Dhaka: A new helpline, 333, was launched on Thursday to provide citizens with information on procedures of receiving public services.

Prime Minister’s ICT Affairs Adviser Sajeeb Wazed Joy launched the call centre at a ceremony at the Prime Minister’s Office.

Anyone can dial helpline 333 from anywhere and receive information about government offices, officers, tourist attractions, 64 districts and get different social problems redressed, said a press release.

Speaking on the occasion, Joy said the main objective of ‘Digital Bangladesh’ was to reach out to rural citizens with government services. ‘And to attain the goal, we’ve introduced digital centres at union level as well as 3G and 4G networks in the country. Citizens will not have to go to government offices, rather services will come at their doorsteps. Now our target is to turn Bangladesh into a developed country by 2041,’ he said.

Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Mustafa Jabbar said with the launching of the call centre 333, information and government services are now available to citizens 24/7 a day, 365 days a year.

With the motto ‘Government information and services anytime’, this helpline will not only provide information but citizens can also inform about and complain against different social problems and get response from Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi Officers themselves.

Besides, using this helpline, they can seek assistance from Deputy Commissioners and Upazila Nirbahi Officers during disasters.

Initially, the call centre service was piloted in all 64 districts of Bangladesh by the Access to Information (a2i) Programme.

Among others, PMO Director General and Project Director of a2i Programme KM Ali Azam, a2i’s Policy Adviser Anir Chowdhury, Robi’s CEO Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, Genex’s Managing Director Adnan Imam, National Consultant and a2i’s project lead for ‘333’ Mohammad Ashraful Amin (Senior Assistant Secretary) and senior officials from different ministries were present at the event.