Bangladesh’s Progress after Graduation from the Least Developed Country (LDC)
Madam Speaker
136. It is a matter of special pride for Bangladesh that in 2021 when the nation was commemorating the golden jubilee of independence and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu, the United Nations made the final recommendation for the graduation of Bangladesh from the least developed country category. Bangladesh has achieved this feat by making tremendous progress in various socio-economic fields in recent years. LDC graduation is one of the important milestones that Bangladesh has achieved in its journey towards development. Our self-esteem will reach new height with graduation; we will have a brighter image to the rest of the world. After graduation, Bangladesh’s participation in international trade and productivity in industrial production will rise to the next level fuelled by new-found zeal and confidence. The transition will improve the country’s credit rating, increase productive efficiency, and enhance our ability to compete globally broadening our scope of export earnings. International financial institutions and credit rating agencies will evaluate Bangladesh more favorably after graduation. This will enhance our scope of attracting foreign funding both in the public and also in private sector for investment and development financing purposes. Foreign direct investment will get a boost enabling new developments. This will lead to massive development of infrastructure in the country, new job creation, and overall better living standards for the people of Bangladesh.
137. However, with graduation in 2026, Bangladesh will be facing some challenges as well, such as loss of duty free – quota free, unilateral, preferential market access, reduced scope for concessional or low interest funding from international and bilateral development partners, preference erosion, and strict compliance with stringent standards. Bangladesh is enjoying LDC specific benefits at the WTO, such as exemption from the obligations of Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights or TRIPS agreement. The country will lose this advantage after graduation from the LDC category. Bangladesh is pursuing hard at the WTO, along with other LDCs, to extend this exemption for some more years for the graduating countries. The loss of the LDC specific benefits will create an obligation for us to increase our productive capacity and efficiency to compete in the export market, diversify our export basket and create new markets. Besides, this will both encourage and force us to go for higher value added products.
138. Bangladesh will have to utilise with farsightedness the period from 2022 to 2026 for our preparation to the graduation from Least Developed Countries so that Bangladesh can move forward even after graduation and sustain its position as a graduated country. To that end, the ongoing development process must continue to ensure smooth graduation. The Government of Bangladesh is fully committed to make this graduation smooth and sustainable. In this context, various policies, strategies, programs, and measures have been adopted. A committee has been formed under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office to prepare for the possible challenges that Bangladesh will face as a result of its graduation from a least developed country to a developing country. There will be seven sub-committees under this committee. Each sub-committee has members from private sector stakeholders and development researchers. These sub-committees are preparing draft strategies with a time-bound action plan to meet the challenges of LDC graduation.
139. The present government has adopted the policy of executing Bilateral Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs) in the context of potential trade challenges arising from LDC graduation. Strategies for Preferential Market Access and Trade Agreement have been formulated to address these challenges following. In this context, Bangladesh has signed the Preferential Bilateral Trade Agreement (PTA) with Bhutan, under which 34 products of Bhutan will be duty-free in the market of Bangladesh and 100 products of Bangladesh will be duty-free in the market of Bhutan. In addition, a prioritization list for the execution of PTA/FTA/CEPA with 13 potential trading countries/trade organizations such as India, China, Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Nepal, USA, Canada, Eurasian Economic Union, ASEAN, and Mercosur has been prepared. A preliminary draft of the Regional Trade Agreement (RTA) Policy Guideline has been prepared with the aim of signing bilateral trade agreements with various countries.
Local Government and Rural Development
Madam Speaker
140. Inspired by the slogan ‘Sheikh Hasina’s Mulnity, Gram-ShohorerUnnoty’ (Sheikh Hasina’s conviction, Rural-Urban Development), the present government has been implementing multifaceted programmes for the economic development of the country through the development of urban and rural infrastructure and communication and transport systems. In the last 13 years, the government implemented innumerable development works in the rural sector, especially the construction of 69,002 km of paved roads, and 4,05,099 meters of new bridges, maintenance of 1,09,078 km of paved rural roads, construction of 1,767 Union Parishad Complex buildings, construction/expansion of 354 Upazila Parishad Complex buildings. In addition, 2,689 growth centres and hat-bazaars have been developed, and 1,075 cyclone shelters have been constructed /rebuilt. Furthermore, 9,088 km of roads and footpaths, 4,107 km of drains, 15,041 m of bridges and culverts, 41 bus and truck terminals and 53 community centres have been constructed to improve the quality of public life.
