Engineers and academics in Bangladesh have called for stronger integration of artificial intelligence (AI) research into real-world applications across key development sectors, as the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh (IEB) hosted a seminar in the capital.
The seminar titled “Translational Artificial Intelligence: From Research to Societal Impact” was held on Monday evening at the Council Hall of Shaheed Prokaushali Bhaban at IEB headquarters in Ramna, Dhaka, according to an official statement from the organisation. It was organised by the Women Engineers Chapter of IEB.
The event brought together senior engineers, academics and policy figures to discuss how AI technologies developed in research environments can be effectively deployed to address practical challenges in society.
Dr. Zahed Ur Rahman, Adviser to the Prime Minister on policy and strategy for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting and the Ministry of Cultural Affairs, attended the seminar as chief guest.
IEB President and RAJUK Chairman Engr. Mohammad Reazul Islam (Rezu) presided over the session, which also featured participation from senior officials of engineering bodies and academic institutions.
Keynote speaker Prof. Dr. Engr. Tanzima Hashem, Head of Computer Science and Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), described translational AI as the process of converting laboratory-based innovations into practical systems that deliver measurable social and economic outcomes.
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Speakers highlighted that AI is already gaining importance in healthcare through applications such as disease diagnosis, medical imaging and treatment support systems. They also noted its growing role in agriculture, where data-driven tools can analyse soil conditions, weather patterns and crop health to improve productivity and reduce losses.
In education, participants said AI-based personalised learning systems are expanding opportunities for adaptive and student-centred education. Industrial applications were also discussed, particularly in manufacturing and export-oriented sectors, where AI is being used to improve production efficiency, quality control and supply chain management.
Urban management emerged as another key theme, with engineers pointing to the potential of AI-powered sensor networks, surveillance systems and data analytics to improve traffic management, emergency response and public service delivery in rapidly growing cities.
The seminar also emphasised the importance of coordinated policy frameworks to guide AI development in Bangladesh, including long-term planning in data science, robotics and digital transformation strategies.
Organisers said the discussions aimed to strengthen collaboration between researchers, engineers and policymakers to ensure that technological innovation translates into tangible benefits for society.
