International conference on Machine Intelligence and Emerging Technologies opens at NSTU

Noakhali Correspondent: The 3rd International Conference on “Machine Intelligence and Emerging Technologies (MIET) 2026” has been inaugurated at Noakhali Science and Technology University (NSTU).

The two-day international conference was inaugurated on Thursday (Oct 8) at the Bir Shreshtha Shaheed Mohammad Ruhul Amin Auditorium of NSTU. Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology Md Anwar Hossain attended the event as the chief guest, while NSTU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Golam Rabbani chaired the programme.

Speaking as the chief guest, Secretary Md Anwar Hossain said artificial intelligence (AI) is creating enormous opportunities while also presenting new challenges. Therefore, Bangladesh must move towards a technology- and innovation-driven economy rather than relying solely on traditional industries. He said there is significant potential for Bangladesh to work in high-tech sectors, including semiconductors.

More than 1,000 innovations were showcased at the National Innovation Fair 2026, he said, adding that the government is working to transform these innovations into practical products and bring them to market through research and development.

He further said local problems must be identified and technology-based solutions developed to address them. While funding is important, the biggest challenge is a lack of initiative. If stakeholders work together, the necessary funding can be secured from the private sector and international sources. He added that the Ministry of Science and Technology is working to provide necessary support by reviewing the research papers and innovations presented at the Innovation Fair and exploring ways to bring them to market.

In his presidential address, NSTU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Golam Rabbani said people are living in an era when emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, cybersecurity and robotics are bringing sweeping changes to human life and society.

“Research should not remain confined to laboratories; it must be used to solve real-life problems and improve people’s quality of life,” he said. He stressed that technological advancement in a country like Bangladesh must be inclusive, sustainable and accessible to all.

He said universities have an important role to play in producing future researchers, innovators and technologists. Around 50 institutions are participating in this year’s conference, while foreign institutions are involved in 24 percent of the accepted research papers, strengthening the conference’s international reach and potential for research collaboration.

Describing the conference as an excellent platform for researchers, the vice-chancellor expressed hope that it would play an important role in helping Bangladesh advance towards the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

NSTU Pro-Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Shafiqul Islam, Treasurer Prof Dr Md Hasan Uddin and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology Prof Dr Md Ashraful Alam also spoke at the inaugural programme as special guests.

Among others, deans of various faculties, directors of institutes, department chairmen, conference organising chair Md Iftekharul Alam Ifat, teachers, students, researchers, invited guests and journalists attended the event.

The keynote speakers at the conference included Prof Dr Latifur Khan, director of the Big Data Analysis and Management Lab at the University of Texas in the United States; Prof Muhammad M. Hossain of the Elmore School of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Purdue University;