Staff Correspondent

Chief Justice of Bangladesh Syed Refaat Ahmed on Thursday stressed the need for global cooperation in regulation of artificial intelligence (AI) and other emerging technologies in a bid to address the challenges of a rapidly changing world.

“As we look to the future, we must also consider the global nature of these challenges. AI and other emerging technologies do not respect national borders, and neither should our regulatory approaches. By fostering international cooperation and sharing best practices, we can create a global ecosystem of regulation that is both innovative and equitable,” he said.

The Chief Justice said this while delivering a keynote speech at a session of the World Regulatory Forum of the Global Government Summit 2025 in Dubai, according to a press release.

His speech focused on the challenges and opportunities posed by emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the critical role of regulatory impact assessments (RIAs) and global collaboration in shaping adaptive legal frameworks in this regard.

“By leveraging AI, conducting rigorous regulatory impact assessments, and utilizing regulatory sandboxes, we can build a regulatory environment that is adaptive, resilient, and capable of addressing the challenges of a rapidly changing world,” he said.

Syed Refaat Ahmed said this is not just a technical or legal challenge—it is a moral imperative. “As we shape the future of regulation, we must ensure that it serves not only the interests of today but also the needs of generations to come,” he added.

He emphasized the importance of designing modern regulatory mechanisms that are agile, inclusive, and able to respond to the complexities of an ever-evolving technological landscape.

The Chief Justice highlighted how AI has transformed sectors like healthcare, education, finance, and governance, while also raising significant ethical, legal, and regulatory challenges.

He said AI’s global impact necessitates a harmonized regulatory approach that transcends national boundaries and to address this urge the policymakers and global leaders to work towards collaborative solutions.

About the role of Regulatory Impact Assessments (RIAs), the Chief Justice emphasized the need for RIAs in AI governance, ensuring policies remain forward-looking and responsive to rapid technological changes.

He pointed out that regulatory mechanisms are essential for testing new technologies and refining regulatory frameworks.

He called for the wider adoption of innovative regulatory tools to ensure that legislation keeps pace with technological advancements.

Putting emphasis on the global cooperation and interdisciplinary collaboration to develop robust and inclusive regulatory frameworks, he said the borderless nature of technologies like AI, national legal systems alone are insufficient to address their complexities.

He recommended building a legal framework in combination of both civil and common law traditions to create adaptive and resilient legal structures.

The session was chaired by the Minister of State, and the Secretary General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Maryam Al Hammadi.