Rangpur: Union Parishad Digital Center in Haridevpur union of Rangpur district is now playing a significant role in the development of women entrepreneurs, who are earning money by providing essential services to the residents of the union.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, located 15 kilometers from Rangpur district town, the union has a population of about 35,500, mostly farmers, with people of various professions residing in the villages. The center facilitates a range of services, from birth registration to university admission applications, significantly reducing the need for villagers to travel to distant districts and cities, thereby bringing digital services closer to their fingertips.
The driving force behind these services is Lovely Rani, a female entrepreneur who transformed her life and the lives of others in the community. Despite initial challenges and skepticism from others, Lovely pursued her entrepreneurial journey, which began after she passed her higher secondary examination and started working at the digital center in 2010.
Lovely recounted her early struggles, explaining that she had to overcome numerous hurdles, including financial difficulties due to her father’s illness. Despite having no prior experience, she took the risk of starting work at the digital center. Her dedication led to the establishment of employment opportunities for eight men and women at her center.
Initially, Lovely faced challenges in attracting people to the center. She personally visited villages, educating people about the services available, which eventually led to increased patronage. Her perseverance paid off, and now she is recognized as a successful entrepreneur.
The digital center has not only provided employment but also facilitated access to essential services, reducing time and costs for the local population. Services include land registration, document copies, various allowances, and more. The center now witnesses a steady flow of customers seeking various digital services.
The initiative has been supported by the Information and Communication Technology Department, which aims to deliver services quickly, transparently, and affordably. Another local entrepreneur, Aleya Khatun, acknowledged the benefits of the digital center, highlighting the ease of accessing government services online.
Residents like Mallika Rani have experienced firsthand the convenience of the digital center, which allowed her to register her child’s birth without the hassle of traveling long distances. The center’s head, Mohammad Saiful Azam, noted that A2I is working to expand such services across the country, with more than 350 services available through approximately 8,900 digital centers.
This initiative has provided over 800 million services to citizens, empowering more than 16,400 entrepreneurs, including over 5,200 women, to become self-reliant through digital centers.