Use of e-filing and digital office management is rapidly expanding across the country to build a faster, transparent, and accountable administration by reducing paper-based activities in government offices.
Officials say that digital administrative systems are reducing service time, lowering costs, and making citizen services much easier and more effective than before.
According to the Ministry of Public Administration, the ICT Division, and the a2i (Aspire to Innovate) program, e-nothi and e-filing system have already been introduced in most ministries, divisions, district administrations, upazila administrations, and various autonomous institutions.
Even when government officials are not physically present in the office, they can process files, approve documents, and conduct official communications online.
Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani said that around 80 percent of file-related work in ministries is now being done digitally. As a result, the time required to dispose of government files has decreased, and implementation of decisions has also become faster, he said.
Additional Secretary of the Cabinet Division, Humayun Kabir told BSS that in the past, it could take several days to weeks for a file to move from one desk to another. Now, with e-filing, many documents can be resolved within a few hours, he said.
This practice has increased administrative efficiency and reduced corruption and unnecessary delay; he said adding that earlier there was scope to alter note sheets in files, sometimes for personal gain. But with digital e-documents, such manipulation is no longer possible, which has significantly reduced corruption, said Kabir.
Officers can now approve and sign files even when they are outside Dhaka or abroad, eliminating delay and improving speed, transparency, and accountability, he said.
As part of implementing Smart Bangladesh 2041, government offices are gradually being transformed into smart offices, officials claimed.
The activities being done online include- e-filing, digital document storage, online meetings, virtual communication, online leave management, digital attendance, and service progress monitoring.
According to the Cabinet Division, thousands of e-files are being processed daily. This has significantly reduced overhead expenses such as paper, printing, and transportation. Reduced paper usage is helping build an eco-friendly administration.
ICT experts say e-filing is not only modernizing administration but also transforming the culture of public service.
Previously, citizens had to visit multiple offices to track a file’s progress, but now digital tracking systems allow easy monitoring of documents in many cases.
At district administration level, smart office system has positively impacted land services, mutation, issuance of certificates, license renewals, and social safety net programs. Online services have reduced the need for citizens to physically visit offices, thereby decreasing public suffering.
Jhalakathi Deputy Commissioner Momin Uddin said that digital document management enables urgent government directives to be quickly delivered to the field level.
It is also playing an effective role in disaster management, law and order monitoring, and supervision of development projects, he said.
He added that emphasis is being placed on improving technology-based skills through training programs for government employees.
Various training institutions under the Ministry of Public Administration are providing training on e-document management, cybersecurity, and digital office operations.
Experts believe that successful implementation of e-filing requires strong cybersecurity, uninterrupted internet connectivity, and skilled human resources.
Emphasis is also being placed on developing integrated data management systems across all government offices.
A Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration said there are plans to further modernize and citizen-friendly government office management by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and integrated digital platforms.
This is expected to further reduce service delivery time and increase transparency and accountability.
Previously, submitting applications, tracking file progress, or obtaining approvals required repeated visits to offices over many days. Now, many services are available from home through digital systems.
The biggest benefit for citizens is time savings. Online application submission, document uploads, and progress tracking have reduced the need for repeated office visits, cutting travel costs and loss of working hours.
Service recipient Sharmin Akter from Rajshahi said, “e-filing has increased the speed of work. Earlier, it took a long time to find out where a file was, but now officials respond quickly.”
Dependence on middlemen has also decreased. Particularly in land services, certificates, license renewals, and social safety programs, digital systems are enabling people to access services directly, reducing extra expenses.
People in rural areas are also able to access various government services easily through Union Digital Centers and online platforms, which has helped reduce the service gap between urban and rural areas.
E-filing has also created significant benefits for women, the elderly, and working individuals. With reduced need to stand in long queues or visit offices repeatedly, they can now receive services more easily and quickly.
Experts say that e-filing is not only increasing administrative efficiency but also ensuring citizen-friendly services. They hoped with the future integration of artificial intelligence and integrated digital data systems, government services will become even faster, easier, and more effective.
