ICT Division, Ami Probashi sign MoU to empower migrant workers with better digital services

The ICT Division of Bangladesh on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ami Probashi Limited to enhance digital services and support provided to migrant workers, who play a pivotal role in the economy of middle-income digital Bangladesh.

Speaking at the MoU signing ceremony held at the BCC auditorium in ICT Tower, Dhaka, State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, expressed his observation about the significant contribution of remittance senders as the backbone of the country's economy. He commended the initiatives undertaken by the ICT Division, Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment, and Ami Probashi Limited for their dedication to the welfare of migrant workers, said a press release. 

Notably, Palak praised the success of the Ami Probashi App, highlighting its rapid growth and user-friendly interface. He proclaimed it to be one of the fastest-growing apps worldwide and acknowledged the absence of any flaws in the initiative thus far.

Furthermore, Palak expressed his anticipation for future collaborations between the ICT Division and Ami Probashi, including the introduction of convenient features such as bank account opening, marketplace integration, and improved remittance facilities. He reaffirmed the commitment of the ICT Division to work closely with Ami Probashi in delivering additional services to aspiring migrants, ultimately contributing to the realisation of a smart Bangladesh.

Minister of Expatriate Welfare and Foreign Employment Ministry, Imran Ahmad, graced the event as the chief guest. In his speech, the minister emphasised the equal responsibility and partnership between the public and private sectors in fostering development, specifically highlighting the efforts of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Foreign Employment to cater to the needs of expatriates. He applauded the Ami Probashi initiative as a prime example of proactive facilitation of service delivery.

The fruitful collaboration between the ICT Division and Ami Probashi has already garnered impressive results, with approximately five million users availing themselves of the services offered through the Ami Probashi app. Moreover, the app's development was undertaken on a service charge-based model, eliminating any financial burden on the government. The Honorable Minister emphasized that the simplification of existing processes has made services more accessible to the people, while also highlighting Ami Probashi's swift response to the Ministry's request to register over a million migrant workers during the pandemic at no additional cost.

Additionally, in response to the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment's initiative to prioritize vaccination for migrant workers by sharing their BMET numbers with the "Surokkha" platform, Ami Probashi promptly registered over a million migrant workers amid the pandemic. This effort was undertaken with the realization of the urgency and importance of the situation, without incurring any extra expenses for the government.

The programme was chaired by State Minister of the ICT Department, Junaid Ahmed Palak, and attended by Dr Ahmed Muniruch Saleheen, Senior Secretary of the Ministry of Expatriates' Welfare and Foreign Employment, and Mohammad Naveed Shafiullah, Additional Secretary of the ICT Department, as special guests. The MoU signing was executed by Md Ataur Rahman Khan, Joint Secretary of the ICT Division, and Namir Ahmed Noori, Co-Founder & CEO of Ami Probashi Limited.

During his welcome address, Namir Ahmed Noori highlighted the remarkable features and achievements of the Ami Probashi App and Web Portal.