Receiving information on public services is now just a phone call away
On April 12, 2018, Prime Minister's ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed, as chief guest, launched the call centre service (333) at the Prime Minister's Office. Minister of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Mustafa Jabbar was present as the guest of honour. State Minister of ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak M.P., Secretary (Co-ordination and Reforms) of the Cabinet Division N. M. Ziaul Alam and Acting Secretary of the Prime Minister's Office Sajjadul Hassan were present as special guests. The launching ceremony was chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Md. Nojibur Rahman.
Locals can anytime 24/7 dial to 333 and NRBs can dial to 09666789333 to receive information on the procedures of receiving public services, contact information of people's representatives and government employees, tourist attractions of different areas, and detailed information about different districts. Also citizens can now inform about and complain against different social problems, and get response from Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi Officers (UNO) themselves. Furthermore, using this helpline, they can seek assistance from Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi Officers during disasters. Initially, the call centre service was piloted in all 64 districts of Bangladesh by the Access to Information (a2i) Programme. Under the piloting, over 6 lakh citizens have received different information services until March 2018. Among these, over 4,000 social problems have been addressed by Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi Officers, including 541 cases of food adulteration, 431 cases of child marriage, and 391 cases of illegal drugs distribution. To ensure sustainability of the service, a2i has already provided hands-on training on operation related issues of 333 to one Additional Deputy Commissioner, three Upazila Nirbahi Officers, and one Assistant Commissioner in every district. Robi Axiata Ltd. and Genex Infosys Ltd are providing technical assistance to operate the call centre.
Gradually, the services of different ministries will be incorporated in this call centre, and the entrepreneurs at over 5,000 digital centres will be engaged so that people could also receive services from them. In addition, new features, like SMS, IVR, USSD code based services, Live chat, and Social media will be added to the call centre. Apart from providing information and services, this call centre will be used as a medium of promoting public services. With the help of this call centre, every citizen of the country can be brought under the coverage of public services. This will effectively reduce citizen's time, cost and hassle in receiving information on public services and remedy to social problems.
Among others, Director General of Prime Minister's Office and Project Director of a2i Programme Mr. K. M. Ali Azam, a2i's Policy Adviser Mr. Anir Chowdhury, Robi's CEO Mr. Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, Genex's Managing Director Mr. Adnan Imam, National Consultant and a2i's project lead for '333' Mr. Mohammad Ashraful Amin (Senior Assistant Secretary), senior officials from different ministries, and media personnel were present at the event.
Comments