Bangladesh’s influencer marketing scene is maturing fast and industry leaders say authenticity and strategy are now outweighing follower counts.
That was a key takeaway from Marketing Adda – Influencer Marketing Evolution, an industry roundtable recently organized in Banani, Dhaka by Don Sumdany Facilitation & Consultancy. The event brought together 73 marketing and brand professionals, including me, from more than 50 organizations, reflecting growing interest in how influencer marketing is evolving in the local market.
From reach to relevance
Speakers at the session included Zeeshan Kingshuk Huq, Chief Communications Officer at United Commercial Bank PLC; Kazi Mohiuddin, Senior General Manager, Brand at Meghna Group of Industries (MGI); and Shoumik Ahmed, influencer and co-founder of The Industry Inf Ltd.
Discussions focused on how brands are moving away from one-off influencer campaigns toward long-term partnerships, stronger brand storytelling, and a sharper emphasis on audience trust and measurable impact. Panelists noted that as influencer saturation increases, brands are becoming more selective, prioritizing credibility, alignment, and performance data over raw reach.
A more strategic influencer ecosystem
Participants highlighted a broader shift toward data-driven decision-making, with brands increasingly tracking engagement quality, conversion signals, and audience relevance. Influencer marketing, the speakers argued, is becoming less experimental and more integrated into core marketing strategy.
The conversation also underscored the importance of transparency and authenticity, particularly as Bangladeshi consumers grow more discerning about sponsored content.
Part of a broader professional platform
Marketing Adda builds on Don Sumdany Facilitation & Consultancy’s earlier initiatives, including HR ADDA and Parenting ADDA, which aim to create focused professional forums for cross-industry dialogue and learning.
As influencer marketing continues to evolve in Bangladesh, events like Marketing Adda suggest the industry is entering a more disciplined phase one where strategy, trust, and data increasingly define success.
