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<P align=left><STRONG><FONT color=#0000ff size=6>DIGITAL PUBLIC INNOVATION
FAIR-2010</FONT></STRONG></P>
<P align=left><FONT face="Times New Roman"><FONT size=4>4-6 March
2010<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>
<P align=center><STRONG><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=2></FONT></STRONG> </P>
<P><FONT size=2><IMG alt="" hspace=0
src="cid:8F3AF40DA3214E72A19536F340D87A12@ceo" align=baseline
border=0></FONT><FONT size=3>In order to make the government policy,
administration and service delivery more efficient, effective, transparent and
accountable ,Information and communication technologies have proven to play an
increasingly prominent role not only in developed parts of the world but also in
developing countries. ICTs such as mobile phones, TV, radio in addition to
computers and internet have been able to reach traditionally excluded
communities, and allow a much larger participation in national decision making
than had hitherto been possible. The Fair will take place during 4-6 March
2010<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"
/><o:p></o:p></FONT></P>
<P>The vision Of “<STRONG>Digital Bangladesh</STRONG>” is unique as it proposes
ICTs as a pro-poor tool. In regard to this vision, Access to Information
Programme is an e-governance umbrella initiative which plans and coordinates the
ongoing and future activities across various ministries and agencies of the
government to utilize ICTs as a tool to make government services
hassle-free,faster,cheaper, more inclusive and at citizens
doorsteps.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P>The ‘<STRONG>DIGITAL PUBLIC INNOVATION FAIR-2010</STRONG>’ is a step towards
providing extensive citizen services to citizen . Through this fair citizens
will be aware of the extensive e-services at their doorsteps. Also, citizens
will be benefited in terms of reduced transaction time.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P>Some examples from Bangladesh demonstrate the vast potential:<o:p></o:p></P>
<UL type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">Publishing
SSC/HSC results through SMS, electricity bill payment through mobile phone,
one-stop passport delivery, downloadable government forms have reduced cost
and time for the government and citizens <o:p></o:p></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">Automation
of primary teacher recruitment process has increased transparency; automation
has enabled the Ministry of Religious Affairs to handle over 50,000 hajjis
with ease where it had great difficulty in handling 5,000 hajjis
earlier.<o:p></o:p></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in">The
Voter/Citizen’s ID card is generating a comprehensive database of citizens
that can be used for birth and death registration, marriage registration,
school enrolment, vaccination, social safety net programmes, and many others
<o:p></o:p></LI></UL>
<P>In its work for the last year or so, the Access to Information Programme of
the Prime Minister’s Office has found that sharing success stories of service
delivery innovations that are taking place in different organs of the government
encourages the innovators and spurs further innovation in others. With this view
in mind, an Digital Public Innovation Fair 2010 is being designed to showcase
the best practices in public service delivery in a 3-day event open to
government officials from around the country.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P>The objectives of the event are:<o:p></o:p></P>
<UL type=disc>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in">To
encourage and promote the current best practices in public service
delivery<o:p></o:p></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in">To
share and replicate these best practices across government
organizations<o:p></o:p></LI>
<LI class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .5in">To
set a tone of healthy competition amongst the GoB ministries and
agencies<o:p></o:p></LI></UL>
<P>Government participants will benefit from learning about best practices in
this respective field of service delivery and administration. Industry
participants will benefit from showcasing their most innovation solutions. For
more info: <A
href="http://www.digitalinnovationfair.info/">http://www.digitalinnovationfair.info/</A><o:p></o:p></P>
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style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">--------------------------------------------------------------------------------</P></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT size=4>Bazlu<BR>_______________________<BR>AHM. Bazlur
Rahman-S21BR<BR>Chief Executive Officer<BR>Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and
Communication(BNNRC)<BR>&<BR>Member, Strategy Council<BR>UN-Global Alliance
for ICT and Development (UN GAID)<BR> <BR>House: 13/1, Road:2, Shaymoli,
Dhaka-1207 <BR>Post Box: 5095, Dhaka 1205 Bangladesh<BR> <BR>Phone:
88-02-9130750, 88-02-9138501<BR>01711881647 Fax:
88-02-9138501-105<BR> <BR>E-mail: </FONT><A
href="mailto:ceo@bnnrc.net"><FONT size=4>ceo@bnnrc.net</FONT></A><FONT size=4>,
</FONT><A href="mailto:bnnrc@bd.drik.net"><FONT
size=4>bnnrc@bd.drik.net</FONT></A><BR><A href="http://www.bnnrc.net"><FONT
size=4>www.bnnrc.net</FONT></A><BR></DIV></BODY></HTML>