Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wesnesday (Oct 18) inaugurated newly developed five digital initiatives of a2i as part of government's campaign to transform the country into 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041. The initiatives are students' collective assessment app 'Noipunyo', integrated e-toll collection service 'Ekpass', 'Smart 333', Smart e-Trade License and Smart Pregnancy Monitoring System. The PM launched the initiatives at a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC), marking the Sheikh Russel Day-2023 and distribution of Sheikh Russel Padak-2023 and Smart Bangladesh Padak-2023. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division and Sheikh Russel Jatiyo Shishu Kishore Parishad jointly organized the programme to mark the 60th birthday of Sheikh Russel, the youngest son of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, local media reported.
According to documents, the app 'Noipunyo' has been developed to digitalize the process of evaluating students' performance, preserving records of collective assessment and providing study reports. Under the auspices of the Education Ministry and National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB), the a2i and UNICEF Bangladesh jointly developed the app.
In collaboration with a2i, Road Transport and Highways Division, Roads and Highways Department and Bangladesh Bridge Authority have launched the digital initiative 'Ekpass' to ensure seamless movement of vehicles at toll plazas by automating toll management using modern technology and involving financial service providers.
Since the national helpline 333 played a crucial role in providing health and relief services across the country, proving its need, efficiency and benefits of the platform during emergencies, the a2i now launched the 'Smart 333' to help citizens easily communicate with government officials and provide all government information and services in an automated manner.
Besides, the a2i has developed the 'Smart e-trade license', allowing the service seekers to download their expected e-trade licenses by completing all the processes anytime and anywhere within 24 hours of submitting applications for license.
Under the initiative of the Health and Family Welfare Ministry, Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Directorate General of Family Planning (DGFP), the a2i developed the Smart pregnancy monitoring system to ensure continuous pregnancy monitoring for the safety and well-being of pregnant mothers and newborns and to preserve all information related to diseases and treatment of pregnant mothers under a single umbrella.
At the function, Sheikh Hasina also inaugurated Sheikh Russel Animation Lab at Fine Arts Faculty in Dhaka University, 300 Sheikh Russel Schools of Future, Python Programming Training for 27,000 students, distribution of certificates among 36,020 teachers trained at Sheikh Russel Digital Lab, seven Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers, training programme for 25,125 women in 130 upazilas across the country under 'Her Power Project', 'Sathik', 'Janamat', 'Rupantor' and Uboard' software, toll-free helpline service '13219' to prevent juvenile cybercrime and three university innovation hubs.
She also inaugurated the setting up of Robotic Corners at 300 Sheikh Russel Schools of Future and laid foundation stones of 10,000 Sheikh Russel Digital Labs, three Sheikh Kamal IT Training and Incubation Centers, 555 Joy SET Centers, DolCT-2041 SMART Tower and seven university innovation hubs.
