BD highlights citizen-centric digital governance

Bangladesh has reaffirmed its commitment to building an inclusive and citizen-centric digital governance system, with a focus on expanding Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), enhancing public service delivery and strengthening citizen engagement mechanisms.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam made this remarks during a high-level roundtable discussion at the UN Public Service Forum 2026 in Tbilisi, Georgia on Thursday.

Addressing policymakers and international stakeholders, the minister presented Bangladesh’s future roadmap for developing an inclusive DPI ecosystem designed to ensure equal access to public services for citizens across the country.

“To Bangladesh, DPI is not merely a matter of technology; rather, it is a core instrument of good governance. Our objective is to ensure that a citizen living in the most remote area can access public services with the same ease as a resident of the capital city,” he said. Faqir Mahbub Anam said the government remains committed to establishing a digital-first governance model under the leadership of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, with digital platforms playing a central role in public service delivery.

Highlighting existing initiatives, the minister said citizens currently access a range of integrated government services through the EkPay payment platform, the myGov application, the National Web Portal and the 333 national helpline. These platforms have been designed to simplify access to services and improve interactions between citizens and public institutions.

He also informed the forum that the government is working towards ensuring affordable, high-quality internet connectivity and access to smart devices for all citizens within the next three years, a move aimed at narrowing the digital divide and supporting broader digital inclusion.

On citizen engagement and accountability, the minister pointed to the Cabinet Division’s Grievance Redress System (GRS) and the e-Participation platform, which allow people to submit complaints, provide feedback and directly communicate their views to government agencies.

To further strengthen accountability within public institutions, the government plans to introduce an e-Participation Ranking system that will assess and encourage greater responsiveness to citizen feedback, he added.

The discussion at the UN forum comes as governments worldwide increasingly adopt digital governance tools to improve service delivery, enhance transparency and promote public participation. Bangladesh has been expanding its digital public service ecosystem in recent years as part of broader efforts to modernise governance and make government services more accessible.