‘My Village My Town’
141. As pledged in the Election Manifesto-2018, the government has been implementing ‘My Village My Town’ programme to provide improved roads and modern civic amenities in rural areas. Under this, a total of 30 guidelines will be prepared, which will deal with village communication, growth centres and market infrastructure, rural water supply, rural waste management, Upazila master plan, community space, capacity development of the local government institutions, and establishing computer village, etc. In addition, 36 feasibility studies will be conducted to address the challenges of implementing the ‘My Village, My Town’ action plan. The government has also decided to develop 15 villages as model villages on a pilot basis under this programme. Above all, to realise‘Vision-2041’ and attain Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strategies of different development activities will be taken for the development of 87,230 villages focusing on the generation of employment opportunities. Besides, large-scale investment projects will be undertaken as per the technical recommendations of the programme.
Steps to Solve Civic Problems Including Waterlogging
142. To solve the water logging problem in Dhaka, we have taken steps in the current fiscal year. According to Section 19(5) of the Water Supply and Sewerage Authority Act, 1996, ownership of 26 canals has been transferred from Dhaka WASA to two city corporations. After the transfer of ownership, the two city corporations of Dhaka have taken necessary steps to maintain the canal’s normal flow, including eviction of illegal structures. As a result, there is no visible waterlogging in Dhaka city despite heavy rains during this monsoon. The city corporations are undertaking development projects to ensure smooth canal management to control waterlogging. To stop the menace of dengue, mosquito eradication activities are being carried out all over the country, including the Dhaka metropolis.
143. The government has formulated various action plans to ensure potable water supply, 100 percent sanitation, conservation, and use of surface water instead of groundwater across the country, including the capital and other metropolitan areas. Through various development projects, a total of 8,22,700 arsenic-free safe water sources have been provided in rural areas. Moreover, 1,373 productive tubewells, 159 water treatment plants, 16,203 km pipeline installation/replacement, 941 km drains and 69 high reservoirs have been installed in municipal areas. To increase the use of surface water bearing in mind the problems of arsenic, iron, salinity, and depletion of underground water, a number of measures have been taken. It includes excavation of 100 new ponds and re-excavation of 1,008 ponds and construction of 553 Village Pipe Water Supply Schemes. Besides, in as many as 65,620 primary schools across the country, 49,500 safe water sources and 41,108 wash blocks have been constructed. During the tenure of the present government, 7 lakh 62 thousand sets of latrines/improved latrines have been distributed either free of cost or at a low cost among the poor and the general public. In addition, 6,181 public/community toilets have been constructed.
144. Along with rural infrastructure development, different activities are in progress such as poverty alleviation, self-employment generation, and livelihood development through cooperatives by organising farmers and other marginalised communities. It includes providing training and loan, supervision, supply of equipment for agriculture, SME and cottage industry. In addition to the rural development academies at Cumilla and Bogura, steps have been taken to set up two more rural development academies at Jamalpur and Rangpur. To reduce poverty, improve living standards, and establish villages as development hubs in the poverty-stricken areas of the country, the Department of Rural Development and Cooperatives is implementing the Comprehensive Rural Development Programme (CVDP) Phase III (1st Amendment) project from January 2018 to December 2023. Under the project, 8,828 associations have been formed. Training has been imparted to 3,58,682 beneficiaries in different categories. In the coming FY2022-2023 and 2023-2024, a target has been set to train a total of 2,03,944 people in different categories.
145. For rural sector development in the next 2022-2023 fiscal year, different targets have been set for implementing different development activities, especially, constructing 5,000 km of new roads, maintaining 7,000 km of paved roads from time to time, constructing 1,900 metres of bridge/culvert, maintaining 5,500 of meter bridges/culverts, developing 140 growth centres/hat bazaars, constructing/expanding 60 upazila/union complex buildings, constructing 130 cyclone shelters. As a result, the country’s road network coverage will increase from 38.02 percent to 39.43 percent. Moreover, construction of 1760 km of roads and footpaths and 170 km of drains in urban areas has also been targeted. These infrastructures will create ample employment opportunities both direct and indirect and play an important role in alleviating rural poverty.
