Imagine a farmer in northern Bangladesh remotely monitoring his fields using his smartphone. Drones fly overhead, capturing real-time data on crop health, while sensors in the soil measure moisture and nutrient levels. This data, processed by artificial intelligence (AI), provides insights on optimal irrigation, fertilizer use, and pest management. The result? Higher crop yields, better resource efficiency, and fewer wasted inputs. This isn’t a scene from the distant future but a reality that AI can help shape today. However, this transformation extends far beyond agriculture and into nearly every major industry in Bangladesh.
The Transformative Power of AI in Bangladesh
AI is not just another technological trend; it’s reshaping industries worldwide, and Bangladesh is no exception. From healthcare to manufacturing, AI is driving efficiency, boosting innovation, and unlocking new economic opportunities.
AI in Agriculture: Precision Farming
Agriculture remains the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy, employing nearly 40% of the population. AI has the potential to revolutionize this sector by enabling precision farming. Startups like Intelligent Machines (IM), one of Bangladesh’s leading AI companies, are already working with farmers to integrate AI technologies like drones, machine learning algorithms, and data analytics into daily operations. For example, IM provides AI-driven solutions to monitor crop health and predict weather patterns, helping farmers make data-informed decisions.
In global contexts, companies like Aerobotics in South Africa are utilizing AI and drone technology to monitor crops and provide detailed analytics to farmers. These AI-driven methods, though more prominent in larger agricultural economies, offer valuable insights into how Bangladesh can adopt similar technologies.
AI in Healthcare: A Diagnostic Revolution
AI in healthcare is revolutionizing Bangladesh’s medical diagnostics, addressing challenges like overcrowded hospitals and limited specialized care in rural areas. Pioneering efforts, such as those by Bangladeshi scientists Zahangir Alam and Dr. Abed Chaudhury, who developed AIeh-MD to predict diabetes by analyzing the gut microbiome, demonstrate AI’s potential. Their innovation detects early signs of diseases, facilitating timely interventions.
AI platforms like Praava Health have been pioneers in leveraging AI for telemedicine and virtual consultations. By utilizing AI for triage and patient interaction, these platforms help bridge the gap between specialized care and rural healthcare needs, offering quality healthcare access to those who would otherwise have limited options. Similarly, innovative projects like SuSastho.AI provide adolescents with crucial mental and reproductive health support through an AI-powered chatbot, delivering culturally sensitive and secure healthcare information.
Experts advocate for expanding the integration of AI in public healthcare, recognizing its potential to enhance diagnostic precision, reduce the burden on overworked doctors, and improve patient care in rural and underserved areas. AI’s role in transforming healthcare systems globally is evident, but its capacity to address Bangladesh’s unique challenges—especially through early disease detection, personalized healthcare, and remote monitoring—positions it as a vital tool for public health reform.
With Bangladesh’s healthcare system in dire need of innovation, AI represents a promising avenue to ensure equitable healthcare access, from urban centers to the most remote villages. The continuing development and deployment of AI in healthcare will not only ease the pressures on the healthcare system but also provide crucial preventative care that could reshape the country’s health outcomes.
AI in Manufacturing: Boosting Efficiency
Manufacturing is a vital sector for Bangladesh, particularly the ready-made garment (RMG) industry, which accounts for 80% of the country’s export revenue. AI can streamline manufacturing processes through predictive maintenance, automated quality control, and optimized supply chain management. Leading global brands like Zara and H&M have adopted AI to analyze fashion trends and consumer preferences to optimize their operations, and Bangladesh’s garment manufacturers are beginning to follow suit.
AI-driven tools in manufacturing aren’t just limited to efficiency. AI enables customized product designs and on-demand manufacturing, which could open new doors for Bangladesh’s garment industry. For instance, local companies like Unilever Bangladesh have used AI for precision marketing and campaign management, improving operational efficiency by more than 200%.
AI in Finance: Expanding Financial Inclusion
AI is also making waves in Bangladesh’s financial services sector. From automating tasks like fraud detection and customer service to improving credit scoring systems, AI is transforming how financial institutions operate. Mobile financial service (MFS) providers like bKash have integrated AI to enhance their services, using AI-driven chat bots for customer interactions and fraud detection.
Intelligent Machines, in collaboration with bKash, has helped implement AI systems that streamline customer onboarding and transaction monitoring. These innovations are increasing financial inclusion by making banking services more accessible to underserved populations.
