The winners of the International AI Innovation & Leadership Consortium (IAILC) Prestige Awards 2026 were announced in Dhaka on Wednesday.
IAILC Founder and President Prof. B. C. Pandey announced the winners during a "Meet the Press" event held at a hotel in the capital, according to a media statement.
Prof. Pandey said the awards will be presented on July 25 at Hotel Sonargaon, Dhaka, in recognition of outstanding contributions to Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, Ethical Leadership, Education, Research, Innovation, Cybersecurity, Digital Transformation and Sustainable Development.
Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapan is expected to present the awards to the winners.
The event is being organised by the Canada-based Universal Humanity Foundation (UHF).
Organisers said the evaluation process followed five internationally recognised stages: Institutional Research, Due Diligence, Compliance Screening, Governance Review and Independent International Evaluation.
A total of 57 winners, including individuals and organisations across various categories, were officially announced by Prof. Pandey.
In his virtual address, Prof. Pandey said the winners were selected after an extensive research and international assessment process covering universities, government institutions, international organisations, research institutions, corporate entities, financial institutions, chambers of commerce, development organisations and distinguished individual contributors.
The awards recognise excellence in education, research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, digital governance, corporate leadership, banking and financial services, entrepreneurship, international cooperation, humanitarian service and sustainable development.
Organisers emphasised that the IAILC Prestige Awards 2026 are not a commercial or sponsorship-based award programme. They clarified that paid nominations, sponsorships, lobbying and advertising purchases play no role in the selection process. Final recipients were chosen solely on the basis of research, verified evidence, merit and demonstrated achievements.
Prof. Pandey further announced that all selected winners will receive official confirmation letters, invitation letters and VIP delegate invitations. Award recipients will also receive a medal, crest, official recognition certificate and International CPD Dual Certification during the international award ceremony. No registration or administrative fee will be required to receive the award.
The organisers also said that IAILC aims to strengthen international collaboration in research, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, leadership development, policy dialogue and global knowledge exchange through a strong international network.
List of Award Recipients
The IAILC Prestige Awards 2026 recognized 57 winners representing government and public institutions, international development organizations, banking and financial institutions, universities and research organizations, chambers of commerce, corporate and technology companies, and an individual recipient of the Global Changemaker Prestige Award 2026.
Government & Public Institutions
Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC); Bangladesh Telecommunication Regulatory Commission (BTRC); Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA); Ministry of Information and Broadcasting; Ministry of Education; Ministry of Science and Technology; Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology; National Board of Revenue (NBR); Bangladesh Export Processing Zones Authority (BEPZA); Bangladesh Data Center Company Limited; and Cyber Security Agency/BGD e-GOV CIRT.
International Development & Humanitarian Organizations
UNDP Bangladesh, UNICEF, and BRAC.
Banking & Financial Institutions
Bangladesh Bank, BRAC Bank PLC, Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC, City Bank PLC, Eastern Bank PLC, bKash, Prime Bank Limited, and Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC.
Universities & Research Institutions
United Nations University, University of Toronto, University of Dhaka, BUET, BRAC University, North South University, Daffodil International University, United International University, AIUB, East West University, Islamic University of Technology, Bangladesh University of Professionals, Stamford University Bangladesh, UGC Bangladesh, London School of Leadership & Management, and Accuracy Education.
Chambers & Business Organizations
Dhaka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI), Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FBCCI), Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce & Industry (MCCI), Bangladesh Association of Contact Center and Outsourcing (BACCO), BGMEA, and BKMEA.
Corporate & Technology Organizations
HRC Group, Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC, ACI Limited, PRAN-RFL Group, Akij Group, Grameenphone, Banglalink, Asia Star Bangladesh & Thailand, Pentagon Films & Media International, Robi, Amlaki Bangladesh & Thailand; Mintu Kumar Mondal & Associates; and Prof. Dr. Nidhi Nagabhatla.