Artificial intelligence (AI) in Bangladesh's garment industry : Addressing legal gaps and advancing regulatory readiness

Srivastava, Aashish and Karim, Ridoan and Hossain, Khalid and Oliver, Gillian and Islam, Ekramul and Kanij, Tanjila and Jahan, Nayma and Mahdi, Tanjheel Hasan and Zhu, Ruilin (2026) Artificial intelligence (AI) in Bangladesh's garment industry : Addressing legal gaps and advancing regulatory readiness. Common Law World Review, 55 (1). pp. 38-62. ISSN 1473-7795

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Abstract

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming global industries, yet its adoption in developing economies raises urgent questions about fairness, transparency, accountability, and legal oversight. This multidisciplinary empirical study examines the regulatory challenges of AI adoption in Bangladesh's Ready-Made Garment (RMG) sector, a labour-intensive industry central to national economic growth. Drawing on stakeholder insights, the research highlights key concerns relating to fairness and transparency, accountability and liability, privacy and data protection, risk regulation, and the critical need for education and awareness. The findings expose significant gaps in sector-specific governance and institutional readiness. In response, the study proposes a seven-step process to guide the development of effective and context-sensitive regulatory frameworks. While focused on Bangladesh, the recommendations offer broader relevance to other common law countries such as India and Malaysia. This article contributes to building a more inclusive, ethical, and enforceable foundation for AI governance in emerging economies.