Bangladesh could get single digital ID for public services: PM’s ICT adviser

A single digital identity could soon become the gateway to public services in Bangladesh as the government moves to build an AI-enabled digital public infrastructure (DPI), said Prime Minister's Adviser on Telecom and ICT Rehan Asad, yesterday.

DPI refers to shared digital systems–such as ID, payment, and data-exchange platforms–that governments use to deliver public services, similar to physical infrastructure like roads or the power grid.

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Bangladesh has already begun developing its system and plans to roll it out within the next 18 to 24 months, Asad told The Daily Star following a high-level UN side event in New York.

"We want to implement the world's best and most secure DPI and ID," Asad said.

"We started this journey. It will take time—there is no shortcut—but we are laying out the foundation for our future."

Organised jointly by the UN Office of the Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the event brought together ministers and senior officials to discuss DPI development and governance.

Discussions focused on AI integration, cross-border interoperability, and safeguards related to privacy and security.

Bangladesh is studying Estonia's X-Road, widely regarded as a benchmark for secure government data exchange, to develop its infrastructure, Asad noted.

The session also highlighted global implementations.

Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay are collaborating on cross-border systems, while the European Union is moving toward interoperable digital identity wallets.

Meanwhile, Rwanda is leveraging digital IDs to streamline domestic service delivery and support cross-border validation in East Africa.

Highlighting the global shift, Asad stressed that international cooperation will be vital as digital infrastructure evolves.

"DPI and digital ID will be at the heart of public services going forward," he said.