Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden inaugurated a Smart Service Point of Post Office in Koyra, Khulna on Tuesday to strengthen digital inclusion and facilitate access to public services leaving no one behind.
She is visiting Bangladesh as the UNDP Goodwill Ambassador.
The crown princess landed in Koyra via a helicopter from the Bangladesh Air Force at 8am.
Upon her arrival, officials from various levels of the district administration, State Minister for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Zunaid Ahmed Palak and Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury extended a warm welcome to her.
The Smart Service Point (SSP) initiative, a collaborative effort integrating digital solutions with traditional postal services, represents a significant stride towards realizing the vision of a Smart Bangladesh by 2041.
Offering a spectrum of amenities such as parcel tracking, bill payment, and e-commerce facilitation, SSPs are revolutionizing accessibility and efficiency in rural areas of Bangladesh.
Saber Hossain Chowdhury emphasized the indispensable role of Digital Centre initiatives in propelling Bangladesh towards a digitally inclusive society, stating: "Digital Centre is bringing government services to the doorstep of grassroots people, making essential services easily accessible."
State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak underscored its pivotal role in building a digitally inclusive society.
"Smart Service Point is an innovative initiative that aims to use technology to improve the accessibility and efficiency of postal services in the community," he said.
Throughout the visit to the Digital Centre, interactive sessions with beneficiaries showcased the tangible benefits of the Digital Centre, illustrating its contribution to enhancing access to government services, financial transactions, and other essential services for rural citizens.
Aspire to Innovate-a2i of the Cabinet Division and ICT Division, supported by UNDP is working towards building a Smart Bangladesh through various innovative initiatives.
The visit served to spotlight Bangladesh's strides in digital inclusion and sustainable development, reflecting the nation's dedication to leveraging technology for the betterment of society, the UNDP said.
During her visit, the princess also explored six locations, including the Moheswaripur Union Council, Moharajpur Union Council, and Dinabad Digital Post Office, in stages.
Then she went to two regions of the upazila susceptible to the impacts of climate change, and talked to the locals about their lives and livelihood.
Later, at around 12pm, she left the district via a helicopter from the Kapotakkho College ground.
Ulrika Modéer, un assistant secretary-general and director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy UNDP, Johan Forssell, minister for international development cooperation and foreign trade; Stefan Liller, UNDP resident representative in Bangladesh, Alexandra Berg von Linde, ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, Mollah Mizanur Rahman, joint-project Director (Joint Secretary) of a2i, Anir Chowdhury, Policy Advisor of a2i; were present along with other senior government officials, during the visit.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden arrived in Dhaka to visit Bangladesh from Monday to Thursday.
Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud received the princess on Monday morning at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport.
The crown princess returned to Bangladesh almost two decades after her first visit to the country in 2005.
She then spent three days primarily following up on Swedish development cooperation in the northwestern parts of Bangladesh.
The crown princess was appointed UNDP goodwill ambassador in October 2023.
She plays a key role in increasing awareness and engagement for the Sustainable Development Goals and a sustainable future where no one is left behind.
Our special correspondent Nurul Islam Hasib and Khulna correspondent Hedait Hossain contributed to this report