146. In the next fiscal year, I am proposing to allocate Tk.44,690 crore in fiscal year 2022-2023 in the local government and rural development sector, which was Tk.42,193 crore fiscal year 2021-2022.
Climate Change and Environmental Protection
Madam Speaker
147. Hon’ble Prime Minister has become the moral voice of the climate-vulnerable countries by issuing the national statement at the Leaders’ Summit of the Climate Conference (COP-26) held in Glasgow last November, wherein she raised four demands on environmental protection. The demands were: to formulate and implement a Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC); to fulfill the commitment of US$ 100 billion annually by maintaining the 50:50 balance between adaptation and mitigation; to provide clean and affordable technology to high-risk countries; and to share a global responsibility for displaced migrants.
148. Considering the immense importance of environmental protection, the government has made it mandatory to follow a pragmatic and inclusive environment-friendly plan in all development activities while addressing the risks of climate change. As part of the implementation of the global carbon emissions reduction target, the country’s updated ‘Nationally Determined Contribution’ was finalised in August 2021. By 2030, the target of reducing carbon-dioxide emissions has been set at 6.73 percent with the country’s own financing and technological capabilities. Another 15.12 percent of this emission reduction has been provisioned subject to the availability of international funding and technical assistance. On the other hand, the process of formulating a ‘National Adaptation Plan’ to determine the long-term integrated adaptation strategy together with an action plan to tackle the country’s climate change is at the final stage and the updating of ‘Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan’ formulated in 2009 is in progress. In addition, steps have been taken to make all existing industries and newly established industries environment friendly. Following this, new decisions have already been taken on installation of 10 coal-fired power plants worth 12 billion USD with the generation capacity of 8,600 MW. Of these plants 4 have been canceled and the remaining 6 will be renewable or gas-based, on the basis of a feasibility study. We are working on ensuring availability of 40 percent of our energy resources from renewable sources by 2041.
149. So far, 13 areas of the country have been declared as Environmentally Critical Areas on the basis of the finding of scientific studies aimed at conserving the biodiversity and the natural environment. In the last 13 years, a total of 35 new protected areas have been created, including 9 National Parks, 18 Wildlife Sanctuaries, 3 Eco-parks, 1 Botanical Garden, 2 Marine Protected Areas, and 2 Special Biodiversity Conservation Areas, bringing the total number of protected areas in the country to 51. During the same period, 95,265 hectares of blocks, 26,453 seedling km strips, and 68,113 hectares of mangrove orchards have been created in the country and 106 endangered forest and 240 medicinal tree species have been preserved. ETP installation activities in industrial plants have been intensified. The ‘National Forest Inventory’ report has been prepared by collecting data using GIS technology. Government-funded SMART (Spatial Monitoring and Reporting Tools) Patrolling is underway throughout the Sundarbans. In addition, 49 ‘Village Tiger Response Teams’ have been formed with the help of the people of the Sundarbans to resolve the tiger-human conflict.
150. To move from climate risk to sustainable climate prosperity, the government is going to implement the ‘Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan’, which is essentially a strategic investment framework for climate financing. Under this, US$ 80 billion is being planned for investment by 2030 to achieve climate resilience. The investment will be funded by both domestic and external sources.
151. Finance Division, with the support from a project titled ‘Inclusive Budgeting and Financing for Climate Resilience’, developed ‘Climate Public Finance Tracking Methodology’ and embedded it in iBAS++. Using this methodology, the budget allocation and actual expenditure of 25 climate-relevant Ministries/Divisions are being tracked. This is helping all theseMinistries / Divisions in gathering information on climate allocation and expenditure and determining future actions to be taken while implementing climate policy and plans. In addition, training has been provided to the concerned officials of OCAG on how to carry out Performance Audits of climate-related projects. A ‘Climate Change Glossary’ containing relevant technical terms currently being used has been published.
Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Net Programmes
Madam Speaker
152. Following the implementation of the government’s planned policy, the poverty rate in the countrycame down to 20.5 percent and the extreme poverty rate to 10.5 percent in pre COVID-19 time. Although our progress halted for a while like other countries in the world due to pandemic, Bangladesh was able to return to the pace of development in a few days, thanks to the swift and bold steps of the government. The World Bank’s report titled ‘Bangladesh Development Update’ published in April 2022 states that in the context of strong economic recovery, poverty in the country has come down to 11.9 percent in FY2020-2021. In the current budget, special emphasis was laid on the programmes for strengthening health, investment, production, employment, human resource development, poverty alleviation and social safety net to overcome the crisis arising from COVID-19 pandemic, maintain the pace of development of the country together with lives and livelihood of the communities at large. In one hand, the government has been implementing multi-faceted development projects aimed at the structural transformation of the economy, on the other hand, the scope of social safety net is being expanded consistently to reduce poverty and inequality for inclusive development. In tandem with the large-scale development programmes, different other programmes are being implemented to meet the basic needs of the backward, destitute, helpless and marginalised communities in the society.
