The country’s first government-backed freelancer ID management software was formally launched to create a transparent, secure and harassment-free verification system for freelancers.
The inauguration took place at the ICT Division auditorium in Agargaon on Tuesday, the ICT Division said in a press release.
The software was launched by Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser for the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, who presided over the event, officials said.
The initiative was designed with past experiences of harassment and financial fraud in mind, prompting authorities to keep the entire process free of charge, he said.
All types of fees, including application, renewal and processing charges, have been abolished under the programme, he added.
For ID verification, 29 engineers from the Department of Information and Communication Technology will work as a dedicated resource pool, he said.
Technical assistance will be provided by four support experts who will remain available to freelancers, serving as a shared resource pool, he said.
An API-based verification system will be introduced soon and a two-layer API verification framework has already been agreed upon with the freelancer community, he added.
Security testing of the platform, including vulnerability assessment and penetration testing, has been completed successfully, he said.
From Tuesday, freelancers can sign up and apply for the digital ID through the platform, he added.
User experience improvements will be carried out jointly by freelancer community leaders and the Bangladesh Call Centre Association, he said.
A formal letter will be sent from the ICT Division to Bangladesh Bank requesting banks and financial institutions to accept the digital freelancer ID instead of manual IDs, he said.
Earlier contracts were cancelled following allegations of fraud and harassment, while freelancer community leaders have accepted an annual margin fee under recognised payment methods, he added.
The software has been developed by ICT Division engineers, who will also be responsible for its maintenance, he said.
Through the new freelancer ID card, registered freelancers will be able to access banking services, loans, credit cards, financial incentives and government and private training programmes.
The platform will also function as a national freelancer database containing information on freelancer numbers, skills and work categories, officials said.
Such data will support future policymaking for the freelancing sector, they said.
The initiative will simplify identity verification and reduce banking and visa-related complications for freelancers, ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury said.
As a result, the country’s freelancing sector is expected to become more transparent and dynamic, he added.
Asked about freelancers who were previously defrauded after paying money, Department of Information and Communication Technology Director General Abu Sayeed said legal action would be taken under existing laws if complaints are filed.
Following the launch, an application for a freelancer ID submitted by one of the attendees was approved on the spot.
The stakeholder meeting was attended by Additional Secretary of the ICT Division Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Director General of the ICT Department Abu Sayeed, representatives of mobile financial services, Bangladesh Bank and Upwork Bangladesh Group, freelancer community members and ICT Division officials.
