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Robi and a2i launch Government Citizen Certification services payment through mobile balance

Dhaka, 22 March 2023: Aspire to Innovate (a2i) and Robi have collaborated to facilitate the payment for availing Government certification or Prottoyon & myGov services using mobile balance, which is popularly known as Direct Operator Billing (DOB) for the first time in Bangladesh.

With the addition of DOB, citizens registered in the Prottoyon (https://prottoyon.gov.bd) & myGov (https://www.mygov.bd) platform can easily complete their payment for the certificate service using their Robi mobile balance sitting at the comfort of their home. Due to the very simple nature of DOB based payment services, even the marginalized section of the population can avail this convenient method.

Earlier, using the Prottoyon portal, citizens of Bangladesh could apply for these certificates online to their Mayor or Councilor or Chairman and if they didn’t have access to digital payment mechanism, had to physically visit the Government offices to complete the payment.

The initiatives of a2i (Aspire to Innovate) programme of the Cabinet and ICT Divisions supported by UNDP have emerged as blessing for the people, especially those living in marginal area, in terms of making life easier and boosting people’s access to citizen services.

In the launching program, from a2i Project Director, Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir, Head of e-commerce Rezwanul Haque Jami, e-service team lead Mohammad Salahuddin & National Consultant Mohammad Moshiur Rahman and from Robi’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer, Shahed Alam, Vice President, Public Affairs and Sustainability, Sharif Shah Jamal Raz, General Manager, VAS and New Business, Shafiq Shamsur Razzaq and relevant high officials from both organizations were present in the launching ceremony.

The Government of Bangladesh had launched the Prottoyon web portal to provide all types of certificate related services to the public. It was launched as part of Bangladesh Government’s Portal with the Prime Minister’s aim of providing Government services, integrating all Government websites and their information into a single web portal.

Robi’s Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer, Shahed Alam said, “We are very happy to partner with a2i for launching the first ever DOB based public services like nationality certificate, birth certificate, marriage certificate etc. making it a significant impact in delivering Smart Bangladesh. I am sure this DOB system will bring revolution in future for availing all other applicable public services in making Smart Government.”

Commenting on the initiative, a2i’s Project Director (Joint Secretary), ICT Division, Dr. Dewan Muhammad Humayun Kabir said, “Our unified mobile payment system, ekPay connects all banks and MFS providers to enable P2G (person to government) payments for hundreds of public services including 23 utilities. Despite the meteoric rise of MFS and agent

banking in the last decade, 18% of adult population, especially in rural Bangladesh, are still unbanked. To promote inclusivity in P2G payments, we are introducing DOB with mobile operators in the government ecosystem. This is a positive step towards ensuring financial inclusion in achieving our vision of a Smart Bangladesh 2041, with a direct impact by reducing time, cost and visits. We intend to onboard more government services to enhance citizen’s convenience.”