Bangladesh’s newly appointed Adviser for Telecom and ICT, Rehan Asad, has signaled a fundamental shift in the government’s approach to technology, viewing it as a critical national infrastructure akin to highways. In a wide-ranging interview, Asad—an MIT-trained engineer and former Vice President at Expedia Group—detailed a roadmap designed to support the country’s development for the next three decades. His strategy prioritizes ubiquitous high-speed connectivity as the primary engine for GDP growth, noting that the current government will reassess controversial policy reforms from 2025 to ensure a “consensus-based” path forward.
A centerpiece of the immediate agenda is a “connectivity blitz” at major transport hubs, with plans to deploy high-capacity, free Wi-Fi at international airports in Dhaka, Chattogram, and Sylhet before the upcoming Eid. Beyond public services, Asad addressed the looming challenge of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the government’s ambitious pledge to create 1 million ICT-related jobs. Despite global fears of AI-driven displacement, the government aims to empower freelancers and children through early AI education and improved payment gateways. Furthermore, a stern warning was issued regarding illegal and counterfeit mobile devices, which Asad identified as a national security risk that currently deters major global manufacturers from investing locally.