Social Safety Net programmes
Madam Speaker
153. The Father of the Nation dreamt of Sonar Bangla where people will be able to meet their basic needs and where there will be no hunger and poverty. For this reason, the Article 15 (d) of our Constitution makes a clear provision for social security of the citizens. The social safety net programme that began at his behest has now been transformed into a lifecycle based massive program under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.The present government has formulated the 8th Five Year Plan to strengthen inclusive development with the slogan of ‘Promoting Prosperity and Fostering Inclusiveness’. We are working diligently to reduce economic inequality to ensure inclusive growth, and expanding the social safety net coverage and increasing the budget allocation each year. Already, 29 percent of households have been covered by social safety net programmes, and budget allocations have increased almost eight-fold compared to the allocation made in the budget for FY2008-2009.The government has already implemented the National Social Security Strategy (NSSS) Action Plan 2016-21 under the NSSS 2015 and has recently started the implementation of the NSSS Action Plan 2021-26. Disaster-prone areas, poorest areas and population density ratios are currently being considered to cover poor and vulnerable people, marginalised groups and vulnerable sections of society under social safety net programmes.
Poverty Alleviation Programmes
154. Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman launched ‘PalliSamajseba Programme’ in 1974 and ‘PalliMatrikendra Programme’ in 1975 as a strategy to alleviate rural poverty, which is now being implemented in every upazila of the country. In addition, in the urban areas four interest free micro-credit programmes including‘City Social Service Programme’ and ‘Rehabilitation Programme for Acid Burnt and Disabled Persons’ are being implemented. In all these micro-credit activities, interest free micro-loans ranging from Tk.5,000 to Tk. 30,000 and vocational training are being provided.
Programmes Taken for the Poor, Disabled and Elderly
155. The government seeks to uphold the rights of the elderly citizens by conducting long-term and sustainable programmes. Old age allowances are being provided on a wider scale to protect the rights of the destitute aged people and priority is being given to the aged women in the case of providing allowances for the widows and those for the deserted and destitute women. From the FY2021-2022, an allocation of Tk. 3444.54 crore has been provided for 57.01 lakh beneficiaries at the monthly rate of Tk. 500, which will be continued.In the FY2021-2022, allowances are being provided to 20.08 lakh disabled persons at the monthly rate of Tk. 750. The number of beneficiaries is planned to be increased by 3.57 lakh in the next FY2022-2023 to 23.65 lakh in place of 20.8 lakh. At this time the rate of monthly allowance will be increased by Tk. 100, from Tk. 750to Tk.850. I proposed to allocate Tk. 2,429 crore in FY2022-2023 as disability allownces. Apart from the allowance programme, the government has also introduced disability education stipend for disabled students. Under this programme in FY2021-2022, the number of beneficiaries was 1 lakh and the annual allocation was Tk. 95.64 crore. In this year Hon’ble Prime Minister has inaugurated ‘Bangabandhu Disability Protection Insurance’ on the National Insurance Day under the Neuro-Developmental Disability Protection Trust to reduce the health and life risk of people with Autism and Neuro-Developmental Disability of the country.
Women Development and Child Welfare Initiatives
156. Under the social safety net programmes such as old age allowance, disability allowance and disability stipend and under the poverty alleviation programmes such as rural and urban social service activities, rehabilitation of the acid burnt and disabled persons 50 percent of the beneficiaries are women and under the widows and deserted and destitute women allowance and rural maternity center activities, 100 percent beneficiaries are women.As women’s participation in interest-free microfinance activities is mandatory, annually they are directly contributing to the empowerment of 1.20 lakh women, social safety, self-employment, access to education and training, participation in income generating activities, own capital and access to government resources and services. Arrangements are being made for the subsistence, training, education and rehabilitation of socially vulnerable women through 6 centres on a priority basis.The food allowance for orphans has been increased by Tk. 500 from January, 2022 at the rate of Tk. 4,000 per person/month. Reintegration/rehabilitation with family or close relatives or any other institution is being ensured by providing services to disadvantaged children through Sheikh Russell Child Training and Rehabilitation Centres. At present, a total of 2,291 children (1,088 boys and 1,203 girls) are staying in these centres.
