a2i launched eight digital public services in 2019

With a view to enabling people to access different government services including utility bills and fees payment facilities through digital means, Access to Information (a2i) introduced eight major digital public services and platforms last year.

In line with the government’s vision to transform the country into “Digital Bangladesh”, a2i -- under ICT Division with the support of the Cabinet Division and UNDP Bangladesh -- launched those services.

Three digital one-stop services -- ekSheba, ekPay and ekShop -- with the theme “Contribution of digital Bangladesh: All solutions under one umbrella” were launched to enable people to access different government services, utility bills and fees payment facilities and e-commerce.

Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy inaugurated the three digital one-stop services at an event organised by the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division at ICT Tower in Dhaka’s Agargaon area on October 20 last year, a2i officials told the news agency.

The one-stop service centre -- ekSheba -- will act as the platform for providing all digital government services. Currently, a total of 172 government services of 7,149 offices have been brought under the platform while service seekers have been divided into three categories -- citizens or institutions, businessmen, government officials and employees, the officials said.

Gradually, all services (around 2,800) will be connected to the digital platform, which would play a vital role in establishing e-governance by creating ways for online applications and receiving services.

Any service seeker will be able to submit an online application by paying the fees online and check the latest status of the application as well.

The “ekPay” brings the benefits of paying numerous bills from a single platform. It is a one-stop payment platform for easy and hassle-free payment of utility bills, educational fees and all other fees.

By registering with the ekPay’s website or mobile app, all people of the country can pay their required utility bills at any time through debit card, credit card, mobile banking, digital wallet, internet banking, digital centre or any agent point.

With around 99 million internet users and an increasing GDP, Bangladesh is holding a big possibility for the expansion of e-commerce industry.

The “ekShop” is one of the first rural assisted e-commerce platforms in Bangladesh, which would be able to quickly deliver essential products to the doorsteps of people.

Through “ekShop”, products ranging from T-shirt to television can easily be bought and sold, rural producers can easily upload specifications and photos of products to all e-commerce sites and buyers of different e-commerce sites would be able to purchase those products.

In addition, over a million essential products, including medicines, books, clothing, will be accessible from any part of the country. More than 4,000 Union Digital Centers are connected with ekShop.

On the other hand, there are various services that were launched by Service Innovation Fund (SIF), such as developing “telephone based home palliative care service” in the Centre for Palliative Care at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU); introducing online General Diary, and Lost and Found service; services to address the mental health issues of women; introducing online KAIZEN training; and launching the e-cataloguing and standards sale for Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI).

To make the palliative care service popular in Bangladesh, the telephone-based Home Palliative Care Service was introduced, which will provide the patients with services such as, website portal, hotline service, video-call service, home care, and ensuring essential medicines for the patients.

The online General Diary (GD) service was introduced by SIF, and the lost and found service was also included. It will simplify the whole system of GD while the delivery of the final report will be faster.

To increase the production of jute mills in the country, the KAIZEN, a concept referring to business activities that continuously improve all functions and involve all employees from the CEO to the assembly line workers, was necessary.

SIF has provided the KAIZEN training through online and made the access easier for everyone in the jute industry.

Meanwhile, the online catalogue was launched by Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) which allows the entrepreneurs and the local businessmen to know the prices and purchase the standard one.

Policy advisor of a2i, Anir Chowdhury said, “Nearly 700 services have been digitalised in different ministries and government offices so far with a view to digitising the country”.

Coordinating with the ICT Division, different ministries and government offices, a2i is assisting the government to establish Digital Bangladesh, he added.