Bill Gates visited Bangladesh in 2004 at Tarique Rahman’s invitation: Press Secy

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates visited Bangladesh on a brief trip in 2004 at the invitation of Tarique Rahman, according to Prime Minister’s Press Secretary A A M Saleh Shibli.

Speaking at a policy dialogue titled “Shaping Bangladesh’s Digital Future: Telecom, Data and Cyber Security Bill 2026” held in Dhaka on Saturday evening (April 25), Shibli said Tarique Rahman met Bill Gates in the United States in 2004 and invited him to Bangladesh, following which Gates made the visit.

He also said the government supports democratic discourse but criticised recent online rhetoric, calling abusive language unacceptable and inconsistent with freedom of expression.

The event was organised by the Bangladesh ICT Stakeholders Alliance (BISA), where BNP Standing Committee member Dr. Abdul Moyeen Khan attended as chief guest, along with Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahir Uddin Swapon as special guest.

ICT entrepreneurs, legal experts, and policymakers also participated in the discussion.