Mother & Child Benefit Programme
157. We have started the implementation of the ‘Mother and Child Support Programme’ by integrating the existing maternity allowance for poor pregnant mothers in rural areas and for low-income lactating working mothers in urban areas. This programme will help meet the nutritional needs and ensure physical growth and mental development of the child up to four years of age including the first 1,000 important days of life starting from the mother’s womb under the life-cycle based social security framework. In addition, this will play a significant role in reducing the number of maternal and child mortality, underweight and malnourished children. In fact, we believe that these activities will play an important role in creating skilled human resources suitable for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Our government is considering maternal and child support programs as the best investment under social safety net programmes. As a result, considering the priority of this programme, I am proposing to increase the number of beneficiaries by 2 lakh 9 thousand and thus the total number of beneficiaries will be 12 lakh 54 thousand in FY2022-2023 from 10 lakh 45 thousand in FY2021-2022. The total allocation for this sector in FY2022-2023 is Tk. 1,243 crore.
Welfare of Valiant Freedom Fighters
158. We are working relentlessly for the preservation of the history, heritage and memory of the great liberation war and for the welfare of the valiant freedom fighters. In the light of the directives of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, the monthly honorarium of all classes of valiant freedom fighters has been increased to a minimum of Tk. 20,000 from the current fiscal year. In the meantime, Management Information System (MIS) with comprehensive information of valiant freedom fighters and an integrated list have been prepared. Besides, the process of issuing smart cards and digital certificates is at the final stage to ensure the identity of the valiant freedom fighters. To improve the socio-economic condition of the valiant freedom fighters, construction of Muktijoddha Complex buildings in every district and upazila of the country is nearly completed.
Improving the Living Standards of the Backward Communities
159. We have undertaken various programmes to rehabilitate the people engaged in begging and create alternative employment, improve the living standards of tea garden workers, nomadic (Bedes) and transgender community and the marginalised people. Rehabilitation of beggars and creation of alternative employment for them is underway across the country. The stipend is being provided at four levels with the aim of educating the school going students from bede and marginalised communities.
Implementation of Social Safety Net Incentive Package
160. Expansion of the social safety net is an important part of the government’s economic recovery efforts to address the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The allowances have been extended to all eligible senior citizens and widowsof 112 upazilasin FY2020-2021.In FY2021-2022, it has been extended to another 150upazilas. The digital system has already been introduced in 10 major programmes with the aim of bringing all cash transfers of social safety net programmes under G2P system and the number of beneficiaries under G2P has been increased to 26.3 million in FY2021-2022. As a free emergency food aid, arrangements have been made to distribute rice, relief (cash) and baby food to the poor who have suddenly become unemployed due to the outbreak of the pandemic.The ongoing programmes of selling rice at a price of only Tk. 10 per kg to the low-income people across the country have been accelerated. A total of Tk. 2 thousand 168 crore has been provided in two phases at Tk. 2500 to each of the target-oriented beneficiary families across the country. Under this programme, in first phase a total of 35 lakh households and second phase a total of 31 lakh households which includes day labourers, farmers, laborers, domestic workers, motor vehicle workers and people involved in other professions.
‘Family Card’ Programme
161. In the wake of the recent Russia-Ukraine conflict and the disruption of the global supply chain, we have launched the Family Card program to distribute essential commodities among the poor across the country at a low cost. A list of one crore families has been finalised under this programme. A total of one crore family including the families who have received Tk. 2,500 as cash assistance during the pandemic period are getting family card of TCB. As a result, about five crore low income population of the country will be directly benefited from this government initiative.
162. I propose to allocate a total of Tk. 1,13,576 crore in the budget for fiscal year 2022-2023 for social safety net which is 16.75 percent of the total budget and 2.55 percent of GDP.
