DHAKA, Oct 31, 2023 (BSS) - Bangladesh today announced a 10-point 'Dhaka Declaration 2023' to build an inclusive and non-discriminatory digital world through the best use of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak placed the declaration at the closing ceremony of the two-day international conference organized by Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division and Aspire to Innovate (a2i) on DPI and AI at a city hotel, said a press release.

The 10-point declaration at included bringing equality in digital accessibility, accelerating the power of DPI and AI, use of responsible Artificial Intelligence for global nenefit, building coordination, partnerships and alliances among global stakeholders, North-South, South-South-North triangular cooperation, education and digital literacy, inclusion for frugal innovation, financial inclusion, developing technical frameworks for responsible Artificial Intelligence and gender inclusion.

Education Minister Dr Dipu Moni, Prime Minister's former Principal Secretary and Vice-Chairman of Smart Bangladesh Network Abul Kalam Azad, representatives from different international organizations, including the World Bank (WB), UNESCO and UNDP, and leaders of five organizations working on the technology sector in the country joined the closing ceremony.

Speaking at the function, Dr Dipu Moni said a revolution has taken place in digitalization of the country's education system under the prudent leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

"We are creating smart citizens through the spread of technology in the education sector. We have taken programmes of transforming the traditional education into modern one," she added.

The government has already adopted the 'Master Plan of Blended Education', the education minister said, adding, "Through this we have planned to develop a personalized education system to ensure rich education. The educational programme has been designed in such a way so that students can solve their own problems".

Calling for global support to ensure smart education by launching innovative initiatives through AI technology to implement rich education in the future, Dipu Moni said, "We are trying to attain the sustainable development goals and emphasizing on artificial intelligence-based new smart innovations in the education sector".

World leaders should come forward to build a sustainable and digital discrimination free world through the implementation of smart education system globally, she said, adding, "We hope that in 2041 we can contribute to the world as Smart Bangladesh".

In his closing remarks, Zunaid Ahmed Palak said, "We will strive to make our civic amenities more universal in the future by practicing people-friendly AI. DPI and AI for 'Zero Digital Divide' conference will be organized every year to hone our achievements and experience".

The two-day conference was featured with 14 special sessions where international and local experts highlighted every possible aspect of building a world with 'Zero Digital Divide', including how to leverage the power of DPI and AI in the country and in the Global South.

International experts from different countries as well as local luminaries joined the event.

Earlier, Planning Minister MA Mannan inaugurated the conference as the chief guest on Monday.