creation of an AI Taskforce/Steering Committee led by the ICT Division, coordination with the Prime Minister’s initiatives (including the a2i programme), and clear assignment of lead ministries for sectoral deployment. It proposes institutional roles for research funding bodies, universities, industry associations, and regulators to align on standards and pilots. The strategy highlights collaborative models such as public–private partnerships (PPPs), research grants, and international collaboration. The ICT Division is specified as a convener; related implementation assistance and public service innovation is recommended to involve a2i (Aspire to Innovate) and line ministries responsible for health, agriculture, transport, finance and education.

Key Focus Areas

The strategy’s six strategic pillars are examined in detail. Research & Development: build national research capacity, incentivize applied AI research, and foster international partnerships. Skilling & Reskilling: expand curricula, vocational programs, university programs, and professional re-skilling for displaced workers. Data & Digital Infrastructure: create interoperable data platforms, national datasets, cloud and high-performance compute capacity and data-sharing arrangements with privacy protections. Ethics, Data Privacy, Security & Regulations: develop guidelines on privacy, fairness, explainability and cybersecurity; align with international norms and local legal frameworks. Funding & Acceleration: establish seed funds, VC linkages and incubators to expand startups and commercialization pathways. Industrialization of AI: encourage sectoral adoption, exports of AI-enabled services, and clustering within Hi-Tech Parks and innovation hubs. Sectoral roadmaps include prioritized use cases, pilot indicators and stakeholder responsibilities for: public service delivery, manufacturing, agriculture, smart mobility, education & skilling, finance & trade, and health.

Implementation Framework

The strategy sets a phased implementation approach with milestones and responsible actors: year-1 (2020) to establish governance, identify priorities and institutional promotion; years 2–3 to scale skilling, build infrastructure, launch pilots and enable R&D; years 4–5 to commercialize, refine legal frameworks and measure socio-economic impact. Operational measures include development of national datasets with standards, procurement guidance for AI pilots, incentives for private sector R&D, and integration of AI modules in higher education and vocational training. It recommends metrics for monitoring including number of pilots, startups funded, trained workforce, and economic indicators.

Monitoring and Evaluation

The strategy proposes monitoring through an AI Taskforce and periodic progress reports, performance indicators tied to sectoral pilots, and evaluation of social and economic impacts relative to SDG targets. It recommends dashboards, annual reviews, evaluation studies for pilot outcomes, and public reporting to increase transparency and adjust the roadmap based on lessons learned.

Penalties, Liability, and Appeals

As a strategic policy document (not a statute) the strategy does not itself create new criminal penalties but calls for review and alignment with existing laws (including data protection measures and the Digital Security Act). It recommends that future regulatory instruments clearly set responsibilities for model validation, liability for harm, appeal mechanisms for affected individuals, and administrative enforcement by designated regulators once specific rules are enacted.

Relationship to Other Instruments

The strategy situates AI policy within Bangladesh’s Digital Bangladesh program and proposes alignment with existing instruments such as public service digitization initiatives, procurement rules for government IT projects, and sector-specific regulations. It calls for coordination with intellectual property, labor, cybersecurity and data protection frameworks and for updates to sectoral regulations to incorporate AI-specific risks and standards.

International Alignment

The document recommends active international engagement to adopt best practices, participate in global AI research collaborations, and align with international AI governance principles (e.g., OECD, G20/G7 dialogues) to facilitate interoperability, cross-border data flows with safeguards, and export opportunities. It also emphasizes leveraging bilateral and multilateral partnerships for capacity building and R&D collaboration.

Implementation Timeline

Sources and References