Industry Talk 7 & 8
The afternoon session of ICEBTM 2025 showcased insightful Industry Talks by ASM Mainuddin Monem, CEO & MD of Abdul Monem Group, and Dr. Arif Dowla, Managing Director of ACI PLC. The session was chaired by Dr. Ahmad Ahsan, Director, Policy Research Institute (PRI), Bangladesh, and Prof. Ruhul A Salim, Curtin University, Australia. The session provided a platform for discussing the role of leadership, industrial growth, and technological innovation in shaping the nation’s future.
Dr. Arif Dowla opened by emphasizing Bangladesh’s remarkable digital landscape, with over 190 million mobile users, highlighting the immense potential for industries to leverage AI-driven solutions. He described AI as the single most transformative tool for driving growth and boosting GDP, particularly in finance, education, healthcare, and agriculture. Drawing from international examples such as India’s Plantix, Google’s health AI tools, and AI-based learning and gaming applications, Dr. Dowla illustrated how similar tools can significantly enhance human development in Bangladesh. He underscored the importance of collaboration between app developers and industry players to collect and utilize data for better decision-making. Furthermore, he encouraged investment in micro-AI models and small-scale AI applications as practical ways to improve operational efficiency and spur innovation across sectors.
Mr. ASM Mainuddin Monem focused on the human capital aspect, stressing that the real challenge for Bangladesh lies in developing capabilities, not just degrees. He called for the creation of a strong collaborative platform where academia, industry, and government could work together to “think, act, and build.” Highlighting that 83% of failures occur due to behavioral issues, he stressed the importance of cultivating the right mindset among students, professionals, and leaders. Mainuddin emphasized that bridging the gap between education and industry requirements is essential to build a skilled, innovative, and adaptive workforce capable of addressing complex challenges in banking, financial systems, and operational inefficiencies.
The session concluded with a recognition ceremony, where Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr. Daniel W. Lund presented a token of appreciation to ASM Mainuddin Monem and a crest to Dr. Arif Dowla for their contributions. Both speakers left the audience with a powerful message: to dream boldly, build fearlessly, and harness the full potential of technology and human capability to shape the Bangladesh of tomorrow.
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