Zubaida Rahman Speaks at Washington Summit at US First Lady’s Invitation

At the invitation of US First Lady Melania Trump and under the initiative of the White House, Dr. Zubaida Rahman, wife of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the “Fostering the Future Together Global Coalition Summit” in Washington DC on Tuesday.

The two-day summit was inaugurated by Melania Trump at the US State Department.

In her address, Dr. Zubaida Rahman highlighted the transformative potential of responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in revolutionising education systems. She called upon the developed world to support Bangladesh in this endeavour.

She said: “We believe that the future of every nation is determined by the lives of its children. The education we provide them today and the values we instil will form the foundation of a nation tomorrow.”

Dr. Rahman noted that she had come from a country that has entered a new chapter under the leadership of her husband, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. The government formed through the recent election has begun working towards building an inclusive and progressive state.

She mentioned that the government has already launched initiatives such as the “Family Card” and “Farmer Card” to provide financial assistance to families and create a safe and supportive environment for children. As a physician, she expressed her commitment to ensuring accessible and quality healthcare for every child, with emphasis on preventive measures from the early stages of life. Her work with the Ziaur Rahman Foundation and Suravi has further strengthened her commitment to education, youth development, and social welfare.

She stressed: “We believe that the responsible use of artificial intelligence can bring revolutionary change in the education system, especially in a country like Bangladesh where there is disparity in access to trained teachers and resources. Our government is assisting teachers and students in acquiring digital skills. Tablets and computers are being provided to teachers, curricula are being updated, and new teaching methods are being introduced. Classrooms are being made multimedia-rich to encourage collaborative work, creativity, and moral development.”

Dr. Rahman emphasised that technology, particularly educational technology, can play a vital role in reducing the gap between urban and rural areas. At the same time, she reiterated the government’s commitment to the safe and ethical use of such technologies so that children can grow up in a secure environment.

She highlighted Bangladesh’s strong tradition of women’s empowerment. Former Prime Minister Begum Khaleda Zia had introduced free education for girls up to Class 12 and worked on human rights development. The current government is working to ensure free education for women up to the postgraduate level.

She recalled that Shaheed President Ziaur Rahman laid the foundation of the garment industry, which created employment opportunities for millions of women, strengthened families, and improved the quality of life for children.

Dr. Rahman concluded by expressing gratitude to the US First Lady and underscoring the importance of partnership: “We recognise the importance of collaboration. By working with the private sector and international partners, we are advancing towards creating a safe digital environment, developing trained teachers, empowering parents, and improving the quality of education for all. Our goal is to connect every region, protect every child, and build personalised education for every student. Together, we can create a generation that is resilient, humane, and prepared for the future. Thank you.”