Readiness
34/100Capacity across five enabling pillarsAsia-Pacific · #22 in region
Bangladesh
AI Readiness Score
Limited coverageiCoverage describes source availability, not statistical certainty.
- Live
- 0/23
- Years
- Not reported
- Fallback
- 100%
SATURDAY, OCT 31, 20262026 EDITION · 17 INDICATORS
VOL. III · 2026 EDITION
The AI Trajectory IndexMenu
Executive summary
Current standing, trajectory, and source coverage.
Readiness and Adoption
Capacity to build AI compared with evidence of AI use today.
Adoption
43/100Early AdoptionTrajectory
+4/10PositiveReadiness vs Adoption: Radar
Blue = readiness capacity · Green = active adoption · Each axis pairs the closest dimension from each framework
| Dimension pair | Readiness | Adoption |
|---|---|---|
| Infra / Gov | 8/20 | 9/20 |
| Talent / Demand | 9/20 | 7/20 |
| Governance / Enterprise | 7/20 | 8/20 |
| Investment / Pipeline | 5/20 | 6/20 |
| Economy / Consumer | 5/20 | 13/20 |
Pillar evidence
Scores, supporting evidence, and the exact inputs behind each contribution.
Infrastructure
Grameenphone and Robi deploying 4G/LTE widely; 5G spectrum assigned
- SEA-ME-WE-4 and SEA-ME-WE-5 subsea cables providing international bandwidth
- National Data Centre being constructed; Digital Bangladesh infrastructure programme ongoing
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fixed broadband subscriptionsFixed broadband subscriptions unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 2.4 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| Individuals using the internetIndividuals using the internet unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.2 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Mobile subscriptionsMobile subscriptions unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.2 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Access to electricityAccess to electricity unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.2 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Infrastructure quality baselineInfrastructure quality baseline unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Infrastructure baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 2.0 / 5 pts | Fallback |
Talent
BUET producing strong engineering graduates; BASIS (software association) counts 4,500+ member companies
- Bangladesh ranks among top-5 countries globally for software freelancers by volume
- Growing IT services export sector employing 1M+ engineers developing AI-adjacent skills
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross tertiary enrolmentGross tertiary enrolment unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 2.7 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| Labour productivityLabour productivity unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 2.7 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| ResearchersResearchers unavailable; used 2/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD Data Explorer | 0.9 / 2 pts | Fallback |
| Global Innovation IndexGlobal Innovation Index unavailable; used 1/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Intellectual Property Organization | 0.5 / 1 pts | Fallback |
| Talent quality baselineTalent quality baseline unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Talent baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 2.3 / 5 pts | Fallback |
Governance
Digital Security Act and forthcoming Data Protection Act providing framework
- Bangladesh National Digital Architecture includes AI components
- Government 'Smart Bangladesh 2041' vision placing AI centrally in development strategy
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rule of LawRule of Law unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Worldwide Governance Indicators | 1.8 / 5 pts | Fallback |
| Government EffectivenessGovernment Effectiveness unavailable; used 4/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Worldwide Governance Indicators | 1.4 / 4 pts | Fallback |
| Regulatory QualityRegulatory Quality unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Worldwide Governance Indicators | 1.0 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| National AI strategyNational AI strategy unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD.AI Policy Observatory | 1.0 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| AI strategy recencyAI strategy recency unavailable; used 2/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD.AI Policy Observatory | 0.7 / 2 pts | Fallback |
| AI regulation in forceAI regulation in force unavailable; used 1/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD.AI Policy Observatory | 0.3 / 1 pts | Fallback |
| Government AI readinessGovernment AI readiness unavailable; used 2/20 of the static Governance baseline. | Not available | Not reported | Oxford Insights | 0.7 / 2 pts | Fallback |
Investment
bKash mobile money platform (BRAC Bank) is world-leading mobile financial AI at 60M+ users
- Pathao, Shajgoj, and Shohoz demonstrate emerging Dhaka startup ecosystem
- VC activity limited but growing; mostly Singapore and US-based regional funds investing
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R&D expenditureR&D expenditure unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | OECD Data Explorer, then World Bank Open Data | 1.5 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| FDI net inflowsFDI net inflows unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.3 / 5 pts | Fallback |
| Government expenditureGovernment expenditure unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | IMF DataMapper | 0.8 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Capital ecosystem baselineCapital ecosystem baseline unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Investment baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 1.5 / 6 pts | Fallback |
Economic Readiness
170M population — one of world's most densely populated countries; growing middle class
- RMG (garment) sector AI for quality and supply chain is a massive potential vertical
- bKash's 60M users demonstrates mobile-first financial AI adoption at Bangladesh scale
View score inputs
| Input | Value | Year | Source | Contribution | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GDP per capita, PPPGDP per capita, PPP unavailable; used 6/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 1.5 / 6 pts | Fallback |
| Private-sector creditPrivate-sector credit unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.8 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Trade opennessTrade openness unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.8 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Services value addedServices value added unavailable; used 3/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | World Bank Open Data | 0.8 / 3 pts | Fallback |
| Market capacity baselineMarket capacity baseline unavailable; used 5/20 of the static Economic Readiness baseline. | Not available | Not reported | AI Trajectory Index | 1.3 / 5 pts | Fallback |
| Government debt modifierGovernment debt modifier unavailable; no score adjustment was applied. | Not available | Not reported | IMF DataMapper | 0.0 / 0 pts | Fallback |
Outlook and policy gaps
Forward direction, constraints, and a structured country brief.
Projected 2028
40/100+6 points from todayTop accelerator
World-leading mobile financial AI (bKash) and massive software freelance workforceTop risk
Political instability post-2024 and climate vulnerability creating medium-term AI investment uncertaintyFive-section brief
Country research brief
Generate a concise review of standing, infrastructure and talent, governance, investment, and economic outlook.
News and supporting tools
Recent signals, comparable economies, and optional analysis controls.
Live AI News Feed
The Guardian · Google News · Updated hourly
Comparable countries
Nearest neighbours across the five readiness pillars.
Analysis toolsWhat-if model, roadmap, AI Q&A, embed, and print controls
AI Development Roadmap
Algorithmic roadmap based on pillar scores · Updated with live data
◈Foundation Phase
Bangladesh is in the Foundation Phase
Building core digital and institutional capabilities. On current trajectory, Bangladesh enters the Development phase by 2028 (projected score: 40/100).
2028 Timeline
▶
Now
Score 34
2
2025–26
National AI strategy adopted
3
2026–27
Digital connectivity baseline met
4
2028
First national AI lab established
Priority Actions — 3 Weakest Pillars
◇Investment & R&D
5/20Near
Launch government-backed AI seed fund (≥$50M) for domestic startups
Mid
Negotiate bilateral R&D agreements with OECD partners; join CERN or equivalent
⬠Economic Readiness
5/20Near
Expand financial inclusion; target 80% banked population by 2026
Mid
Develop AI-driven export diversification strategy beyond primary commodities
⬟Governance & Policy
7/20Near
Publish risk-tiered AI regulation framework aligned with EU AI Act principles
Mid
Create cross-ministry AI coordination body with dedicated budget line
Roadmap generated algorithmically from pillar scores and World Bank data. Actions are indicative policy priorities, not official government plans.