AI in Traffic Management: Optimizing Dhaka’s Mobility
In Dhaka, Bangladesh, AI-based traffic management systems are being deployed to tackle the city’s severe traffic congestion. By utilizing real-time data from cameras and sensors at major intersections, the AI dynamically adjusts traffic signals to optimize vehicle flow, particularly during peak hours on critical routes like Mirpur and Airport Road. The AI system promises to reduce travel time, cut down vehicle idling, and lower pollution levels, significantly enhancing urban mobility
However, despite its potential, the project faces challenges. Experts have raised concerns about the suitability of AI in Dhaka’s traffic environment, where lane discipline is absent, and the mix of motorized and non-motorized vehicles creates unpredictability. Previous attempts to automate traffic signals, such as those initiated in 2001 and 2012, failed due to poor implementation and lack of maintenance.
The AI system’s potential is still recognized, but its success will require significant infrastructure upgrades and better coordination between various traffic management authorities. For example, in 2023, the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) moved to implement AI-powered systems despite past failures, but experts warn that without proper road expansions and discipline, this project may also be destined to fail.
The Challenges: A Double-Edged Sword
Despite AI’s transformative potential, it comes with challenges that Bangladesh must address to fully harness its benefits.
Skill Gaps and Workforce Development
One of the most significant barriers to AI adoption is the lack of a skilled workforce. AI relies heavily on expertise in data science, machine learning, and software engineering, skills that are currently in short supply in Bangladesh. Without focused investment in education and workforce training, AI adoption could exacerbate inequality by leaving behind workers in traditional industries prone to automation.
The National AI Policy 2024 emphasizes upskilling and reskilling programs as a crucial response to the rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across industries in Bangladesh. Given the evolving nature of AI, transitioning the workforce to become AI-literate is a monumental task. The policy acknowledges the need for significant reforms within the educational system to integrate AI into curricula, ensuring that future generations are equipped with the necessary skills. Additionally, the policy targets the reskilling of workers whose roles are most vulnerable to automation. This transition aims to mitigate job displacement by providing opportunities for workers to adapt and find new roles in an AI-driven economy.
Moreover, the policy encourages collaboration between public and private sectors to develop specialized training programs. These programs focus on high-demand skills like machine learning, data analysis, and AI ethics. Despite these efforts, there are challenges, such as the digital divide and inadequate infrastructure, which may delay the widespread impact of these initiatives. Addressing these gaps will require not only policy changes but also substantial financial investment and international collaboration to help scale these upskilling efforts and ensure inclusivity in AI adoption.
Bridging the Digital Divide
Bangladesh’s digital infrastructure, while improving, still lags behind many of its regional peers. In rural areas, access to high-speed internet is limited, and many communities lack the digital literacy required to leverage AI technologies effectively.
To ensure AI benefits everyone, Bangladesh will need to invest in robust infrastructure, including data centers, fiber-optic networks, and improved internet connectivity.
Ethical Concerns and Data Privacy
AI’s reliance on vast amounts of data raises ethical concerns, particularly around privacy and bias. If AI systems are trained on biased data, they can perpetuate discrimination in areas like hiring, lending, and law enforcement. Bangladesh currently lacks comprehensive data protection laws, which are essential for safeguarding citizens’ privacy in an AI-driven world.
Moreover, the ethical use of AI in sensitive areas like healthcare and finance is a growing concern. AI systems must be transparent, accountable, and free from bias, especially when making decisions that impact people’s lives. The National AI Policy 2024 includes guidelines for ethical AI deployment, but ensuring compliance will be challenging without proper enforcement mechanisms.
The Way Forward: Overcoming Challenges
To overcome these challenges and fully harness AI’s potential, Bangladesh must focus on several key areas:
First, educational reforms are critical. Schools and universities need to integrate AI-related subjects into their curriculums to prepare the next generation for an AI-driven future. Additionally, vocational training and reskilling programs can help current workers transition to new roles as automation becomes more widespread.
Second, Bangladesh needs to invest in its digital infrastructure. Expanding access to high-speed internet, especially in rural areas, is crucial for ensuring that the benefits of AI reach all segments of society. The government has already launched several initiatives aimed at improving connectivity, but these efforts need to be scaled up.
Third, Bangladesh must develop a robust regulatory framework to address data privacy, cybersecurity, and ethical concerns. Establishing clear guidelines for AI use in sensitive sectors and ensuring compliance will be essential for maintaining public trust in AI technologies.
A Bright but Challenging Future
AI holds immense promise for Bangladesh, offering opportunities to transform industries, boost productivity, and improve the quality of life for its citizens. However, the road to AI adoption is fraught with challenges. From addressing skill gaps to ensuring ethical AI deployment, Bangladesh must navigate a complex landscape to unlock AI’s full potential. The government’s National AI Policy 2024 lays the groundwork for this transformation, but success will depend on how well the country can implement these ambitious goals. With the right investments in education, infrastructure, and regulation, AI could propel Bangladesh into a new era of innovation and economic growth.