By Syed Altefat Hossain
DHAKA, Dec 26, 2018 (BSS) – The a2i, with the support of ICT Division, USAID and UNDP Bangladesh, has introduced more than 16 digital services
and platforms this year in line with its vision of transforming the country
into ‘Digital Bangladesh’ to render services to the citizens through digital
means.
The a2i has introduced two online-based platforms — ‘Konnect’ for students and
‘Accessible Dictionary’ for visually-impaired people.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated a2i’s newly developed online-based
platforms at the Amar Ekushey Book Fair on February 1, 2018, a2i officials
told BSS today.
The ‘Konnect’ is a digital platform for teenagers where they can share,
upload and learn from creative multimedia contents like books, movies and
comic books and important life lessons from the website www.konnect .edu.bd
that can help develop their talent, social and personal skills, personality
and commitment to the welfare of the nation.
The ‘Konnect’ has been jointly developed by a2i Programme, Ministry of
Education, Bangladesh Shishu Academy, Sylhet Shahjalal University of Science
and Technology, World Literature Center and the Children’s Film Society.
According to the a2i officials, the ‘Accessible Dictionary’ is Bangladesh’s
first Bangla-to-Bangla, Bangla-to-English, English-to-Bangla and English-to-
English dictionary developed exclusively for the visually-impaired people. It
is available in both web and mobile app formats on the website
www.accessibledictionary.gov.bd.
The dictionary has been developed by YPSA, a social development
organization, with overall support from a2i’s Service Innovation Fund.
The a2i in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture
Extension (DAE) has developed the digital platform “Krishi Batayon”
(agriculture portal) and the “Krishak Bandhu Phone Seba” for expansion of e-
agriculture services across the country, said the a2i officials.
The prime minister opened the services through a videoconference from her
official residence Ganabhaban in the capital on February 28, 2018.
The “Krishi Batayon” is a central service portal where some mobile apps
have been developed by taking into consideration the different needs of the
farmers and agriculture extension officials for providing services from this
portal or enriching its information for the necessity of services.
Any farmer included in the list of “Krishi Batayon” can make any question
related to agriculture by making a call to No. 3331 from his/her phone.
The a2i has also launched the ‘333 Call Centre’ with a motto — “Government
information and services, anytime” — to provide information on procedures of
receiving government services and redress of social problems.
Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Ahmed Wazed inaugurated the
call centre service on April 12, 2018.
Anyone can dial the helpline 333 from anywhere of the country and
expatriates Bangladeshis to 09666789333 and receive information about
government offices or officers, tourist attractions, 64 districts and
solution of different social problems.
Mobile operator Robi and country’s one of the leading call center service
providers – Genex Infosys Ltd – are extending technical assistance to operate
the call centre.
Gradually, the services of different ministries will be incorporated in the
call centre, and the entrepreneurs at over 5,000 digital centres will be
engaged so that people could also receive services from them.
With the joint initiative of a2i Programme and Bangladesh Atomic Energy
Regulatory Authority, an online system called “E-Licensing and E-Learning
System of BAERA” was inaugurated on March 29.
The online system aims at transforming the licensing and training system of
BAERA into e-services through the online process for saving time and reducing
cost in providing services to the citizens.
The a2i launched six digital centers — five for garment
workers in Gazipur and one for fishery workers in Khulna — on August 16,
2018 aimed at ensuring easy, fast and low-cost access to government and
private services for the RMG and fishery workers.
From these digital centers, people of those areas, including workers of
garment and fishery industries, can receive more than 150 government and
private services, financial inclusion services, quickly and at a lower cost
as well as they can be able to buy and sell more than 5 lakh different
products online through agent banking and rural e-commerce ‘ekShop’. The
digital centers will remain open from 7 am to 10 pm every day.
The government has launched ‘Implementation of Digital Service Dashboard’
in order to implement 1,976 digital services by 2021 in different
departments, directorates and organizations.
Former post, telecommunications and ICT minister Mustafa Jabbar inaugurated
the Implementation of Digital Service Dashboard jointly made by the Cabinet
Division and the a2i Programme at a function on the “Coordination of Digital
Service Implementation Plan-2021” at the Officers’ Club in the city on
October 9.
According to the officials concerned, the government will implement the
plan of 1976 digital services in 53 ministries and 394 departments,
directorate and organisations.
The a2i introduced ‘Skills Portal’ (skills.gov.bd) on September 22 in the first
session of the National Apprenticeship Conference 2018 held in Cox’s Bazar.
The Skills Portal is an online platform for regular coordination and
monitoring of various a2i skill development programmes; assessing the demand
of skilled manpower in the industry; and connecting skill development
organizations with various industries.
The a2i Programme and the Department of Environment launched two
environment challenge fund titled ‘ETP Monitoring System’ and ‘Remote River
Water Monitoring System’ to check the river pollution and wastes discharged
by factories.
The ‘ETP Monitoring System’ and ‘Remote River Water Monitoring System’ will
protect the environment and rivers from pollution by providing information
online on waste control and quality of water of rivers respectively.
The government has launched a mobile app “Joy” on July 29, 2018 in an
attempt to provide immediate assistance to women and children who were
already became or are about to be victims of torture or violence.
The mobile-based ‘Joy’ application software has been developed by Multi-
Sectoral Program on Violence Against Women (MSPVAW) of the Ministry of Women
and Children Affairs with funding and technical support from the a2i
Programme.
Any one from anywhere can search for “Joy 109” app at the Google App Store
and download it at their android-based phone. During any emergency, the app
user can instantly send urgent SMS to the Police Super, Deputy Police
Commissioner of the metropolitan police, three selected FNF (friend and
family) numbers and the National Helpline Center (109).