Bangladesh held its first Responsible AI Summit at the Military Institute of Science and Technology in Mirpur, bringing together experts, students and policy makers to talk about safe and fair use of artificial intelligence. The event opened with a clear goal: build AI that helps people and fits local needs. Sharmeen Soneya Murshid, adviser to the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and the Ministry of Social Welfare, joined as the chief guest, and Major General Md Nasim Parvez served as chief patron while Brigadier General Mohammad Shahjahan Majib, head of the Computer Science and Engineering department at MIST, presided. Dr. Upol Ehsan from Northeastern University gave a keynote called “Made Here, Not Imported: Responsible AI in Bangladesh,” and he urged teams to design human-centered, explainable systems that match life in Bangladesh. He shared work on explainable AI and on policy with global groups to show how clear rules help build trust. The summit featured two panel talks linking academia, industry and policy. The first panel looked at how universities can teach skills and set standards so students build tools that are ethical and useful. Professors from BRAC University, North South University and MIST described hands-on labs, data checks and project reviews to test student work. The second panel asked how industry and officials can make rules and partnerships that let companies use AI safely. Leaders from tech firms, the ICT Division and software houses spoke about checks for bias, ways to record how systems work, and simple audits that protect users. They also suggested pilot projects that let teams test tools in real settings before wider use. The summit also showcased student energy with poster displays and project competitions. Teams from more than a dozen universities including MIST, the University of Dhaka, BUET, BRAC, BUP and IUT presented apps and small research that tackle local problems like health, education and farming. Judges gave awards to the top groups for best project and best poster and praised clear aims and local impact. Organizers said the awards help students meet mentors and firms that can guide pilot work into real products. The tone was hopeful and practical: people want AI that trains students, helps businesses and keeps users safe. By mixing talks, student projects and plans for small pilots, the summit set out a simple path for responsible AI to grow in Bangladesh from class ideas into tools that help daily life. Students left with new ideas, firms found fresh talent and experts agreed to keep working together so responsible AI can spread in ways that are fair, clear and trusted. Plans were made for follow-up workshops, joint training sessions and local pilot projects to keep momentum and build skills quickly.
