Education and planning ministries adviser Professor Wahiduddin Mahmud at a dialogue on Tuesday said that the integration of technology, particularly artificial intelligence, was crucial for transforming the education sector in the country.
鈥業T technology serves as a great equaliser, breaking barriers of social class and enabling access to innovation. Our students have already proven their potential globally, excelling in robotics and AI-based projects,鈥� he said at the dialogue titled National Education and Innovation Dialogue-2025 at the North South University in Dhaka, said a press release.
He also mentioned that the ability of AI to make data-driven decisions could redefine industries, and countries that harness AI and gather data would lead the future. 鈥楲et us embrace this transformation and empower our youth to compete on a global stage.鈥�
Powered by City Bank PLC, Bangladesh Brand Forum and the NSU jointly organised the dialogue, bringing together the country鈥檚 top academicians, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to discuss the future of education and innovation in Bangladesh.
Professor SMA Faiz, chairman of the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh, attended as special guest at the dialogue.
The event served as a critical platform to explore strategies for reshaping the education ecosystem, fostering innovation, and driving entrepreneurship in response to Bangladesh鈥檚 socio-economic challenges.
The dialogue featured five panel discussions and a plenary session, covering a range of topics, including the future of education, the start-up ecosystem, skills development, social innovation, and innovation financing.
These sessions aimed to foster collaborative thinking and drive actionable policy recommendations for creating a robust education and innovation ecosystem that integrates academia, industry and government.
Professor SMA Faiz, in his speech, said, 鈥業 emphasised the urgent need to align our education system with the needs of our students. We must increase the education budget, exempt private universities from heavy taxation, and invest in facilities and research to truly empower our youth.鈥�
He also mentioned that collaborative initiatives, like partnerships between public and private universities and links with global institutions, were essential for knowledge exchange.
Believing that with bold reforms and collaboration, an education ecosystem that drives national growth and innovation could be created, he said, 鈥楢dditionally, flexibility in the education system and better support for faculty and infrastructure are critical.鈥�
Shariful Islam, founder and managing director of Bangladesh Brand Forum, highlighted the importance of collaboration in his remarks, stating, 鈥楾he National Education and Innovation Dialogue-2025 reflects our vision of transforming Bangladesh into an inclusive and innovation-driven economy.鈥�
鈥楤y bringing together thought leaders and decision-makers, we aim to chart a path toward a future that creates opportunities for the youth and addresses the nation鈥檚 most pressing challenges,鈥� he added.
Iftakharul Islam, founder and chairman, Asian Tiger Capital Partners; Professor Abdul Hannan Chowdhury, NSU vice-chancellor; Professor Syed Ferhat Anwar, BRAC University VC; Professor Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan, Jahangirnagar University VC; Samuel Mursalin, director in-charge, NSU Startups; Sam Samdani, founder and CEO, BQ Alpha Inc; Farzanah Chowdhury, chartered insurer, ACII UK, managing director and CEO Green Delta Insurance Company Limited; Razi Amin, partner, Aspen Capital Solutions LLC; Syed Muntasir Mamun, director general of Trade, Investment and Technology, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Sabbir Nasir, managing director, ACI Logistics Limited; Mohammad Oli Ahad, managing director, Intelligent Machines; Mohammed Ferdous Yusuf, chief human resources officer, bKash Limited; Professor Nazlee Siddiqui, director of NSU MBA, EMBA programmes; Meriame Y, consultant, Unitas Global Advisory; Muddassar Ahmed, managing partner, Unitas Communications; Nawshad Mustafa, director for SMESPD at Bangladesh Bank, among others, attended as guests at the dialogue.
The National Education and Innovation Dialogue-2025 concluded with a call to action for stakeholders across sectors to work collectively in building a knowledge-based economy.
