Sharmin S. Murshid, advisor to the Ministry of Social Welfare and the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs, emphasized the urgent need for an AI policy for these ministries. She made the remarks on Sunday at the opening ceremony of the Responsible AI Summit 2026, held at the Military Institute of Science and Technology (MIST) in Mirpur, Dhaka. Murshid noted that these ministries serve Bangladesh’s most marginalized and vulnerable communities, making a tailored AI policy essential.

She highlighted that while global technology is advancing rapidly, AI systems often fail to understand Bangladesh’s language and lifestyle, creating barriers to adoption. Murshid urged students to research and develop AI technologies aligned with local culture and language to help the nation progress technologically. She also stated that MIST would remain active in promoting responsible AI through education and research.

The summit featured keynote speaker Dr. Upol Ehsan from Northeastern University and Harvard University, who underscored the importance of developing locally made AI solutions suited to Bangladesh’s needs. Two panel discussions explored academia’s role in fostering responsible AI practices.