‘BD backs rule-based global order to tackle economic snags’
Staff Reporter :
Foreign Affairs Adviser Md Touhid Hossain on Saturday said Bangladesh, as a responsible neighbour and an active member of the United Nations and other international bodies, strongly supports a rule-based international order and collective action to address global economic challenges.
“We support active engagement to promote dialogue, confidence-building, and cooperative solutions to shared concerns,” he said while speaking at the inaugural session of the South Asian Federation of Accountants (SAFA) International Conference in the capital.
The conference, organised by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Bangladesh (ICAB), was held under the theme “Next Generation Profession: Converging Ethical AI and Sustainability Reporting.”
Chairperson of the Bangladesh Competition Commission AHM Ahsan and Chairman of the Financial Reporting Council (FRC) Dr Md Sajjad Hossain
Bhuiyan attended as special guests.
Touhid Hossain said the convergence of technology and sustainability is particularly significant for Bangladesh as it pursues economic growth and deeper global integration.
The country’s ambitions, he noted, require professionals who are not only technically proficient but also ethically grounded and socially responsible.
He added that platforms like the SAFA conference play a critical role in exchanging knowledge, sharing best practices, and fostering meaningful regional and global collaboration.
Such engagements, he said, can help steer both South Asia and the wider international community towards a sustainable, inclusive, and technologically advanced future.
Emphasising its importance, the adviser described the convergence of technology and sustainability as central to shaping a “new Bangladesh.”
The keynote address was delivered by Adeeb Hossain Khan FCA, past president of ICAB and senior partner at Rahman Rahman Huq, Chartered Accountants.
Khan said the adoption of artificial intelligence in sustainability reporting is no longer theoretical but represents a structural shift in how economic value is created, measured, and disclosed.
“The global accounting profession is entering a new phase,” he said, noting that ethical AI and sustainability reporting are already reshaping business risk, investor expectations, and public trust.
He added that modern sustainability reporting now directly influences capital allocation, regulatory compliance, and market credibility as climate and governance issues move into mainstream financial decision-making.
Khan stressed that while AI can enhance transparency and predictive insight, it does not carry ethical accountability or fiduciary duty.
“These responsibilities remain inherently human, which is why ethical governance is essential,” he said.
He also highlighted emerging applications of AI, including climate scenario modelling, supply-chain carbon analysis, and real-time ESG performance tracking, while warning that algorithmic opacity, data fragmentation, and bias could undermine trust without strong safeguards.
AHM Ahsan said technological advancement presents both opportunities and challenges.
AI-driven systems, he observed, can improve efficiency, strengthen compliance, and foster innovation, but without ethical frameworks they also risk enabling algorithmic collusion, abuse of market dominance, opacity, and exclusionary practices.
He urged cautious and responsible adoption to ensure Bangladesh can fully harness AI’s benefits.
For the first time in Dhaka, ICAB hosted Jean Bouquot, President of the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), alongside Ashfaq Yousuf Tola FCA, Adviser to SAFA, as guests of honour.
Bouquot underscored the importance of greater transparency in financial disclosures, saying that responsible use of AI can help professionals deliver services more efficiently while strengthening trust.
He also highlighted the global relevance of the discussions, particularly for sustainability reporting and next-generation professional practices.
ICAB President NKA Mobin FCA, in his welcome address, said the profession’s journey is about leading change.
“As we navigate ethical AI and sustainability reporting, our timeless foundation of integrity, objectivity, and public service must guide us,” he said, adding that the world needs ethical, competent, and forward-thinking accountants more than ever.
Muhammed Farhad Hussain FCA, past ICAB president and chairman of the conference organising committee, said the conference theme reflects not only where the world is heading but also where the profession must lead.
Artificial intelligence and sustainability, he noted, are already transforming how organisations operate, how information is produced, and how trust is built.
The two-day conference brought together national leadership and international expertise, featuring three technical sessions and a valedictory session.
Delegates from Afghanistan, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka participated, underscoring strong regional engagement and government support for raising professional standards, ethical practices, and international cooperation in the accounting and finance sectors.