Dhaka, 18 January: For the first time in Bangladesh, the Responsible AI Summit 2026 was successfully held at the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST), Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka, under the supervision of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE). The summit has been recognized as a significant initiative in promoting responsible and ethical artificial intelligence practices in the country. At the inauguration ceremony, Ms. Sharmeen Soneya Murshid, Honorable Adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare of the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, attended as the Chief Guest. The Respected Commandant of MIST, Major General Md Nasim Parvez, BSP, ndc, afwc, psc, was present as the Chief Patron. The session was presided over by Brig. Gen. Mohammad Shahjahan Majib, ndu, psc, Head of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE).
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Upol Ehsan, Assistant Professor at Northeastern University and Berkman Klein Fellow at Harvard University. Dr. Ehsan is a renowned researcher in Human-Centered Explainable AI (HCXAI), and his work has been recognized and published at leading international conferences such as ACM CHI and AAAI. He has made significant contributions to Responsible AI policy formulation with various international organizations, including the United Nations, and has also played an important role in supporting education for underprivileged children. In his keynote speech titled “Made Here, Not Imported: Responsible AI in Bangladesh” he emphasized the importance of developing locally innovated AI solutions aligned with Bangladesh’s real needs and context. His informative speech deeply inspired the participants.
The summit featured two insightful panel discussions focusing on academia, industry, and policy perspectives of Responsible AI. The first panel discussion, titled “How might academia help build Responsible AI by and for Bangladesh,” was moderated by Dr. Upol Ehsan (Northeastern University). The panel comprised Associate Professor Dr. S M Taiabul Haque (BRAC University), Professor Dr. Nova Ahmed (North South University), and Associate Professor Dr. Kazy Noor e Alam Siddiquee (MIST). The discussion explored how academic institutions can play a vital role in promoting responsible AI practices. The panelists also deliberated on how the ethical and responsible use of AI can be ensured in Bangladesh as a developing country, highlighting the critical role of academia in shaping the future of AI.
The second panel discussion, titled “Responsible AI focusing on Industry and Policy Formulation,” was conducted under the guidance of Session Chair Ms. Sharmeen Soneya Murshid, Honourable Adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, and Session Co-Chair Respected Major General Md Nasim Parvez, BSP, ndc, afwc, psc, Honourable Commandant, Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST). The session was co-moderated by Dr. Upol Ehsan, along with Co-Founder of Bondstein Technologies Ltd, Mr. Mir Shahrukh Islam. Under his moderation, the distinguished panel included CEO and Chairperson of UY Systems Ltd. Ms. Farhana Anwar Rahman, Senior Assistant Secretary of the ICT Division Mr. Arafat Mohammad Noman and Managing Director of GraphicPeople and SoftwarePeople Mr. Imtiaz Ilahi. In this panel discussion, the speakers emphasized the importance of implementing appropriate measures for digital system adoption in Bangladesh, alongside utilizing responsible AI to enhance industrial efficiency and ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability through effective policy frameworks. They stressed the importance of effective policies to ensure fairness, transparency, and accountability. The discussion also covered the impact, opportunities, and challenges of artificial intelligence in Bangladesh’s industrial sector.
In addition to keynote sessions and panel discussions, the summit featured poster presentations and project exhibition competitions with student participation, where various innovative and socially relevant AI projects were showcased. Students from 12 universities, including MIST, University of Dhaka, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), BRAC University, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), and Islamic University of Technology (IUT), participated in the competitions. The top four teams from both categories, Project Presentation and Poster Showcasing, received awards in recognition of their outstanding performance.
