Bangladesh's AI Policy Committee Faces Criticism Over Lack of Female Representation

The absence of female representation in the committee formed to draft Bangladesh's national artificial intelligence policy has sparked criticism. The government constituted a 16-member committee on November 2 to formulate the national AI policy, but the published list contains 15 names, with one position still vacant. All 15 named members are men.

Although women constitute nearly half of Bangladesh's population, they have no representation in the discussions shaping a technology that will profoundly affect their lives and futures. This absence raises significant questions about whose interests and perspectives will guide the policy.

Awareness Deficit

Meanwhile, a joint survey by US-based polling organization Gallup and technology company Microsoft has highlighted the low level of AI awareness in Bangladesh. According to the survey, 64.2 percent of Bangladeshis do not know about artificial intelligence. Only 10.1 percent of the population has used AI at least once.

Among 37 countries ranked by low awareness and usage of AI, Bangladesh ranks fourth from the bottom, with only Malawi, Afghanistan, and Comoros below it. Gallup and Microsoft are conducting this survey across 140 countries worldwide, with results from the first phase covering 37 countries, including Bangladesh, now published.

Global AI Competition Context

The global artificial intelligence race has intensified between the United States and China. Questions have arisen over who will dominate this technology and whether democracy or authoritarianism will define the values and standards of this new digital era. The United States currently leads the world by building the most advanced and powerful AI models, backed by innovative strength and massive investment in research and development.

However, the AI contest is not limited to model development alone; it encompasses a vast technology ecosystem, from power generation and server infrastructure to real-world applications. Nvidia co-founder and CEO Jensen Huang has compared the AI industry to a five-layer cake, with electricity at the base, followed by chips, infrastructure, and models built layer by layer.

Analysts note that while drafting an AI policy is a timely initiative for Bangladesh, the absence of half the population from the policymaking table and the general public's lack of awareness about AI raise concerns about the policy's effectiveness. Demands are growing to fill the vacant committee position and include the perspectives of women and marginalized communities in the policymaking process.