AI for Public Service Innovation & Digital Equality

Roundtable on "AI for Public Service Innovation & Digital Equality: Building a Cyber-Safe State"

The Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and the Dhaka Forum Initiative jointly organized a roundtable discussion titled “AI for Public Service Innovation & Digital Equality: Building a Cyber-Safe State” on 22 January 2026. The event brought together leading technological policymakers, international development representatives, and security researchers to analyze how artificial intelligence can safely optimize public service delivery while maintaining digital equity and cyberseecurity frameworks.

Major General ASM Ridwanur Rahman, BSP, ndc, psc, Director General of BIISS, opened the roundtable with a welcome address. The technological context for the event was set by a keynote speech from Dr. Zulqarin Jahangir, Assistant Professor at North South University and UNESCO AI & Policy Expert. This was followed by high-level insights from a panel of distinguished speakers, including the Country Director of the World Bank Bangladesh, Dr. Susan Vize (UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh), and Dr. Syed Muntasir Mamun (Director General, International Trade, Investment, and Technology Wing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs).

Following a dynamic open discussion session, Major General (Retd) Md Emdad ul Bari, OSP, NDC, psc, te, Chairman of the Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC), addressed the gathering as the Chief Guest. The roundtable's academic and strategic perspectives were synthesized by the Session Chair, Professor Dr. Md Ridhwanul Haq from the Institute of Business Administration (IBA), University of Dhaka, who shared concluding observations. The event formally concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Mohammad Jasim Uddin, Research Director at BIISS.

Objectives of the Roundtable

• To drive innovation in public services: Exploring actionable strategies to safely integrate Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions into government operations to improve national administrative efficiency and agility.

• To champion digital equality: Identifying policies and mechanisms to narrow digital divides, ensuring that technological advancements are accessible to all strata of society.

• To strengthen national cybersecurity: Formulating frameworks to protect citizens, data infrastructure, and critical state networks against sophisticated digital vulnerabilities.

• To align national strategies with global ethics: Bridging local technological expansion with international ethical parameters as outlined by global experts and multi-sectoral bodies.

• To enhance collaborative research and policy planning: Providing an enduring platform for academic scholars, tech policy practitioners, and state security apparatuses to build unified national blueprints.