Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder spoke today at a discussion at the International Mother Language Institute, Dhaka. Photo: PID

DHAKA, Feb 9, 2025 (BSS) - Primary and Mass Education Adviser Professor Dr Bidhan Ranjan Roy Podder today said the artificial intelligence (AI) in combination with creativity and ethics can be a greatest tool for human welfare.

"If the two human qualities- innovation and morality - can be instilled into a child from the early age, the future generations will never become slaves to technology. Rather, he or she would use the AI as a main weapon to work for the welfare of the humanity," he said.

The adviser made the remarks while addressing a discussion at the International Mother Language Institute, marking the International Day of Education-2025. 

Bangladesh National Commission for UNESCO (BNCU) and UNESCO Dhaka jointly organized the discussion with the theme 'Artificial Intelligence and education: Preserving human agency in a world of automation'.

Apart from pursuing education, Dr. Bidhan put emphasize on developing the two human qualities- innovation and morality - in the leaders of the future generation. 

"Nowadays, the people are facing a challenge with the artificial intelligence. We should encourage the children from the early age to flourish their innovative power and thinking process along with acquiring literacy," he said.

Underscoring the need for improving children's skills in their mother tongue, the adviser said, "As we express all our thoughts and ideas through language, it is very important to acquire skills in the mother tongue to improve thinking".

Special Assistant to Education Adviser Professor Dr M Aminul Islam spoke at the discussion as the special guest with Secondary and Higher Education Division Secretary and BNCU Secretary General Siddique Zobair in the chair.

UNESCO Dhaka Office Head and UNESCO Representative to Bangladesh Susan Vize was present at the event while University Grants Commission (UGC) Member Professor Dr Md Saidur Rahman presented the keynote paper.

Technical and Madrasah Education Division Secretary Dr KM Kabirul Islam, Primary and Mass Education Ministry Secretary Abu Taher Md Masud Rana and Dhaka University (DU) Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) Department Dr Md Abdur Razzaque took part as discussants.

The speakers expressed their hope that this special day will inspire the new generation to move forward in attaining the SDG-4 goals in a new way.

Officials and representatives from different government and non-government organizations, development partners and students from different educational institutions joined the discussion.