Singapore: A group of Bangladeshi Google Maps contributors joined Google’s prestigious international Local Guides gathering, Connect Live Singapore 2026, held on July 30 and 31 at Google’s Asia-Pacific headquarters in Singapore. The event brought together selected and experienced Google Maps contributors from different countries to discuss the future of mapping, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence-powered features, user experience, and community development.

According to United News of Bangladesh, among the Bangladeshi participants were Malaysia-based Bangladeshi couple Pavel Sarwar and Sumaiya Zafrin Chowdhury. Other participants from Bangladesh included Connect Forum moderators Md Shafiul Bashar, Md Khokon Sharker, Gazi Salahuddin, Nasim M Joy, Md Palash, and Farzana Rupa. Tahmina Akter Trisha participated from Japan. The participating Local Guides exchanged experiences with Google Maps team members and contributors from different countries and shared their views on issues affecting local communities.

For the Bangladeshi contributors, the event was also an opportunity to highlight issues and opportunities in Bangladesh, including women’s empowerment, accessibility for people with disabilities, accurate mapping information, digital inclusion, and success stories of local entrepreneurs. They have also been involved in training and awareness activities to encourage new Local Guides and regularly raise local issues and development proposals with relevant Google teams.

For Pavel Sarwar, being invited to Connect Live is a major recognition for a Google Maps contributor. He emphasized that the event provides selected Local Guides with an opportunity to discuss the future development of Google Maps, new features, user experience, and community development. Many discussions at the event were covered by non-disclosure agreements, making it impossible for participants to disclose details of future plans or features.

According to Sarwar, this year’s Connect Live was held in three different countries, with only 150 contributors selected from the global Local Guides community to participate. He described being among those selected as a significant honor and international recognition. Sarwar urged Bangladeshi Google Maps contributors to continue contributing not for awards or recognition, but to present Bangladesh positively to the world.

For Sumaiya Zafrin Chowdhury, representing Bangladesh at an international Google event is deeply personal. She and her husband try to showcase Bangladesh through their own identities and cultural heritage. The Bangladeshi flag is always with them, and they carry small gifts representing Bangladesh to share with participants from other countries. Sumaiya highlighted that Connect Live is about more than representing a country, as suggestions made by Local Guides at events have been reflected in Google Maps.

Md Khokon Sarker described participating in Connect Live as his first opportunity to join Google’s biggest global platform for Local Guides. At the event, he urged Google’s global leadership to add more information about accessible places to Google Maps to make travel easier for wheelchair users in Bangladesh and called for support for small local NGOs working on accessibility issues.

Md Shafiul Bashar noted that Connect Live 2026 was different from previous editions he had attended. The event allowed participants to meet Local Guides from the Asia-Pacific region and discuss future Google Maps updates directly with members of the Google Local Guides team. He emphasized their commitment to building a Google Maps that is easier, more accurate, and more accessible for everyone.

For Farhana Akter, attending Connect Live Singapore 2026 was the fulfillment of a long-held dream. She had previously been selected twice for Connect Live but could not attend the events held in the United States due to visa-related complications. The experience provided her with renewed motivation, and she hopes her journey will encourage more women to become involved in the community.

Connect Live is a prestigious international gathering of selected Google Local Guides, offering participants an opportunity to engage directly with Google teams and contributors on the development of Google Maps and local challenges. For the Bangladeshi participants, the event’s significance extended beyond the conference itself, as they aim to make Bangladesh more visible, accessible, and accurately represented on the world’s digital map. Google covered the participants’ necessary expenses for travel, accommodation, food, and visa processing for their participation in the event.