ICT Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said these in his speech as chief guest at the “Bangladesh TechConnect 2026” conference at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center on Tuesday (27 October). The conference was jointly organized by the Posts and Telecommunications Division and Huawei.

The minister said that along with ensuring reliable, secure, high-speed and affordable digital connectivity in the country, modern telecommunications infrastructure must be developed, digital skills increased, investment attracted and domestic innovation encouraged. Effective use of artificial intelligence and digital technologies will increase productivity and economic growth. At the same time, coordinated initiatives by the public and private sectors are needed to ensure cybersecurity and responsible use of technology.

At the event, Secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division Dr. Md. Kamruzzaman said digital infrastructure is no longer a luxury; it is the main foundation for building a prosperous and knowledge-based economy. Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology Division Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan said the government has set five strategic priorities to accelerate the country's digital transformation, and work on formulating the National Artificial Intelligence Policy will be completed within the next three to four months.

Huawei's President for South Asia Jason Wu pledged to work with the government to develop Bangladesh's digital infrastructure and expand technology.

Three panel discussions and a roundtable meeting were held at the conference. They emphasized the commercial potential and readiness of 5G, cloud computing, automation and artificial intelligence in various sectors. In addition, various AI-based solutions, including smart government, smart education and digital power, were showcased at the technology exhibition. More than five hundred delegates, including government officials, policymakers and technology experts, participated in the event.