By
Quazi M. Ahmed
Founder & President, BOND
In a world driven by technology and collaboration, public service innovation is not a luxury it’s a necessity. Bangladesh, with its growing population and evolving socio-economic landscape, is at a crucial turning point. Here, non-resident Bangladeshis (NRBs) spread across the globe can play a transformative role in driving innovation in public service.
From health to education, governance to infrastructure, public service delivery in Bangladesh can benefit immensely from the skills, exposure, and experiences of NRBs who have thrived in dynamic global systems. As bridge-builders between Bangladesh and the world, NRBs hold the potential to inject fresh ideas, digital solutions, and global best practices into our national development journey.
Where NRBs Can Make a Difference
1. Digital Governance & e-Government Solutions
Many NRBs are working in countries where digital public service delivery is efficient, transparent, and citizen-centric. Their expertise can help Bangladesh:
- Improve digital ID systems
- Streamline government services through apps and portals
- Integrate AI and data analytics in public decision-making
2. Public Health Innovation
With global exposure to smart healthcare models, NRBs in the medical and tech fields can support:
- Telemedicine platforms for rural areas
- Health data systems for disease tracking
- Training programs for public health workers
3. Education Transformation
NRBs with backgrounds in education and edtech can support curriculum modernization, teacher training, and blended learning initiatives. They can:
- Introduce global skill development frameworks
- Develop open educational resources (OER)
- Promote STEM and digital literacy among youth
Driving Social Innovation and Inclusion
Public service is not just about administration it’s about solving social problems creatively. NRBs, with their exposure to multicultural, inclusive systems, can help:
- Design inclusive services for marginalized communities
- Advocate for gender-responsive governance
- Develop community-led innovation hubs in rural Bangladesh
Policy Shaping and Capacity Building
NRBs can also contribute to the policymaking process through:
- Sharing global policy insights
- Participating in public consultation processes
- Offering technical advice to government ministries, city corporations, and public agencies
Many successful countries tap into their diaspora as policy advisors, research contributors, and public service fellows. Bangladesh can benefit from such a model through BOND.
How BOND Can Mobilize NRBs for Public Innovation
BOND is uniquely positioned to become a platform of transformation. Here’s how:
- Facilitate partnerships between NRBs and government institutions
- Launch NRB Public Service Fellowship Programs
- Organize Innovation Labs and Hackathons in collaboration with ministries and NRBs
- Create an NRB Knowledge Exchange Hub for policy, research, and prototype sharing
Conclusion: From Brain Drain to Brain Gain
By fostering innovation in public service, NRBs can help Bangladesh become more responsive, inclusive, and future-ready. This is not just a contribution it is a shared responsibility. And BOND is here to connect the dots, turning global talent into local impact. Let us reimagine Bangladesh powered by its people, no matter where they live.