DHAKA : Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury today said the government is committed to accelerating the country's digital transformation to ensure that public services reach the doorsteps of citizens, making service delivery faster, more transparent, cost-effective and accessible for all.

"There is no alternative to technology and digitalisation for moving a country forward. Whether it is service delivery, transparency, cost reduction or improving the quality of people's daily lives, technology has become indispensable," he said.

Khosru said digitalisation is no longer an option but a necessity for any country aspiring to achieve higher levels of economic growth, efficiency and good governance.

The finance minister was addressing the Innovation Showcasing 2025-26 programme as the chief guest organised by the Financial Institutions Division at the Multipurpose Hall of the Finance Division at Bangladesh Secretariat in the capital.

The event was attended by the heads and representatives of the country's four financial sector regulatory institutions, along with the heads of the 25 offices and agencies under the Financial Institutions Division.

Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division Nazma Mobarek presided over the event while Farida Yasmin, Joint Secretary and Chief Innovation Officer of the Financial Institutions Division gave the welcome address.

The Finance Minister said the government's overarching goal is to bring every citizen, including businesspeople, professionals, farmers, workers and other stakeholders, under a comprehensive digital ecosystem so that services can be accessed conveniently from anywhere.

"We want to digitalise the entire country as quickly as possible. Through this process, we want to ensure that government and financial services reach the doorsteps of ordinary citizens, businesspeople, professionals, farmers and workers," he said.

The minister noted that the government has adopted an inclusive approach to digitalisation, aiming to ensure that no one is left behind in the transition towards a technology-driven society.

Referring to the national budget, he said emphasis has been placed on expanding digital literacy and technological capacity among people from all walks of life.

"We want everybody to be part of this journey. Digitalisation is not only about economic activities; it is also about empowering citizens and connecting them with public services and development opportunities," he added.

Highlighting the importance of innovation in the financial sector, the minister said the government is closely studying global best practices to further strengthen Bangladesh's digital governance and service delivery systems.

He informed the audience that a high-level delegation comprising the ICT Adviser, the Governor of Bangladesh Bank and other senior officials is currently visiting Estonia, widely recognised as one of the world's leading digital nations, to gain practical insights into advanced digital governance models.

While expressing satisfaction over the progress achieved so far, the minister stressed that much more needs to be done to expand the coverage and usage of digital services across the country.

He urged banks, insurance companies and other financial institutions to significantly increase public access to online services and reduce the need for customers to visit offices physically.

The minister suggested that institutions assign dedicated officials to assist clients in using digital platforms and encourage them to adopt online channels for routine services.

He also recommended proactive communication with customers through letters, messages and awareness campaigns so that people become aware of services available online.

According to the minister, expanding outreach is the most critical factor in ensuring the success of digital transformation initiatives.

"Creating a digital service alone is not enough. If people do not use it and if the service does not reach them, the intended benefits will not be realised. Our objective is to ensure that citizens do not need to visit government offices, banks or insurance companies for services that can be delivered digitally," he said.

The minister said effective digitalisation would generate enormous economic benefits by saving citizens' time and reducing unnecessary travel.

He pointed out that millions of people spend valuable hours travelling to offices for services that could be accessed remotely, resulting in productivity losses, transportation expenses and increased pressure on urban traffic systems.

The minister further stressed that digital transformation should not remain limited to a few pilot initiatives or isolated projects. Instead, all institutions must ensure the full implementation of their digital service programmes and make them easily accessible to the public.

Calling innovation a key driver of modern governance, he said technology-based public services have the potential to transform the relationship between citizens and institutions by making services more efficient, transparent and citizen-friendly.

He congratulated the participating organisations for showcasing their innovations and expressed hope that such initiatives would encourage wider adoption of digital solutions across the financial sector and beyond.

Financial Institutions Division (FID) Secretary Nazma Mobarek said that the effective use of technology and small-scale innovations is making public services simpler, faster and more accessible while strengthening transparency and preventing corruption.

The secretary said the government's innovation initiatives are in line with its election manifesto, which emphasises the effective use of technology to provide services to citizens, students, freelancers, ICT entrepreneurs and businesses, while establishing Bangladesh as a technology-driven nation and a leading exporter of ICT services.

She said digital innovations are also contributing to improved governance by ensuring transparency, increasing tax compliance and helping prevent corruption, including financial irregularities and money laundering.

During the programme, five offices and agencies were honoured with awards in five categories in recognition of their outstanding innovative initiatives.

It is noteworthy that, under the supervision of the Financial Institutions Division, a total of 329 public services have been digitalized by its 25 offices and agencies to date.