Diplomatic Desk:
Bangladesh has held discussions with Google regarding potential collaboration on modernizing the country’s education system and leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI), digital skills, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and the responsible use of technology.
To this end, a high-level delegation from the Government of Bangladesh visited Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, California, on Monday (September 28, 2026). The visit was organized and coordinated by the Consulate General of Bangladesh in Los Angeles.
Led by Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Finance and Planning, the delegation included State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam; State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj; Rehan Asif Asad, the Prime Minister’s Adviser on Posts, Telecommunications, Information Technology, Science, and Technology; Kamrul Islam, Protocol Officer-2 to the Prime Minister; and Md. Jahidul Islam, Deputy Press Secretary-1 to the Prime Minister.
Additionally, Tarek Md. Ariful Islam, Bangladesh’s Ambassador to the United States, and Kazi Muhammad Javed Iqbal, the Consul General of Bangladesh in Los Angeles, participated in the meeting.
Divya Jani, Vice President of Strategy and Operations for ‘Google for Education,’ led the meeting on behalf of Google. Officials and experts from various Google divisions, including Mara Ritucci, Abu Saleh, Grace Kelly, and Maria Tubio, were also present.
The meeting placed special emphasis on ‘Google for Education’ and the potential to modernize and enhance the effectiveness of Bangladesh’s education system through technology and artificial intelligence. Discussions also covered enhancing teacher capabilities and improving student learning outcomes.
State Minister for Foreign Affairs Shama Obaid Islam stated that a long-term partnership between Bangladesh and Google is crucial for skill development, institutional capacity building, and the responsible use of technology. He emphasized the importance of ensuring tangible benefits from such cooperation for Bangladesh’s large youth population.
State Minister for Primary and Mass Education Bobby Hajjaj outlined Bangladesh’s priorities for modernizing primary education. These include curriculum development, teacher training, expanding digital connectivity, effective monitoring, and establishing a technology-driven education system.
The meeting also explored the potential for creating an integrated digital education ecosystem. This could encompass learning and school management systems, student assessment, digital educational resources, and technology-based school inspection and monitoring mechanisms.
Additionally, discussions covered potential collaboration in areas such as AI-based teacher training, digital safety, teacher certification, and the responsible use of AI in classrooms.
Google representatives shared their experiences regarding teacher training, AI-assisted education, and measuring educational outcomes in various countries. Discussions also focused on technologies like Google Workspace for Education, Google Classroom, and Gemini for Education, as well as methods for enhancing teacher capabilities through training and certification.
The Prime Minister’s Technology Advisor, Rehan Asif Asad, highlighted opportunities for collaboration in artificial intelligence, virtual learning, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and data science. Emphasizing structured training for students, teachers, professionals, and the youth, he underscored the need to boost Bangladesh’s technological capabilities through sustainable partnerships.
The Prime Minister’s Advisor on Finance and Planning, Rashed Al Mahmud Titumir, emphasized the link between education, technology, and skills with employment, productivity, and sustainable economic development. He highlighted the potential for creating local AI and digital content that reflects Bangladesh’s history, culture, and social realities, alongside developing a globally competitive skilled workforce.
Bangladesh’s growing YouTube creator ecosystem was also discussed during the meeting. The potential of Bangladeshi content creators to showcase education, culture, entrepreneurial activities, and creative content to a global audience was highlighted. Discussions also covered areas such as skill development for creators, responsible content creation, digital safety, and sustainable revenue generation or monetization.
At the conclusion of the meeting, interest was expressed in forming a working group comprising Google and relevant government authorities of Bangladesh to prioritize and implement cooperation across various sectors, including education, AI, digital skills, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and responsible digital content.
The Consulate General of Bangladesh in Los Angeles will coordinate further with Google and the relevant Bangladeshi ministries and agencies. This coordination effort aims to transform the points raised during the discussions into concrete proposals and actionable initiatives.
