With the aim of delivering various government services to the people’s doorstep, “Nagarik Sheba Bangladesh” has launched its operations online under the slogan “All Citizen Services at One Address”, according to a post from the chief adviser’s official Facebook page.
Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus officially inaugurated the pilot project of this initiative on Monday at State Guest House Jamuna.
Trained citizen service entrepreneurs will provide these services to the general public from designated Citizen Service Centres.
As part of the pilot phase, Citizen Service Centres have been established in Gulshan, Uttara, and Nilkhet areas of the capital. Among them, the Gulshan and Uttara centres have already begun operations, while the Nilkhet centre is expected to start shortly.
This initiative has been developed under the Office of the Chief Adviser, with supervision from the Government’s ICT Division. At the inauguration, the Chief Adviser said, “This initiative will play a groundbreaking role in reducing the influence of middlemen, preventing harassment, and ensuring hassle-free citizen services.”
To ensure easier access to services, he also directed the ICT Division to take steps towards establishing Expatriate Service Centres, where all necessary services can be provided from a single point.
He stressed the importance of regularly updating and coordinating the services under this initiative to foster healthy competition among ministries.
“Our goal is to create a positive competition among ministries in service delivery. We aim to bring as many services as possible from each ministry under this platform as quickly as possible,” he added.
Referring to various citizen services, Professor Yunus said, “We must establish a system where children receive their birth certificates immediately upon birth. That should mark their official recognition as citizens.”
On the management and ownership of the Citizen Service Centres, he mentioned that entrepreneurs will sign agreements with property owners and pay rent. Initially, rent will be fixed at a reduced rate. Entrepreneurs will be responsible for security, maintenance, and utilities. Licenses may be revoked if service quality is not maintained.
He further said, “Nagarik Sheba Bangladesh is not merely a service delivery platform; it is a movement to build a bridge between the government and the people — driven by technology and powered by local entrepreneurs. This inclusive, sustainable, and scalable initiative is poised to bring a transformative change in citizen services across the country.”
On behalf of the ICT Division, Chief Adviser’s Special Assistant Faez Ahmad Tayyeb said the implementation of this project with zero budget proves that the country can move forward by utilizing its existing resources.
He stated that unused government properties, including post offices, will be transformed into modern co-working spaces under this initiative and operated by local entrepreneurs.
He further mentioned that these Citizen Service Centres, located within walking distance for citizens, will provide various government digital services — such as national ID, passport, and tax filing — through trained local entrepreneurs.
Highlighting the potential impact, Faez Tayyeb said, “This model will not only make government services more accessible to citizens but also create economic opportunities for the youth and women of the country. Inspired by the principles of social business and operated through public-private partnerships, this initiative will reflect inclusive development and citizen empowerment.”
He added that the goal of this service is to build a national network that ensures effective and accessible digital services for citizens, while also contributing to social and economic progress through the empowerment of local entrepreneurs.
For the first phase of selecting entrepreneurs for the Citizen Service Centres, 200 male and female applicants were chosen through a rigorous selection process. After intensive training in digital literacy, customer service, and digital service delivery, 100 entrepreneurs (50 women and 50 men) were awarded certificates.
Among others present at the inauguration were Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed, Land Ministry Secretary ASM Saleh Ahmed, ICT Division Secretary Shish Haider Chowdhury, Local Government Division Secretary Md Rezaul Maqsood Jahedi, Inspector General of Police Baharul Alam, Director General of Immigration and Passport Department Major General Md Nurul Anwar, and Director General of the National ID Division ASM. Humayun Kabir.