Bangladesh is rapidly shifting essential government services online, aiming to cut delays, boost transparency and make processes more accessible for citizens.
The Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) has expanded its online General Diary (GD) system, allowing people to file all types of GDs. Previously limited to cases such as lost documents or receipts, the service is now fully available through the “Online GD” app, with a single registration process replacing earlier multiple logins.
In February 2025, the Home Ministry issued a circular removing the requirement of police verification for e-passports. Passports will now be issued based solely on National Identity Card (NID) data. For minors and expatriates, verification will rely on online birth registration certificates.
Land services have also been digitised under the Smart Land Service Delivery (SLSD) system. Citizens can now access land and housing documents, approvals and allocations online, with records stored in a centralised database. Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, in a Facebook post on Tuesday, August 19, said the reform would reduce physical visits and minimise opportunities for corruption.
The new e-Apostille system replaces manual document attestation with a fully digital process, using encryption, database integration, digital signatures and QR code verification. Authentication is designed to be completed within five days, ensuring secure, forgery-proof certification for documents intended for use abroad.
However, the digital birth registration system continues to face challenges. Introduced in 2010, it requires both parents’ birth certificates to be digitised before a child can be registered. Because many older records only exist on paper, citizens often have to submit new documents for re-registration. Applicants also face frequent technical issues, including file-size limits on payment receipts and duplicate entry flags.