Stakeholders push for stronger e-participation to boost public service delivery
Government and non-government stakeholders have stressed the need to expand and strengthen e-participation systems to make public services more inclusive and citizen-centric in Bangladesh.
They said effective e-participation can help inform citizens, gather public feedback and engage people in decision-making—building greater trust between citizens and the government.
These observations were made at the presentation and handover ceremony of the ‘Bangladesh E-Participation Policy Framework – Proposed’, organised by Media Resources Development Initiative (MRDI) in Dhaka. The proposed framework was formally handed over to Shish Haider Chowdhury, NDC, Secretary of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division.
Earlier, MRDI conducted consultation meetings across seven divisions with ICT Division support to gather insights from top government officials, civil society leaders and non-government organisations. The final framework reflects recommendations from those sessions.
Dhaka Divisional Commissioner Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury presided over the event, while MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman moderated. Additional Secretary of the ICT Division Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan delivered the welcome remarks, and Dr. Anannya Raihan, Chairperson of iSocial, presented the proposed framework.
Speaking at the event, ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury said the government is strongly committed to advancing e-participation and visible progress is expected soon. He added that the draft will be sent to the Legal and Policy Wing for vetting, and the ICT Division will take the lead in its implementation.
MRDI Executive Director Hasibur Rahman said the framework reflects nationwide aspirations for a more responsive public service ecosystem and can help strengthen citizen–government engagement.
Presenting the proposed roadmap, Dr Anannya Raihan outlined short-term (by 2026), medium-term (2026-2028), and long-term (2026-2035) action plans.
He emphasised appointing focal points in ministries and agencies, ensuring inter-ministerial coordination and legal alignment, and protecting citizens’ digital rights, including privacy, whistleblower safety and data security. He also recommended forming a new entity under the Cabinet Division to help Bangladesh reach the top 30 in the global EGDI and EPI rankings.
Addressing the event, Md. Daud Mia, Director General of the NGO Affairs Bureau, said that although government and NGOs have long delivered services separately, steps are being taken to create a centralized platform where citizens can access multiple digital services through a single gateway.
Md. Mahmudul Hossain Khan, Secretary (Attached), Office of the Chief Adviser, noted that grievance redress systems remain largely urban-focused but strengthening e-participation could help include marginalised communities. He also stressed the need for stronger monitoring to ensure timely resolution of complaints at government offices.