Automation, AI, and shifting global economic trends are transforming labour markets. As Bangladesh prepares for this transition, evidence alone is not enough—effective policy also requires dialogue.On 13 July 2026, the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) convened a multi-stakeholder consultation, bringing together policymakers, private sector representatives, trade unions, development partners, and researchers to discuss emerging findings from its ongoing Future of Work study and present the new policy brief, ‘Is Bangladesh Ready for the Future of Work?’
As Bangladesh’s labour market undergoes rapid transformation through automation, artificial intelligence, digitalisation, and structural economic change, preparing for the future of work requires more than anticipating technological shifts—it requires policies that enable workers and institutions to adapt. The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) examines these challenges in its policy brief, ‘Is Bangladesh Ready for the Future of Work?’. The brief assesses Bangladesh’s readiness for these changes through a foresight approach combining horizon scanning, stakeholder consultations, and a Delphi-based scenario-building exercise. It presents four plausible labour market scenarios for 2035, exploring how the digital economy and changing social aspirations could shape the future of work. 
Ride-hailing and delivery apps have transformed how people move and shop in Bangladesh’s cities, but social protection systems have struggled to keep pace with these changes. The article highlights the fragmented nature of existing coverage and calls for a portable, contributory, and progressively expandable system that protects platform workers without waiting for all questions surrounding their employment status to be resolved.