Business

Ex-Central Bank Governor Bangladesh Pitches For Integration of AI In Textile WorkForce

Bangladesh’s ex-central bank governor Atiur Rahman made a pitch for integrating artificial intelligence (AI) along with human effort to increase productivity in the textile industry and promote the growth of the textile sector in the country. He opined that AI should be adopted in such a manner that it’s gradual and selective use improves the productivity of garment units.

“Collaboration of human and robot (cobots) could be a pathway towards integrating technological innovation in apparel industry in Bangladesh,” he added.

Rahman was addressing an audience as a keynote speaker at the international conference on the theme, “The apparel industry: Productivity improvement, disruptive innovation and leadership.” The event was held at a hotel in Sri Lanka’s capital city Colombo. Also present at the conference venue was the high commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka, Riaz Hamidulla.

The former central bank governor drew upon his vast resource of experience in narrating how he transformed a massive disaster like the Rana Plaza tragedy into a window of opportunities for the country. “We were ably assisted by policy framers in the government and also industry leaders who made their valuable contributions towards transforming the disaster scene into a new era of improved safety and labor norms,” he indicated, adding, “Seven of the world's top 10 best green factories are situated in Bangladesh.”

“The garment sector cannot improve alone unless there is gradual adaptation of modern technologies. Artificial intelligence is a pathway to integrate the great number of unskilled production workers into a structurally difficult labour market that depends on foreign investment,” he concluded.