DHAKA : Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir today said the government is introducing an Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based data analysis system to ensure a stable supply of essential and sensitive commodities by predicting potential shortages and enabling faster policy decisions.
The minister made the announcement while addressing a meeting on e-commerce implementation at the Ministry of Commerce as the chief guest, said a press release.
The meeting was chaired by Commerce Secretary Md. Ataur Rahman Khan.
Muktadir said the AI-driven platform will analyse 10 years of historical data to forecast possible supply disruptions and market crises well in advance, allowing the government to take timely measures to maintain market stability.
He said various ministries currently oversee different commodities, making coordinated data analysis essential to determine which products are locally produced, which rely on imports, and which require a balanced supply strategy.
"The government's main objective is to ensure that markets remain stable and that the supply of essential goods is never disrupted," the minister said, adding that the AI platform would significantly reduce the time required for analysing large volumes of data.
According to him, while such assessments currently require lengthy inter-ministerial meetings, the new system will generate comprehensive analyses within minutes, enabling quicker and more effective decision-making.
The minister said the AI platform would also monitor international market trends and the export capacities of supplying countries to identify the best time and source for imports.
Using predictive analysis, the system will help determine when shortages of commodities such as pulses or onions are likely to occur, allowing the government to initiate import preparations before domestic stocks become scarce.
Muktadir said the initiative would be implemented in coordination with the Ministries of Agriculture, Food and other relevant government agencies, which would have access to the shared database to support their respective operations.
He said the database would be developed using reliable government information alongside international open-source and subscription-based data to ensure accurate forecasting.
Acknowledging that developing the system would take time, the minister expressed confidence that it would eventually become faster and more effective than conventional human analysis.
He said the ultimate goal of the initiative is to strengthen national market management and protect consumers through timely, data-driven decisions.
The meeting also discussed the future development of the country's e-commerce sector and technology-driven market management strategies.
