The transition driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) — powered by Artificial Intelligence(AI), Blockchain, Big Data, automation and Cloud Computing — is reshaping the way industriesoperate globally, and accounting is no exception. In Bangladesh, the move toward 4IR is producingsignificant changes in the accounting profession, opening both opportunities and challenges.Automation of traditional bookkeeping tasks such as data entry, ledger maintenance and invoiceprocessing is freeing accountants to focus on higher-level analysis and decision-making, while AI andMachine Learning enable them to interrogate large datasets and produce more accurate forecasts.Blockchain technology brings transparency, security and efficiency to financial transactions and auditoperations. Cloud computing and Big Data analytics are enabling real-time, collaborativemanagement of financial information across multiple clients and businesses. This digital shift,however, raises concerns about cyber-crime and the protection of sensitive financial data, anddemands that accountants develop new competencies in data analysis, AI tools, blockchain andcybersecurity. Drawing on secondary data from ICAB, ICMAB, Bangladesh Bank and World Bankpublications, and an indicative practitioner survey (n = 120), the paper presents six visualisations ofadoption rates, the changing skill profile, perceived opportunities and challenges, a 2018–2024adoption trend, barriers to blockchain adoption, and a 2024 vs 2030 automation projection. Thediscussion synthesises these findings into a roadmap for individual accountants, firms, professionalbodies and policymakers in Bangladesh.Keywords: Fourth Industrial Revolution; Accounting; Bangladesh; Artificial Intelligence; Blockchain;Big Data; Cloud Computing; Cybersecurity; Skill Development; Automation.
Ripon Chandra Das (Sun,) studied this question.