Bangladesh plans to launch an AI-powered Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) within the next 18 to 24 months, creating a single digital identity system that will become the main gateway for accessing government services.
Prime Minister’s Adviser on Telecommunications and ICT Rehan Asif Asad said Bangladesh has already started developing the system by studying international best practices and aims to build a secure digital identity framework.
“We want to implement the best and safest DPI and digital ID in the world,” Asad said at a high-level side event at the United Nations in New York.
The event, jointly organised by the Office of the UN Secretary-General’s Envoy on Technology and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Tuesday, brought together ministers and senior officials from different countries to discuss the development, management and security of DPI.
Bangladesh was the only country from the Asia-Pacific region represented on the panel.
“We have started this journey. It will take time; there are no shortcuts. But we are building the foundation for our future,” Asad said.
He said the government was developing the digital ID and wider DPI infrastructure by learning from global experiences and working towards a system where digital platforms can securely exchange information.
A key discussion at the event was making digital public infrastructure interoperable across countries, allowing digital identities and services to function beyond national borders.
Participants also discussed the relationship between artificial intelligence (AI) and DPI — how AI can improve digital services and how DPI can provide the foundation for AI-based government solutions.
Asad said Bangladesh was also working with Estonia’s X-Road, a model for secure data exchange between government systems, as part of its effort to develop its DPI infrastructure.
The event highlighted digital identity initiatives in several countries. Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay are working on cross-border digital systems, while Rwanda is developing digital identity-based access to government services and identity verification across East Africa.
The European Union is also moving towards interoperable digital identity wallets, with each member state expected to launch at least one wallet based on common standards. These wallets will allow citizens to securely verify identities and share digital documents and identity information across borders.
Asad said Rwanda’s initiative aimed to reduce citizens’ need to visit government offices for services such as obtaining birth certificates and other documents, while regional interoperability would allow citizens to use digital identities across countries.
The discussions also focused on security, privacy and trust, including how AI can be integrated into DPI while protecting users and maintaining governance standards.
The UN’s broader DPI security initiative aims to address risks related to cybersecurity, privacy and governance as countries expand digital systems.
Asad said DPI and digital IDs would become central to government service delivery worldwide.
“The key point is that this is not just about Bangladesh or the Asia-Pacific. In the future, DPI and digital ID will become the centre of government services,” he said.
He stressed the need for greater cooperation among countries and regions to ensure digital systems can work together while maintaining security and public trust.
