DHAKA, May 17, 2026 (BSS) - Digital centres have emerged as a major success story in Bangladesh, transforming even the country’s remote regions by bringing government and private services closer to citizens and empowering women entrepreneurs at the grassroots level.

Access to information and solutions to various public needs is now available through digital centres established across the country. These centres are delivering services to marginalised communities in a simple, hassle-free and affordable manner, playing a significant role in changing Bangladesh’s socio-economic landscape.

Alongside visible infrastructure development, Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in various social and economic indicators, largely supported by digital inclusion initiatives.

To ensure modern facilities in rural life, the government has established digital centres in every union across the country. Women entrepreneurs have become key drivers of this transformation, providing tireless services to citizens. 

Representing nearly half of the country’s population, these women have demonstrated how opportunities can help them become economically empowered.

Currently, more than 16,000 entrepreneurs are working in over 8,000 digital centres nationwide, half of whom are women. Citizens are receiving more than 360 government and private services from these centres quickly, easily and at low cost.

According to estimates, digital centres provide more than seven million services every month. So far, entrepreneurs have delivered more than 800 million services, saving citizens approximately 1.68 billion work hours and Taka 767.75 billion in expenses.

Women entrepreneurs are playing a major role in this vast operation. In addition to improving citizens’ quality of life through service delivery, these women are becoming financially self-reliant and creating new entrepreneurs in remote areas.

Only a decade ago, rural people had little understanding of digital services. Women entrepreneurs at digital centres went door to door in their respective unions to raise awareness and encourage people to use digital services. As a result, people in remote areas can now access many services quickly and at nominal costs through digital centres.

Rehnuma Tabassum of Boyra area in Khulna faced significant difficulties because there was no banking facility in her locality. Her husband works abroad and sends remittances to support the family, but she previously had to travel nine kilometres to a neighbouring upazila to access banking services, spending both money and half a day in the process. 

Similar stories existed in many remote parts of Bangladesh.

However, following digitalisation in recent years, financial inclusion has increased rapidly in Bangladesh. 

Officials said the government’s planned initiatives made this achievement possible within a short period.

Digital centres in remote areas have played a key role in this process. The inclusion of fintech-based financial services in digital centres has reduced public suffering and made services faster and easier to access. Mobile Financial Services (MFS) have brought banking facilities directly to citizens’ doorsteps.

Overall, this digitalisation is having far-reaching impacts on a developing country like Bangladesh.

For example, nearly 3,000 new bank accounts have been opened through agent banking services at the Bhakurta Union Digital Centre in Savar. Through a single agent, 3,000 citizens were brought directly under banking services. This initiative not only increased the entrepreneur’s income several times but also expanded banking access for citizens.

Such success stories are now visible even in the country’s remote regions.

From the beginning, the services were designed to reach people through a bottom-up model, connecting remote populations with the centralised service delivery system. As a result, desired services are being delivered easily and transparently.

The implementation of digital centres has particularly benefited people who were previously excluded from basic services. Today, digital centres continue to provide over 360 government and private services to urban and rural citizens alike, contributing to improved living standards.

The increased access to services has sparked what many describe as a silent revolution in Bangladesh’s socio-economic landscape. 

Through these digital centres, entrepreneurs are earning between Taka 5,000 and Taka 200,000 per month, bringing financial comfort to semi-urban and rural lives.

Tahera Akter Shirin, entrepreneur of Snanghat Union Digital Centre in Habiganj, faced multiple challenges at the beginning because she was a woman balancing family responsibilities and personal ambitions. But she did not step back. Starting with only one desktop computer, her digital centre now has sufficient technological equipment and furniture worth several lakh Taka.

Alongside ensuring economic stability, digital centres are also helping establish women’s dignity and self-respect.

Through providing services, Mosammat Nure Jannatun Nesa, entrepreneur of Mukundapur Union Digital Centre in Dinajpur district, has developed close relationships with people across her union. 

According to her, the centre feels like a family where villagers come daily with different problems and leave smiling after receiving solutions.

Sadia Kawsar Khanam, entrepreneur of Kakara Union Digital Centre in Cox’s Bazar, had dreamt since childhood of doing something independently. But family circumstances and the social environment were not supportive, and there were few opportunities for entrepreneurship in rural areas.

Digital centres helped fulfil Sadia’s dream. Alongside achieving her own goals, she is now working for educated unemployed youths in her union by organising various training programmes.

Observers believe the transformative journey initiated by these women entrepreneurs through nationwide service delivery is already producing visible results. In the future, their progress is expected to advance women’s empowerment even further.

Women across Bangladesh continue to work tirelessly in building a Digital Bangladesh, advancing with determination and ambition. Their progress has become an unstoppable force behind the country’s socio-economic development.

As a result of women’s advancement, Bangladesh now ranks seventh globally in women’s political empowerment. Nearly 70 percent of health service workers are women. More than 80 percent of workers in the ready-made garment sector — one of the main driving forces of the economy — are women.