Fourth Industrial Revolution and Digital Bangladesh
Madam Speaker
The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Our Preparation
163. The famous English writer H.G. Wells once said, "Adapt or perish, now as ever, is nature’s inexorable imperative’’. In tune with him, it may be said that the economic structure is constantly changing; the old economic system is being replaced by the new system.However, in the era of the twenty-first century, due to ever growing interconnectivity and smart automation, technology, industrial production process all spheres of economic activities are undergoing rapid changes throughout the world which has been termed as the Fourth Industrial Revolution. There is no alternative of making us competent to adapt to changing circumstances, if we want to take forward our development agenda successfully by surviving in the competitive global economy. Therefore, we will encourage extensive use of the major technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, block-chain, virtual or augmented reality etc. and necessary policy support will be provided to those who will work with these technologies.
Creating Skilled Human Resources in Line with Preparation for Fourth Industrial Revolution:
164. One of the principal aims of the government is to create information technology based skilled human resources compatible with the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To that end, our government is laying emphasis on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) based education and training. To meet the demand of the Fourth Industrial Revolution the government is giving importance to teaching appropriate technology-based subjects in the classroom and is allocating budget to NCTB for bringing necessary changes in the curriculum. The government has planned to increase the number of students in technical education to 30 percent by 2030, which is currently about 14 percent. In addition, the government has undertaken several important training programmes aimed at creating IT skilled workforce. For example, the Bangladesh Hi-Tech Park Authority has set a target to train more than sixty thousand young people by 2025 and one lakh by 2030 to fulfil the demand of IT sector. More than 36,000 people have already been trained under various projects and programmes. The project implemented by the Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) has provided training on ICT to about 2.34 lakh people and most of them are doing jobs in various ICT companies/organisations at home and abroad. To adapt to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including augmented reality and virtual reality, specialised labs will be set up at every university of the country and work is underway to set up 57 such specialised labs. Work on establishment of Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centres in 64 districts and 10 Digital Village is in progress to provide proper training for young people. Besides this, the training programmes on emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things, block-chain, robotics, big data, cloud computing etc. are in progress.
Digital Bangladesh
Madam Speaker
165. The four pillars of building Digital Bangladesh are connectivity, skilled human resource development, e-governance and ICT industry promotion. Keeping these four pillars in mind, a number of initiatives and development activities have been put into implementation all over the country in the last 13 years, which has led to unprecedented development in the area of information technology. Bangladesh has become a proud member of elite club of world satellites by launching Bangabandhu Satellite-1 into space on 12 May 2018. Before our government came to power, the price of internet bandwidth per Mbps was Tk. 78 thousand which is now below Tk. 300. Eighteen thousand five hundred (18,500) government offices of the country have come under the same network. High-speed internet connection has reached 3,800 unions. At present in Bangladesh, the number of mobile SIM users is more than eighteen crore and internet user is more than thirteen crore.As a result of this expansion of information and communication technology and people’s adaptation to technology, the people of the country are enjoying the benefits of Digital Bangladesh in almost every sphere of life.
166. With the establishment of e-governance there have been, transparency, accountability and dynamism in government institutions. A national database of 52 thousand websites has been created where more than 95 lakh contents have been added. About 1.66 crore files have been disposed through e-filing system till March, 2022. The government has so far digitalized about two thousand (2,000) public services which has led to the reduction of time, cost and public movement. The introduction of e-GP has ensured transparency in the tendering process. Tenders worth Tk. five lakh fifty-five thousand crore have been invited through e-GP system till March, 2022. At present, people are receiving more than 300 different types of public and private services through eight thousand three hundred sixty-three (8363) digital centres across the country. In addition, financial transactions valuing Tk. 26 thousand 550 crore have been carried out through agent banking from digital centres across the country.People from all walks of life now believe that it is possible to get all kinds of services at their door steps. Gaining
have been launched to combat Corona pandemic and activities like vaccine registration, vaccination data collection, vaccine certificate issuance etc. are being successfully completed through this apps. During Corona pandemic the citizens connected more than 3 crores and 75 lakhs times to the web portal namely corona.gov.bd to get information and services. In addition, as many as 5,668 classes of primary, secondary, madrasah and technical level by connecting 5,086 teachers through Sangsad TV were conducted; digital contents were viewed online more than 7.85 crore times in e-learning training platform ‘Muktapaath’. As many as 4.36 lakh trainees participated and a total of 67,000 doctors received online training. Moreover, 3,47,956 bail petitions have been disposed of by the virtual court.