The Bangladeshi expatriates are receiving 34 different services very easily through Dutabash app, said Foreign Minister Abdul Momen.
He said this while addressing a seminar titled ‘Inventor and Entrepreneur: The driving force of the future Bangladesh’, held on the occasion of Digital Bangladesh Fair 2020 at Bangabandhu International Convention Center in the capital on January 17.
He said, “The introduction of digital services brought about qualitative changes in terms of providing services by reducing both time and cost.”
The Minister of Posts and Telecommunications Mostafa Jabbar was also present on the occasion. The Foreign Minister said that 1 crore 22 lakh Bangladeshis work abroad.
He mentioned Sylhet was Bangladesh’s first digital city where 52 types of digital services are available through dialling 333.
It is to be noted that last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a mobile application called ‘Dutabash’ to provide consular and information services to expatriate Bangladeshis. Consular services can be accessed from anywhere through this mobile app.
With this app, Bangladeshi citizens can apply for all types of consular services. They will also be able to get updates on the service delivery process, fees and requested services through smartphone.
Services available on ‘Dutabash’ app
The services would include services like authentication of the birth certificates, educational certificates, marriage certificates, marital status certificates, police clearance certificates, recruitment agreements, commercial papers and documents on exports and imports, among others to expatriate Bangladeshis. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has brought this app to provide these services in a digital manner due to lack of manpower and various other limitations.
In most cases, the service seekers would not be required to physically come to the missions abroad or to the foreign ministry at home. For example, if a Bangladeshi living in Saudi Arabia wants to verify a document, he will have to submit the required paper at the Bangladesh Embassy in Riyadh. In order to receive the service, the required forms should be collected from the embassy and prescribed bank fee should be paid. Later, the slip has to be submitted to the embassy. Once the service is completed, the concerned person will have to submit the paper to the Embassy again. It’s like a heap of trouble. Expatriates often suffer because of availing help from brokers.
The use of the app would also ensure transparency and accountability in the public service delivery generally extended by the consular wing of the foreign ministry and all Bangladesh missions abroad. The smartphone users may get the application from the Google Play Store.
After downloading the app, the operator will need the option to start GPS, then will have to register with different information. Applicant will receive consular related services after registration is approved by the application manager. The operator then has to click on the menu of the service he wants to get and upload the required documents into the app. For example, if someone wants to verify educational certificates, he will have to upload pictures of educational certificate, passport and national identity card in the app. Later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will complete all the procedures under its own supervision and send a copy of the attested certificate to the concerned person. The copy can then be printed and used for the purpose.