As artificial intelligence continues to rapidly transform economies, workplaces and education around the world, experts at a recent roundtable in Dhaka rightly pointed out that the country’s success in the AI era will depend not just on expanding digital access, but on building the skills, institutions and innovation ecosystem needed to use this technology productively. The question is, where do we stand in this preparation? The roundtable revealed that nearly 90% of young people are using AI primarily for social media and entertainment, and not to acquire skills to meet the demands of the current job market. This is a worrying trend given the fact that approximately 22 million young people enter the country’s labor market every year. If this skills gap is not closed soon, our young people face the risk of being left behind in an increasingly AI-driven job market.
Experts said Bangladesh needs to transform its digital readiness into AI capabilities to meet market demands. We couldn’t agree more. However, this requires an education system that cultivates critical thinking, creativity, problem-solving, and ethical judgment along with AI literacy. Universities need to update their curricula, train faculty, and implement clear guidelines for responsible AI use. As AI is integrated into nearly every profession, these skills will become as important as technical knowledge. The link between education and employment must also be strengthened. Employers in Bangladesh are struggling to find employees with the necessary skills while the unemployment rate for new graduates reaches 28 percent. Technical and vocational education must be modernized, universities need to work more closely with industry, and workers should be given opportunities to improve their skills throughout their careers. These reforms are essential if graduates are to remain competitive in a rapidly evolving job market.
In this regard, the government’s plans to develop a national AI policy and expand technical and vocational education are a welcome step. We must also aim to become more than consumers of imported AI technology. Investments in Bangla datasets, applied AI research, data annotation, regional innovation, and AI entrepreneurship will help build a stronger AI ecosystem in the country while creating new jobs. However, these goals can only be achieved through effective implementation. Policy alone will not build AI capabilities unless educational institutions, businesses, and government agencies work together to develop practical skills, support research, and create opportunities for innovation.
