Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology and Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam has proposed a three-point roadmap for building an inclusive digital future, calling for stronger multilateral cyber governance, affordable access to technology and greater global cooperation to bridge the digital divide.
The proposals were presented during his keynote address as a special guest at the opening ceremony of the World Internet Conference 2026 in Xi’an, China, according to a ministry statement issued on Wednesday.
Speaking at the conference, held under the theme “Pooling Intelligence on the Silk Road, Embarking on a Digital Future: Jointly Building a Community with a Shared Future in Cyberspace,” the minister said the event’s theme closely aligned with Bangladesh’s aspirations for digital transformation.
He said around 65 per cent of Bangladesh’s population of 180 million was young and of working age, adding that the country was seeking to harness this demographic advantage under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to build a technology-driven, knowledge-based economy.
Highlighting the country’s digital progress, the minister said more than 90 per cent of the population now had access to mobile connectivity, while mobile financial services had expanded banking access to marginal farmers and small entrepreneurs.
He also said digital platforms such as the National Portal and the d-Nothi electronic file management system had improved public service delivery, while the digitalisation of land records, healthcare and other government services was saving citizens millions of working hours each year.
The minister said Bangladesh was investing in artificial intelligence research, fintech innovation and advanced data centre infrastructure alongside the development of locally relevant technologies, including machine learning-based flood forecasting and drone-assisted precision agriculture.
Describing Bangladesh as a strategic gateway between South and Southeast Asia, he said the Digital Silk Road had become an economic lifeline by strengthening the country’s digital links with China’s technology ecosystem and ASEAN’s manufacturing networks through high-speed submarine cable connectivity.
To advance shared digital prosperity, the minister proposed three priority areas: investing in capacity building and knowledge transfer to develop cybersecurity professionals and digital innovators; promoting affordable technology transfer to narrow the digital divide; and recognising digital development as a global public good by making intellectual property frameworks and data architectures more open and accessible.
He also stressed that cyber governance should be multipolar, transparent and based on international law to address cybercrime, disinformation and what he described as “data colonialism”.
Concluding his address, the minister said the ancient Silk Road had been built on trust and mutual confidence and that the same principles should underpin the world’s digital future.
“Bangladesh stands ready to be a reliable partner in this journey, driven by connectivity, youthful energy and innovation,” he said.
According to the ministry statement, the two-day conference, held on July 21-22, brought together around 800 participants from 52 countries and regions to discuss artificial intelligence, digital trade, Silk Road e-commerce, cultural heritage preservation, smart healthcare and global digital cooperation.
Representatives from major Chinese and international technology companies, including Qualcomm, Lenovo, ZTE, 360 Group, Sugon, Waterdrop, Qixin Technology and Penghua Fund, also attended the conference.