Published: 01:49 AM, 23 June 2026
Outline of Integrated Technology in Building a Card-Based Bangladesh
Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain
Card-based transactions and citizen service management can play a very revolutionary role in building a modern, non-discriminatory and technology-based state. The initiative taken by the current government's Honorable Prime Minister Tarique Rahman to provide various types of cards to ease the quality of life of the people of the country is undoubtedly a timely and far-sighted step. Such digital initiatives to bring state services to the doorstep of the people can make the path of ensuring civil rights much wider and easier.
In the past few days, we have seen that various irregularities and opacity have emerged in the distribution of allowances of various social safety nets at the grassroots or ward level. Due to the lack of an integrated and central database, the real beneficiaries have often been deprived of their just rights. As a result, it has been seen that a person who is not eligible to receive any other allowance after receiving one allowance, is the one who has unethically registered multiple times and wasted government funds.
Another major weakness of the previous system was human error and unforeseen management glitches. In many cases, the concerned individuals have embezzled government allowance money by inputting their own mobile numbers instead of the actual recipient's mobile numbers. Such technical errors and lack of accountability have made a good initiative questionable and controversial among the common people.
In the current context, there is a risk of spending a huge amount of money from the state treasury if separate cards are created for various card-based welfare works. The huge budget and time wasted in designing, chip installation, distribution and maintenance of each card can become a big burden for an emerging economy. There is no alternative to using a single and integrated technology to prevent this waste.
The most effective and revolutionary solution to this multifaceted problem could be to convert Bangladesh's National Identity Card or NID into a 'Mastercard'. Every adult citizen of the country already has a smart NID card with a unique identification number. It is possible to bring all government services under a single umbrella by focusing on this existing infrastructure.
In the first phase of this proposed Master Card system, all types of government facilities, ration, healthcare and allowance information will have to be linked to the central database of the citizen's National Identity Card. Whenever a citizen's NID is registered for any allowance, his profile will automatically be locked for all other similar allowances. As a result, all avenues for the same person to illegally enjoy multiple benefits will be closed.
To make this outline successful, the National Identity Card Wing of the Election Commission, the Information and Communication Technology Department and Bangladesh Bank will have to jointly create an integrated API platform. Through this platform, any government ministry or department will be able to verify the eligibility and current status of an applicant in an instant. This modernization of data sharing will accelerate the entire governance system.
In terms of security, this single card system will also be very reliable and secure. By adding modern cryptography and two-factor authentication, it is possible to protect the privacy of citizens' personal information. If the database is secured with a strict security ring, there will be no opportunity to steal or forge public information through any kind of cyber attack.
This modernization of technology will restore a kind of psychological comfort and self-respect to the marginalized people of the country. They will no longer have to go door to door to beg and beg from any local influential person or broker to get their allowance money. The state will directly deliver the rights to its citizens on their mobile screens, which is truly the core philosophy of a welfare state.
Finally, it can be said that integrated "smart card" technology is the need of the hour to make the card-based public welfare initiative of the Honorable Prime Minister 100% successful. If this outline is implemented by eliminating bureaucratic complications and inspired by the spirit of patriotism, a non-discriminatory, transparent and accountable Bangladesh will be built. This new Bangladesh, illuminated by the light of technology, will be a unique role model of progress and good governance on the world stage.
Dr. Md. Anwar Hossain is an
essayist and President of the International Anti-Drug Organization - Freedom International Anti-Alcohol.
He can be reached at [email protected]
