Challenge Grow Alongside Opportunities

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer a technology of the future. It has become one of the major forces reshaping the world’s economic and social structures. From human thinking and decision-making to data analysis, industrial production and government management, AI is rapidly becoming part of almost every sector.

Bangladesh is also experiencing this transformation. The use of AI is increasing in students’ academic activities, professionals’ daily work, business decisions, healthcare and research. However, important questions remain about the country’s preparedness, infrastructure and ability to manage the long-term risks of this technology. AI offers opportunities to increase productivity and create new economic prospects. At the same time, it raises concerns about job losses, electricity and water consumption, data reliability and weaknesses in research. For Bangladesh, AI represents both an opportunity and a major test.

According to available statistics, the number of direct and indirect AI users in Bangladesh exceeded 13 million in 2026. In 2015, the figure was around 3.5 million, representing an increase of approximately 234 per cent over a decade.

Around 68 per cent of users rely on AI for educational purposes, 45 per cent use it for freelancing and professional activities, and 28 per cent use it directly in business operations. Personal spending on the technology also reflects its growing popularity. Professionals spend an average of Tk 999 to Tk 1,999 per month, while students spend between Tk 299 and Tk 499.

However, an increase in users does not necessarily mean that a country has developed its own technological capabilities. Although AI adoption is growing, Bangladesh’s progress in developing indigenous technology, research, databases and infrastructure remains a major concern.

Environmental Costs of AI Expansion

One important but less discussed aspect of AI’s rapid growth is its environmental impact. Operating AI systems requires high-performance servers and data centres. These facilities generate enormous amounts of heat, requiring specialised cooling systems that use water or other liquids. As AI adoption expands, pressure on electricity and water resources could increase significantly.

Professor Mohammad Mosaddeq Hossain Kamal of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of Dhaka told the daily Inqilab that there was no reason to believe AI technology would disappear. It has become deeply integrated into people’s lives.

However, he warned that water or other liquids are needed to control excessive heat generated by servers. Failure to develop environmentally friendly alternatives could have negative long-term consequences. He said technology should be used to support human work rather than replace people.

Complete dependence on AI is not appropriate, but abandoning a promising technology because of its negative aspects is not a solution either. Its benefits must be ensured through proper planning, long-term policies and controlled use. Considering the country’s electricity shortages, he also stressed the importance of using solar power and developing AI chips that consume less electricity.

AI’s Potential in Healthcare

The potential of AI in healthcare is particularly important for Bangladesh. The technology can assist doctors in disease detection, medical image analysis, treatment planning and identifying the early signs of complex illnesses.

Associate Professor Dr Mohammad Kamrul Islam of the Department of Radiology and Imaging at Sir Salimullah Medical College Hospital told the daily Inqilab that technologies such as X-rays, ultrasonography, MRI and CT scans had already made disease diagnosis much easier.

He said integrating AI into these technologies could further reduce existing limitations in healthcare. It could make the diagnosis of complex diseases easier for doctors and improve patients’ access to medical services. However, Bangladesh still lags behind Europe, the United States, Japan and China in adopting these technologies. More effective initiatives are needed to make AI accessible and user-friendly for students and researchers. He also stressed the importance of raising public awareness to prevent the misuse of the technology.

Risks of AI in the Judicial System

AI is not equally suitable for every sector. The risks of technology-based decision-making are particularly serious in sensitive institutions such as the judiciary. Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury issued a warning at the inauguration of the country’s first AI Governance Summer School at the Asiatic Society of Bangladesh auditorium in Dhaka. He said AI should not be used to write court verdicts or make judicial decisions.

He stressed that the actual facts of a case, existing laws and the personal judgment of judges are essential to the judicial process. His remarks highlighted cases in other countries where AI-generated legal decisions included references and court rulings that did not actually exist. This shows that, despite its ability to analyse information, reliance on AI without proper verification could lead to serious errors in the judicial system.

AI Bringing Changes to the Pharmaceutical Industry

AI is also creating new opportunities and signalling structural changes in one of Bangladesh’s most important economic sectors: the pharmaceutical industry. Mohammad Nasidul Islam, Senior Manager at Popular Pharmaceuticals PLC, told the daily Inqilab that AI could play an effective role in drug research, production planning, regulatory approvals, quality control, marketing and distribution.

By analysing company databases and doctors’ prescriptions, AI can help identify which medicines are in greater demand in particular regions. This could make production and marketing plans more efficient. He believes adopting AI will become increasingly essential for local pharmaceutical companies to compete with leading international manufacturers.

However, AI adoption in Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical industry remains at an early stage. Lack of awareness about the technology, reluctance to move away from traditional manual processes and the high investment required to install modern equipment are major obstacles. There are also concerns that greater automation in production and depot management could reduce employment opportunities for many entry-level workers.

Research and Innovation: Progress and Limitations

Bangladesh faces both opportunities and challenges in research and innovation. On one hand, initiatives are under way to establish the Institute for AI, Robotics and Emerging Technologies in Purbachal, develop Bangla-language technologies and expand university-level research.

Projects such as the government chatbot Jiggasha AI, the sign language reader Ishara and the writing assistant Kagoj AI demonstrate the potential to develop technologies suited to local languages and needs. Researchers at Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) are working on algorithms, traffic management and medical imaging. Initiatives to establish high-performance computing laboratories at American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) and Daffodil International University also indicate efforts to expand research facilities.

However, building infrastructure alone does not guarantee internationally competitive research. Available information suggests that around 76 per cent of AI research in Bangladesh involves minor modifications or refinements of existing global models rather than original technological development.

Meanwhile, the rejection rate of research papers submitted by Bangladeshi researchers to leading international research conferences is reportedly above 85 per cent. The lack of high-quality, well-organised Bangla datasets, the high cost of using high-performance GPUs and limited laboratory facilities are among the major reasons behind these weaknesses.

To address these challenges, initiatives have been mentioned to provide research grants of up to Tk 3 million and GPU cloud credits. However, long-term progress will require more than financial support. Effective coordination among universities, research institutions and industries is essential. Bangladesh also needs an environment that encourages original research based on local problems and practical needs.

Building National Capabilities Is the Biggest Challenge

According to relevant analysts, Bangladesh’s AI landscape is complex. Interest in using the technology is growing, its benefits are becoming visible across different sectors, and several institutional initiatives are under way. However, a major question remains: Are indigenous innovation, skilled human resources, research quality and technological infrastructure advancing at the same pace as the number of users?

Will AI make people’s work easier or create a new employment crisis? Will it strengthen healthcare and the judicial system or increase dependence on inaccurate information? Will it improve productivity or intensify electricity and water shortages? The answers depend on how the technology is adopted, managed and regulated.

Bangladesh’s biggest challenge is no longer simply learning to use AI. It is developing the national capabilities needed to shape the technology according to its own needs, resources and realities rather than remaining merely a consumer of innovations developed by others.