A2i celebrates 13th anniversary of providing tech services thru digital centres

Aspire to Innovate-a2i has recently celebrated its 13th anniversary, marking over a decade of providing technology services to marginalised communities through digital centres.

The event was held at Singra upazila in Natore.

State Minister for Information and Communication Technology Division Zunaid Ahmed Palak attended the event as the chief guest, according to a press release.

During the event, Mr Palak inaugurated the training programmes for the BDSAT Centre, Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centre, and Har Power Project.

These initiatives are part of the Bangladesh India Digital Service and Employment Training Centre, and the inauguration took place on the anniversary of the Digital Centre in Singra, according to the release.

Speaking as the chief guest at the event, the ICT state minister said this digital centre is Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s initiative to deliver the service to the doorstep of the people at an affordable price using technology.

More than 17,800 women and men entrepreneurs of 9397 digital centres spread across the country are providing more than 385 public and private services to the citizens easily, quickly and at a low cost, he said.

Besides, more than 7.5 million services are being provided from digital centres every month. The entrepreneurs have so far saved 78.14 per cent of the time, 16.55 per cent of the cost, and 17.38 per cent of the commute of the citizens, he added.

The state minister noted that the initiative has received international recognition and will be the model for a smart Bangladesh. This model is being replicated in many countries, including the Philippines, South Africa, Ghana, and Cambodia.

As a special guest, a2i Project Director Md Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan said that in order to support the needs of expatriates, there are plans to establish an expatriate help desk in all digital centres across the country by 2024. Additionally, expatriate digital centres will be established in 10 countries with a significant number of expatriates.

The smart services of the National Board of Revenue will be made available from all these centres. The number of these services will increase from 385 to 500. The digital centre will be one of the key instruments for building a smart Bangladesh, he said.

Natore Superintendent of Police Md Tariqul Islam, Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centre Establishment Project Deputy Project Director (Deputy Secretary) Md Mokhtar Ahmed, and Project Director of Bangladesh-India Digital Services and Employment Training Centre Establishment Project Md Amirul Islam were also present at the event.

Natore Deputy Commissioner Abu Nasser Bhuiyan presided over the programme, while Nilufa Yasmin, deputy project director of ICT Division's Har Power Project, conducted it.