Outline of Integrated “Smart Card” Technology in Building a Card-Based Bangladesh

Card-based transactions and citizen service management can play a very revolutionary role in building a modern, non-discriminatory and technology-based state.

The initiative taken by the Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s government to provide various types of cards to ease the quality of life of the people of the country is undoubtedly a timely and far-sighted step.

Such digital initiatives to bring state services to the doorstep of the people can make the path of ensuring civil rights much wider and easier.

In the past few days, we have seen that various irregularities and opacity have emerged in the distribution of allowances of various social safety nets at the grassroots or ward level. Due to the lack of an integrated and central database, the real beneficiaries have often been deprived of their just rights.

As a result, it has been seen that a person who is not eligible to receive any other allowance after receiving one allowance, is the one who has unethically registered multiple times and wasted government funds.

Another major weakness of the previous system was human error and unforeseen management glitches.

In many cases, the concerned individuals have embezzled government allowance money by inputting their own mobile numbers instead of the actual recipient’s mobile numbers.

Such technical errors and lack of accountability have made a good initiative questionable and controversial among the common people.

In the current context, there is a risk of spending a huge amount of money from the state treasury if separate cards are created for various card-based welfare works.

The huge budget and time wasted in designing, chip installation, distribution and maintenance of each card can become a big burden for an emerging economy. There is no alternative to using a single and integrated technology to prevent this waste.

The most effective and revolutionary solution to this multifaceted problem could be to convert Bangladesh’s National Identity Card or NID into a ‘Master Card’.

Every adult citizen of the country already has a smart NID card with a unique identification number. It is possible to bring all government services under a single umbrella by focusing on this existing infrastructure.

In the first phase of this proposed Master Card system, all types of government facilities, ration, and healthcare and allowance information will have to be linked to the central database of the citizen’s National Identity Card. Whenever a citizen’s NID is registered for any allowance; his profile will automatically be locked for all other similar allowances. As a result, all avenues for the same person to illegally enjoy multiple benefits will be closed.

The second important step to ensure economic transparency is to link the biometric SIM and mobile banking account registered with the beneficiary’s National Identity Card.

The government allowance money will be sent directly to that mobile banking account which is verified only by the NID of that particular citizen. As a result, it will become completely impossible for the middleman or any third person to take other people’s money into his phone.

If this integrated technology is implemented, government projects will be much more successful, worthwhile and 100% dispute-free than ever before.

When the account of every taka is stored digitally through the proper use of technology, the trust in the state among the people will increase manifold. This is not just an administrative reform, but a powerful tool for building a corruption-free society.

This process of converting the National Identity Card into a Master Card will take the country’s overall digital ecosystem to a new level.

The rural population deprived of banking facilities will also come under the mainstream digital finance through this. With a single card in their pocket, citizens will be able to prove their identity as well as receive all kinds of financial and social security services.

To make this outline successful, the National Identity Card Wing of the Election Commission, the Information and Communication Technology Department and Bangladesh Bank will have to jointly create an integrated API platform.

Through this platform, any government ministry or department will be able to verify the eligibility and current status of an applicant in an instant. This modernization of data sharing will accelerate the entire governance system.

In terms of security, this single card system will also be very reliable and secure. By adding modern cryptography and two-factor authentication, it is possible to protect the privacy of citizens’ personal information. If the database is secured with a strict security ring, there will be no opportunity to steal or forge public information through any kind of cyber attack.

This modernization of technology will restore a kind of psychological comfort and self-respect to the marginalized people of the country.

They will no longer have to go door to door to beg and beg from any local influential person or broker to get their allowance money. The state will directly deliver the rights to its citizens on their mobile screens, which is truly the core philosophy of a welfare state.

From an economic perspective, this integrated technology will bring huge savings in the country’s revenue management. Since the cost of printing crores of separate plastic or chip cards is saved, the surplus money can be invested in education, health and rural infrastructure development. This can be an outstanding example of ensuring maximum use of limited resources.

For the successful implementation of this system, it is necessary to increase internet connectivity and digital literacy in every corner of the country.

The common people of remote areas should be made aware of the use and benefits of this Master Card through Union Digital Centers. When every citizen of the country becomes a partner of this technology, its real benefits will reach every home.

The talent and innovative power of the young generation of IT experts can be utilized in this journey of building a Smart Bangladesh.

This integrated software solution made with indigenous technology will be considered a shining example of Bangladesh’s technological capabilities in the international arena as well. Bangladesh will stand tall in the world as a self-reliant and modern state.

Finally, it can be said that integrated “smart card” technology is the need of the hour to make the card-based public welfare initiative of the Honorable Prime Minister 100% successful.

If this outline is implemented by eliminating bureaucratic complications and inspired by the spirit of patriotism, a non-discriminatory, transparent and accountable Bangladesh will be built.

This new Bangladesh, illuminated by the light of technology, will be a unique role model of progress and good governance on the world stage.

(The writer is an Essayist, Writer and President of the International Anti-Drug Organization-Freedom International Anti-Alcohol. E-Mail: eddanwar@gmail.com)