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DHAKA, Jan 18, 2026 (BSS) - Social Welfare Ministry Adviser Sharmeen Soneya Murshid has emphasized the critical importance of developing a context-aware "AI policy" to ensure technology serves the welfare of Bangladesh's marginalized and vulnerable communities.
She made the remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the inauguration of the "first Responsible AI Summit 2026 in Bangladesh" held at the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in Mirpur Cantonment under the supervision of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE).
Highlighting the challenges of adopting artificial intelligence (AI), the adviser said that although the world is rapidly advancing technologically, AI systems often fail to understand Bangladesh's language, culture, and way of life, limiting their effectiveness.
She urged young researchers and students to focus on developing AI solutions aligned with local realities to enlighten the nation through technology.
"The Ministries of Social Welfare and Women and Children Affairs are different from others, as they directly work for the most marginalized, weak, and backward sections of society," she said, stressing the need for responsible and inclusive AI deployment.
The inaugural session was presided over by Brigadier General Mohammad Shahjahan Majib, Head of the CSE Department, MIST while Major General Md Nasim Parvez, Commandant of MIST, spoke as the chief patron.
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Upol Ehsan, Assistant Professor at Northeastern University and Berkman Klein Fellow at Harvard University.
The summit also hosted poster presentations and project exhibitions, where students showcased innovative and socially impactful AI solutions. Participants from 12 universities, including MIST, Dhaka University, BUET, BRAC University, BUP, and IUT, took part.
Awards were presented to the top four teams in both project presentations and poster exhibitions, with the adviser personally visiting and reviewing the projects.
