The e-Government Master Plan for Digital Bangladesh

The strategy for the e-Government Master Plan for Digital Bangladesh outlines the foundational directions and approaches that guide the transformation of public services using digital technologies. Rooted in the country’s broader vision of becoming a knowledge-based and middle-income nation by 2021, and eventually a developed nation by 2041, the strategy aims to ensure that digital governance is inclusive, transparent, efficient, and sustainable.

The purpose of this strategy is to provide clear pathways for establishing a modern digital government structure that empowers citizens, supports economic growth, and increases the competitiveness of the country’s governance mechanisms. It acknowledges the current gaps in coordination, legal framework, and service delivery and responds with actionable and integrative approaches. Moreover, the strategy is designed to align the efforts of all ministries and divisions under a unified e-Government roadmap, avoiding fragmentation and redundancy.

The scope of the strategy extends across legal, administrative, technical, and infrastructural domains. It emphasises institutional capacity development, data-driven policy implementation, and citizen-centric service delivery. By deploying scalable and secure digital infrastructure, the strategy aims to bridge urban-rural disparities and ensure equitable access to government services.

The strategy includes the following four pillars:

1. Establish a legal framework and governance for e-Government
   The absence of a comprehensive legal foundation has resulted in fragmented initiatives and inefficiencies. A dedicated legal framework will institutionalise the e-Government structure, defining roles, responsibilities, and processes for implementation and oversight. This includes proposing the enactment of an e-Government Act and the creation of governance bodies to oversee strategy execution.
2. Develop an effective government work environment
   To fully realise the benefits of digital transformation, internal workflows must be modernised. This involves reengineering existing business processes, digitizing paper-based procedures, improving interoperability across departments, and encouraging data sharing. A streamlined and collaborative environment is crucial for efficiency and responsiveness.
3. Improve e-services to be convenient and helpful to all
   Citizens must be at the center of digital transformation. The strategy emphasises the development of accessible and inclusive services that are user-friendly and responsive to the needs of different demographic groups. It advocates for the prioritisation of high-impact services and supports the role of Digital Centers in reaching rural populations.
4. Build infrastructure for secure e-services
   Reliable and secure digital infrastructure is fundamental to effective e-Government. The strategy calls for robust connectivity across all administrative levels, investment in national data centers, and the implementation of security protocols that ensure data protection and system resilience. This infrastructure will form the backbone of digital public service delivery.