On Tuesday, ICT Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam stressed the need for trust, capacity-building, and international cooperation to ensure the responsible and inclusive use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the public sector.
“The key question is not simply how quickly we adopt AI, but how wisely, responsibly and inclusively we govern and regulate it,” he said, according to a press release.
He made these remarks while addressing the inaugural session of an interregional conference titled “AI Governance in Practice: Practical Use Cases, Institutional Capacity, Innovation at Scale and Global Cooperation” in Istanbul.
The two-day conference, jointly organized by Korea, Türkiye, the Astana Civil Service Hub, and UNDP, brings together ministers and senior officials from the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region, alongside representatives from UNDP and international development partners.
The minister stated that artificial intelligence is no longer merely a technology of the future, noting that it is already transforming government decision-making, public services and development processes.
He identified trust, capacity-building and international cooperation as three fundamental principles for effective AI governance.
Referring to Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s remarks at the UN General Assembly, he said AI should not create new forms of inequality but should instead help address existing disparities.
He warned that the current digital divide must not evolve into a future AI divide, emphasizing the need for proactive measures to prevent technological inequality from widening. His remarks came during a speech on digital inclusion and emerging technologies.
He also called for greater technology transfer, skills development, and affordable access to modern technologies to ensure that the benefits of artificial intelligence are shared more broadly.
The minister expressed hope that the conference would create a platform for innovation, trust and inclusive technology where no country is left behind.
He reaffirmed Bangladesh’s strong commitment and support for the initiative.
Why it matters
Ensuring inclusive AI governance helps prevent a widening digital divide and promotes equitable technological advancement worldwide.