'Authentication of certificates online could save Tk 7.0b annually'

The online authentication of certificates for Bangladeshis going abroad, including students in higher education and workers, under the Apostolic Convention could save Tk 7 billion annually, experts said on Tuesday.
Bangladeshis still need all their documents to be authenticated with huge cost and efforts. But once Bangladesh signs the convention, it will ease the process of going abroad, they also say.
The Cabinet earlier in May this year approved the signing of the convention. This international convention will eliminate the need for further authentication of various certificates, documents and affidavits of Bangladeshis going abroad if they have been duly authenticated in the country.
The speakers made the remarks while addressing a workshop titled online apostolic platform verification of certificates of students who want to go abroad with the degrees earned from all universities of the country, at the University Grants Commission (UGC) auditorium.
UGC members Prof Mohammad Tanzimuddin Khan and Prof Mohammad Anwar Hossain and secretary Md Fakhrul Islam, among others, spoke on the occasion.
Once the Apostolic Convention is signed, students and jobseekers going abroad would not need to re-authenticate their various certificates, documents, and affidavits in 127 countries that have signed the agreement, they said.
They mentioned that it would be possible to authenticate more than 250,000 certificates online annually through the apostolic system, which will save about Tk 7 billion.
If the certificates are authenticated through the apostolic system, the time and labour of the students will be saved and sufferings will be reduced, they say.
More than 10,000 certificates can be authenticated through the apostolic system every day, they added.
An initiative has been taken to connect the country's universities to the 'ApostolicMyGov' (apostille.mygov.bd) platform to authenticate certificates of Bangladeshi students interested in higher education abroad.
Foreign affairs, education and ICT ministries, A2I and the UGC will implement online verification of higher education certificates.
Examination controllers and IT officers of 49 private universities participated in the workshop.

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