Freelancer-Friendly Portal Planned to Streamline Identity and Incentives
The ICT Division of Bangladesh has announced plans to develop an automated portal that will allow freelancers to obtain a digital identity card from the comfort of their homes. This initiative aims to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and will integrate essential professional documents under the national identification system, enabling freelancers to download a "virtual ID" free of charge and without reliance on intermediaries.
The decision was made during a stakeholder meeting held on Sunday, July 20, at the ICT Division's conference room. The meeting, chaired by ICT Secretary Shish Haydar Chowdhury, was attended by Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Special Assistant on ICT and Telecommunications to the Chief Advisor, as the chief guest. Also present were Director General of the ICT Directorate Md. Abu Sayed, Additional Secretary Md. Mamunur Rashid Bhuiyan, Joint Secretary Md. Mojibur Rahman, and Senior System Analyst Md. Nabir Uddin, among others.
A presentation on the challenges and opportunities for freelancers was delivered by Md. Musnad E Ahmed, Joint Secretary General of the Bangladesh Association of Call Center & Outsourcing (BACCO). The meeting also included contributions from BACCO President Tanvir Ibrahim, Treasurer Mohammad Aminul Haque, Director Zayed Uddin Ahmed, and Executive Director of the Secretariat Lt. Col. (Retd.) Mahtabul Haque. Representatives from the Bangladesh Bank, Ministry of Commerce, and the National Skills Development Authority were also present.
Meeting sources revealed that although a cash incentive scheme for freelancers was introduced in 2021, not a single freelancer has received the benefits to date. To resolve this issue, it was decided that the entire process would be automated. The upcoming portal is also being designed to support freelancers in accessing financial services—such as receiving incentives and managing banking or insurance tasks—without physically visiting any institutions.
Additionally, the discussion addressed the impending graduation of Bangladesh from Least Developed Country (LDC) status in 2026, which will disqualify the country from providing direct incentives to freelancers. The stakeholders also discussed potential alternatives for future support and the possible launch of PayPal services in Bangladesh.
The meeting also concluded that BACCO would assist in verifying incomes brought into the country from IT firms or freelance marketplaces beyond the 55 platforms currently recognized by the ICT Division.
