Aspire to Innovate-a2i recently celebrated its 13th anniversary, marking over a decade of providing technology services to marginalized communities through digital centres.
State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Zunaid Ahmed Palak was present as the chief guest.
The event was also attended by the Project Director of a2i, Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan; Natore Superintendent of Police Md. Tariqul Islam, PPM; and other special guests including Tariqul Islam, PPM; Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Center Establishment Project Deputy Project Director (Deputy Secretary) Md Mokhtar Ahmed, and Project Director of Bangladesh-India Digital Services and Employment Training Center Establishment Project, Md Amirul Islam.
The ICT state minister said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the initiative to establish this digital centre to deliver the service to the doorstep of the people in a corruption-free way at an affordable price using technology. It has reduced the time from three months to three minutes. This is Sheikh Hasina's Digital Bangladesh, Palak added.
More than 17,800 women and men entrepreneurs of 9397 digital centers spread across the country are providing more than 385 public and private services to the citizens easily, quickly and at a low cost. More than 75 lakh services are being provided from digital centers every month. The entrepreneurs have so far saved 78.14 percent of the time, 16.55 percent of the cost and 17.38 percent of the commute of the citizens.
The state minister mentioned that the initiative has received international recognition and will be the model for a smart Bangladesh. This model is being followed in many countries, including the Philippines, South Africa, Ghana, and Cambodia. The government plans to set up 1,000 village digital centers across the country by 2024, ensuring that technology services are accessible to every corner of the village.
a2i Project Director Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan said the digital centre will play a pivotal role in boosting the rural economy. He added that smart technology will serve as a powerful tool for the development of Bangladesh. The digital centre will be one of the key instruments for building a Smart Bangladesh, he added.
Natore Deputy Commissioner Abu Nasser Bhuiyan presided over the program while Nilufa Yasmin, deputy project director of ICT Division's Har Power Project conducted it.