Smart Initiatives of a2i:
In pursuit of building a Smart Bangladesh and bringing smart services to the doorstep of the citizens, a2i has launched many smart projects over the past year. On Sheikh Russel Day, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated five innovative projects: ‘Smart 333,’ ‘Smart E-Trade License,’ the integrated electronic toll collection service ‘ekPass,’ the student learning and comprehensive evaluation app ‘Noipunno,’ and the ‘Smart Pregnancy Monitoring System’ for pregnant women. To make civic services more accessible and user-friendly, the virtual assistant app ‘Sathi’ has been introduced as an initiative to assist in achieving Smart Bangladesh’s vision.
The MyGov platform has also been launched, consolidating all public services in one place and digitizing 209 government services in a year. The Ministry of Textiles and Jute has added 27 services under the Citizen Charter, and 146 digitized services from various departments and organizations under this ministry have been implemented on the digital platform. Additionally, the Dhaka district administration has included 59 services under the Citizen Charter, and four digitized services from the National Institute of Media have been initiated.
A nationwide Smart Career Guidance Network is empowering the future, linking over 50 public and private universities with thousands of students. Over 50,000 students have already received guidance on entrepreneurship, freelancing, and employment, while the “Employment and Entrepreneurship” platform has onboarded 60,000 National University students, leading to over 10,000 job placements. Further fueling career prospects, the NISE matchmaking skills-to-jobs platform (https://nise.gov.bd/) welcomed over 500,000 young people this year, creating employment opportunities for more than 100,000 skilled individuals. This network is a beacon of hope, guiding Bangladeshi youth towards thriving careers.
a2i for Innovation:
Throughout the year, a2i has been supporting various innovations. By providing financial support and recognition, the organization has encouraged a culture of innovation in the country. To encourage the development of rockets within the country, the ‘Rocketry Innovation Challenge-2022’ was organized, with millions of Taka awarded as seed money and certificates to the top innovators. The a2i selected 7 innovators for innovative ideas, such as smart meters and sub-meters for water usage in households and industries, monitoring vital physical data during pregnancy using digital methods for pregnant women and creating customized letters for government office documents as top innovators. The top innovators are awarded seed money as awards. Moreover, a2i has awarded winners of the ‘Smart District Innovation Challenge’, a competition based on innovative programs at the country’s district level, with prize money and certificates. FinLab BD has awarded three institutions with one million Taka each for their innovative ideas that actively involve women in the financial sector.
International Consultation on Blended Education:
Blended education is indispensable for shaping Smart Bangladesh. Th a2i has fostered a platform for deliberation on the substantial impact of blended education in cultivating a skilled workforce and generating employment opportunities aligned with market demands. In May, an international consultation brought together stakeholders from various sectors to collaborate with government bodies, private enterprises, and development aid organizations, aiming to implement an inclusive blended education system. In collaboration with the World Economic Forum and the Ministry of Education, a2i spearheaded this international consultation to heighten awareness and optimize the effectiveness of the blended education system. The emphasis was on fostering collaboration between public and private institutions to propel the country’s education system forward, aligning it with the demands of the fourth industrial revolution and global standards.
a2i’s contribution in Disaster Response:
The national helpline 333 stood by the people during the challenging times of the country’s disaster. The helpline operates 24/7, offering assistance as intense cyclone ‘Mokha’ approached the coast. Through a toll-free call service, it provides cyclone information, warning signals, weather messages, and emergency aid. During this crucial period, the helpline received 1.4 million calls related to ‘Mokha,’ including over 34,000 calls for disaster assistance. The writer is the Media Coordinator, Aspire to Innovate-a2I
