The three-day 21st Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum 2026 has begun to discuss new challenges and prospects of internetgovernance in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).
Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC) Chairman MajorGeneral (retd) Md Emdad Ul Bari attended the inaugural ceremony of the forum as chief guest today at the BTRC Bhaban in Agargaon here, said a BTRC press release.
Jointly organised by the BTRC and the Bangladesh Internet Governance Forum (BIGF), the three-day seminar will see the participation of over 200representatives, including policymakers, telecom experts, academics,technologists, entrepreneurs and students, in a total of 12 sessions.
Addressing the inaugural ceremony, Emdad Ul Bari said the main goal at thebeginning was to ensure voice call connectivity in Bangladesh. With thepassage of time, moving from voice to data, we have now entered the age of AI, he said.
He said effective application of AI requires reorganisation of existing workflows and operational structures.
Noting that the telecommunications sector of Bangladesh has made notableprogress over the past three decades, he said although our network and infrastructure are comparatively strong, using that infrastructure effectively to bring people online and enable them to use the internet remains a big challenge.
He also said there are about 7,500 languages in the world, and Bangla is the seventh largest among them. But looking at the presence of Bangla on theinternet, he said, the share of Bangla in the total online content is about 0.1 percent.
To overcome the shortage of Bangla content on the internet, more qualityBangla content, digital services and AI-based applications must be created,he said.
He commented that meaningful connectivity and inclusive digital developmentwill be ensured only when the rural population, in particular, can use the internet and AI effectively in their education, professions and economic activities.
At the forum, Brigadier General (retd) Mohammad Khalil Ur Rahman, former director general of the Systems and Services Division of the BTRC, highlighted the growing importance of national cyber security in protecting national critical infrastructure, sensitive information and essential services.
He mentioned six key pillars of the national cyber security strategy: critical infrastructure protection, cyber security incident response and coordination, public-private partnership, legal and regulatory framework, skilled workforce development and education, and international cooperation.
He also warned about AI-driven cyber threats, including deepfakes and automated phishing.
Joining virtually from Singapore, Joyce Chen, senior adviser of the Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC), highlighted the far-reaching impact of AI and stressed coordinated initiatives by governments and various stakeholders to address challenges related to online safety, human rights and environmental sustainability.
Joining online from Geneva, Switzerland, Anja Gengo, digital policy and regulation expert of the UN Internet Governance Forum Secretariat, put emphasis on ensuring children's online safety, preventing cyberbullying and increasing women's participation in the digital space.
Dr. Md Munjur E Khoda Tarafder, acting vice-chancellor and treasurer of Far East International University, discussed online fraud, the social impact of digital platforms on young people, and the disparity in internet use between urban and rural areas.
He called for inclusive policymaking to ensure that the benefits of digital transformation reach people of all classes and professions in society.
In his welcome speech, A H M Bazlur Rahman, member of the Multi-stakeholder Consultation Group of the UN Group on the Information Society, put emphasis on increasing cooperation and knowledge sharing among all stakeholders concerned to build a safe, inclusive and human-centric digital future.
He said upholding human rights, ensuring gender equality and delivering the benefits of technological advancement to all are essential for effective internet governance.
The forum, which will continue until October 17, will discuss various issues, including AI policy, digital public infrastructure, data governance, cyber security, digital inclusion, sustainable development and digital democracy.
One of the key objectives of the event is to build an inclusive, safe and resilient digital environment for Bangladesh by strengthening cooperation among the government, industry, educational institutions and civil society.
