Meta and LightCastle Partners brought together technology, business, government and entrepreneurship representatives in Dhaka for a discussion on how artificial intelligence and digital tools could create new opportunities for small businesses in Bangladesh.
The event, titled “Agami: Bangladesh AI Innovation Day,” was held in Dhaka on September 15. The programme included representatives from government, business and the technology ecosystem, including U.S. Ambassador to Bangladesh Brent T Christensen and a panel involving ICT Adviser to the Prime Minister Rehan Asif Asad and Pathao CEO Fahim Ahmed.
During the event, Meta also announced the availability of local payments for businesses in Bangladesh advertising on its platforms. Businesses can use bKash as a payment method for Meta advertising, providing an alternative to foreign-currency-enabled cards.
The development could be particularly relevant for smaller businesses that want to advertise through Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp but previously faced limitations related to international payment methods.
Meta and LightCastle are also working through the Small Business Growth Academy, which is providing digital marketing and AI-related training to more than 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses in Bangladesh.
The Dhaka event focused on the growing role of AI and digital tools in helping businesses improve their operations and reach customers.
As AI adoption continues to expand across different industries, access to digital tools, training and local payment infrastructure could become increasingly important for Bangladesh's small-business ecosystem.
Sources: The Business Standard, September 16, 2026.