By Halim Mohammad (Dhaka Bureau)
The number of Artificial Intelligence (AI) users in Bangladesh is expanding at an exponential rate. However, running parallel to this rapid technological advancement, AI-driven criminal tendencies are also witnessing an alarming surge. While these tools simplify daily tasks, the severity of tech-driven crimes, alongside the widespread dissemination of rumors and misinformation, is pushing ordinary citizens into severe harassment.
Experts warn that introducing a comprehensive national and global ‘AI Policy’ or regulatory framework is now an urgent necessity to curb these negative impacts and prevent institutional misuse.
Over 8 Major AI Tools Popular Among Youth: Survey
A recent survey conducted among nearly 100 regular AI users in the capital city of Dhaka revealed a mix of highly concerning and intriguing insights. According to the users, at least eight major text and content-writing tools are currently being widely utilized in Bangladesh, including ChatGPT, Claude AI, Google Gemini, Copy.ai, and Grok AI.
Beyond text generation, the trend of using AI for image creation has become exceptionally popular, particularly among the youth. Alongside conversational chatbots, about a dozen other highly advanced tools- such as Copilot, Midjourney, DALL-E 3, Sora 2, Runway Gen 4.5, and Google Veo 3.0—are also seeing growing adoption in the country. However, due to premium subscription costs, the number of users opting for paid versions remains relatively low. Many students participating in the survey noted that quite a few individuals interact with AI simply as a medium to cope with daily loneliness.
Yet, the dark side of this technology remains starkly evident. A student shared their frustration, stating- AI often just gives a generalized concept, but it frequently generates hallucinated or incorrect information. When we use it without verifying, we end up in deep trouble.
The AI Menace in Showbiz, Education, and Politics
Today, a wide array of video content is being produced across various television studios and social media platforms in Bangladesh using artificial intelligence. These videos are often so seamless- frequently taking the form of ‘Deepfakes’- that it becomes incredibly difficult for the general public to distinguish truth from fiction. Consequently, intense confusion is spreading across social channels, which in turn triggers unpleasant and volatile incidents in real life.
According to a harrowing statistic from the local fact-checking organization ‘Rumor Scanner’, a total of 68 severe rumors and items of misinformation targeted 29 prominent women in the country’s showbiz industry in 2025. Most alarming is the fact that out of these 68 smear campaigns, 50 video contents explicitly utilized advanced AI technology.
Experts argue that this unregulated proliferation of AI not only tarnishes individual dignity but could also inflict severe long-term damage on the country’s broader education system, job market, and cinema industry.
Which Tool is the Best? Expert Opinions
When asked which AI technology reigns supreme, Professor Khandakar Mamun, Vice President of AI at the Washington University of Science and Technology, stated- ‘The platform we consider the best today might be completely overshadowed by an even more advanced medium hitting the market just a month from now. Therefore, it is technologically impossible to single out one tool as the absolute best. Its utility depends entirely on the nature of the task.’
Echoing this sentiment, AI trainer Obaidur Rahman Robin added- ‘An individual will ultimately choose and utilize whichever medium best aligns with their specific needs and personal convenience.’
Regulation and Strategy Over Suppression
To curb the rising tide of AI-driven crime in the country, tech analysts have emphasized the immediate formulation of strict ‘AI Regulations’. However, analysts strongly cautioned the state against allowing such laws to be weaponized to suppress dissent or criticism.
According to experts, a clear distinction must be made in the legislation to separately define criticism, misinformation, deliberate disinformation, hate speech, satire, and political sarcasm. If the law remains ambiguous, a ‘rumor prevention law’ runs the high risk of swiftly mutating into a ‘criticism-suppression law’.
They further pointed out that ‘arrests’ or punitive legal actions cannot be the silver bullet for everything. Instead, the primary steps should involve:
1. Promptly issuing counter-narratives.
2. Independent and rapid fact-checking.
3. Ensuring the government’s explanation and the citizen’s right to reply.
4. Enabling swift reporting mechanisms on digital platforms alongside civil remedies.
Criminal prosecution or jail time should strictly be treated as a last resort.
Platform Accountability and Meta’s Myanmar Warning
Ensuring the local accountability of social media conglomerates (such as Facebook, TikTok, and X) is now paramount. These platforms must enhance transparency and local language moderation to combat fake photocards, bot networks, unlabelled AI videos, and communal content. Drawing a parallel to Meta’s past moderation failures in Myanmar, which facilitated widespread ethnic violence, experts warned that delays in platform intervention can lead to real-world casualties.
Furthermore, instead of positioning the state as the sole custodian of truth, there must be a concerted effort to empower independent research, fact-checking initiatives, media collaborations, and civic media literacy.
In his concluding remarks, Professor Khandakar Mamun stated, ‘As long as the proper and institutional utilization of AI is not firmly established in our country, we will not be able to bring its malicious aspects under control.’ On the other hand, Obaidur Rahman Robin believes that to safeguard the nation’s overarching cyber security, bringing AI usage under a well-defined, forward-looking legal framework is absolutely mandatory.
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The Writer:
Halim Mohammad: Senior journalist and Contributor, Pressenza- Dhaka Bureau.
