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Senior software engineer Shadman Sakib Sorbo warned that Bangladesh’s software export model still relies heavily on cost advantages in low- to medium-complexity work.

“AI is reshaping the global software industry, and Bangladesh is no exception. As someone working in this space, I see both real opportunities and real concerns,” he added.

Sorbo said entry-level and repetitive coding jobs are now most at risk.

“These roles have traditionally been the entry point for fresh graduates into the software industry. If AI takes over boilerplate code and routine tasks, junior developers may find it harder to get started.”

He also warned of wage pressure across the sector.

“As AI reduces the cost of basic software work globally, clients may expect more for less. If the local industry does not upskill quickly, higher-value AI-driven work could move to more advanced markets,” he said.

At the same time, he said AI is creating new opportunities.

“AI is a powerful productivity tool. Developers who learn to use AI for code generation, testing and debugging can become far more competitive globally,” he said.

He added that new roles are emerging, including prompt engineering, AI model fine-tuning, data annotation and AI quality assurance.

“Our large, young and tech-focused workforce is a major advantage in this shift,” he said.

Rezwanul Haque Jami, chief executive officer of Digibox Limited, said AI’s impact is already visible in hiring patterns.

“In my company, I used to hire fresh software developers regularly. Now, a senior developer using AI tools like Claude can effectively do the work of two or three junior coders,” he said.

“I have not hired a fresher in over a year,” he added.

Jami also said that tasks such as prototyping and wireframing, which once required significant manpower, are increasingly being automated by AI tools.

ADAPT OR FALL BEHIND

Industry experts agree on one point: AI will not eliminate jobs overnight, but it is already reshaping the software industry.

The divide, they say, will increasingly be between those who adapt and those who fail to keep pace.

“AI will not eliminate Bangladeshi tech jobs overnight, but it will sharply separate those who adapt from those who do not,” said Sorbo.

“The time to invest in AI literacy -- in universities, bootcamps and companies -- is now, not after the transformation fully arrives,” he added.