The Chief Adviser (CA) emphasised the need to accelerate technological advancement to adapt to a rapidly changing global landscape

Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus today underscored the urgent need to accelerate technological advancement in Bangladesh to keep pace with a rapidly changing world, saying the sector will define the future.

“The coming world will be fundamentally different. Many things we cannot even imagine today will become reality,” he said. “The world is changing fast, and if we fail to increase our speed and align ourselves with this global momentum, we must consider how far behind we will fall.”

Prof Yunus made the remarks while addressing the inaugural session of the Digital Device and Innovation Expo 2026 at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre (BCFCC) in the capital.

The four-day expo, jointly organised by the ICT Division, the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority (BHTPA) and the Bangladesh Computer Samity (BCS), is being held under the theme ‘Bangladesh to the World’ and will continue until January 31.

Although it may appear that Bangladesh is progressing alongside other countries, the Chief Adviser said the reality is different. “We are behind—behind in thinking, behind in action, and behind in self-preparedness,” he noted.

He attributed this gap to the lack of sufficient focus on the ICT sector, describing it as the “core sector” from which the future of the world will be shaped. “I am talking about this sector because it is the key sector. The future will be created from here,” he added.

While traditional sectors will continue to exist, Prof Yunus said technology will remain the driving force, influencing and reshaping every other sector like air or wind. Stressing the need for immediate preparation, he urged policymakers to break away from conventional thinking when framing policies for the sector.

Referring to the expo, he said the country’s future would depend on the quality of discussions, visions and institutional frameworks developed through such platforms.

Highlighting the generational shift, the Chief Adviser observed that children today interact with technology almost instinctively, creating a widening gap between generations. This gap, he said, has led to a leadership crisis, as older generations increasingly struggle to understand and lead the younger ones—not out of ill intent, but because their ways of thinking differ fundamentally.

He noted that outdated worldviews still persist in Bangladesh’s ICT sector and emphasised the introduction of genuine digital governance to ensure government services reach people directly. “People will not come to the government; government services will go to them,” he said, adding that such a system would significantly reduce corruption.

Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb spoke as the special guest at the event, chaired by ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury. BHTPA Managing Director Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan and BCS President Mohammad Zahirul Islam delivered the welcome addresses.

Referring to the student-led July Uprising of 2024, Prof Yunus said today’s youth would not only lead Bangladesh but also play leadership roles globally. Describing them as the most powerful generation in human history, he said they are globally connected and technologically empowered, yet society often fails to recognise and harness their potential. “If we let them go, they will fly like kites,” he warned.

Recalling the internet shutdown during the 2024 uprising, he said the decision revealed how deeply technology is embedded in the lives of young people. Cutting off connectivity triggered nationwide anger and upheaval, contributing to the fall of an “otherwise powerful government,” he noted.

Warning that technology can magnify both strengths and weaknesses, Prof Yunus said Bangladesh has gained notoriety for forgery, harming its global image. Citing instances of forged documents being used to secure professional positions abroad, he said the country must move away from such practices to fully benefit from technological progress.

The ability to produce fake documents using technology, he remarked, shows the creativity and talent of Bangladeshis, but stressed that such skills must be channelled into ethical and constructive purposes. “Let us resolve to move away from fraud, adopt realistic policies and build a pro-people system of governance,” he said.

Earlier, Prof Yunus formally launched the website and logo of the Bangladesh Innovation Challenge, aimed at accelerating innovation among school and college students.

The inaugural session began with the national anthem, followed by the expo’s theme song and an audio-visual presentation titled ‘Create Here, Connect Everywhere’. Later, the Chief Adviser visited several stalls at the venue.

The expo aims to promote technological innovation, enhance capacity and attract investment in the sector. It features digital devices, innovation showcases, mobile technology, e-sports, and special product offers. Five seminars and four panel discussions will be held during the event.