CitizenConnect AI

CitizenConnect AI: A plain-Bengali AI assistant that simplifies BD govt welfare schemes, offers 1-click emergency safety helplines, and stays free via an ad-supported model.

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Inspiration

In Bangladesh, millions of citizens—especially in rural areas—struggle to access social safety net welfare programs like Old Age Allowance, TCB Family Cards, and Agricultural Subsidies. The primary hurdles are complex government legalese, unclear eligibility criteria, and scattered documentation requirements. Furthermore, during personal crises or emergency situations, people often panic and fail to access national safety helplines quickly. We created CitizenConnect AI to bridge this digital divide by delivering a plain-Bengali AI guide and emergency support system that remains 100% free and accessible to all.

What it does

CitizenConnect AI is an AI-powered public service assistant that turns complex government processes into simple, actionable steps for Bangladeshi citizens:

  • 🤖 Smart AI Service Assistant: Powered by Google Gemini API, it analyzes government schemes against plain-language user prompts and profiles to explain eligibility, deadlines, and required documents in natural Bengali.
  • 🆘 Emergency Safety Desk: A 1-click safety hub providing immediate direct dialing to national helplines (999 for Emergency, 333 for National Information, 109 for Women & Children Helpline) alongside safety guidelines.
  • 💰 Ad-Supported Sustainability: Features built-in Google AdSense banner placeholders (AdBanner), keeping the platform completely free for citizens while self-sustaining server costs.
  • 📱 Accessible UI: Responsive design built for smooth performance across basic mobile browsers and desktop devices.

How we built it

We architected CitizenConnect AI using a modern, scalable, and type-safe stack:

  • Frontend & Framework: Next.js 15 (App Router) with React 19 and Tailwind CSS for an intuitive, fast, and responsive user experience.
  • AI Engine: Integrated Google Gemini 2.5 Flash (@google/genai) to handle complex queries and generate natural Bengali responses based on structured government policy datasets (database/services.json).
  • Security & Guardrails: Configured custom Next.js middleware (proxy.ts) and AI System Directives (AGENTS.md) to strictly prevent any collection or processing of sensitive personal identifying information (PII) like NID numbers or passwords.
  • Localization: Implemented localized translations (locales/bn.json) ensuring accessibility for non-English speakers.

Challenges we ran into

  • Parsing Complex Eligibility Rules: Structuring diverse Bangladeshi government welfare rules into machine-evaluable parameters without losing legal accuracy was challenging.
  • Ensuring Strict Privacy Standards: Designing an AI workflow that provides accurate guidance while remaining strictly zero-PII—guaranteeing no sensitive credentials or NID data are ever captured or stored.
  • Optimizing AI Response Latency: Fine-tuning prompt contexts and using Gemini 2.5 Flash to ensure fast, low-latency Bengali completions on standard mobile network speeds.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Successfully deployed a functional end-to-end prototype featuring dual core capabilities: Smart AI Assistance and an Emergency Safety Desk.
  • Built a zero-PII architecture that prioritizes citizen digital safety and privacy above all.
  • Created a sustainable business model combining social impact with ad-supported monetization so public services remain free forever.

What we learned

  • Deepened our experience with Google Gemini 2.5 Flash SDK integration and prompt engineering for non-English public service applications.
  • Mastered Next.js 15 App Router architecture, route protection middleware, and strict TypeScript patterns for production readiness.
  • Gained valuable insights into civic-tech solution design and accessibility needs for rural users.

What's next for CitizenConnect AI

  • Voice-Based Interface: Integrating Bengali voice input and text-to-speech support for illiterate users.
  • Expanded Scheme Database: Partnering with civic organizations to cover more municipal, district-level, and NGO welfare services.
  • Offline PWA Capabilities: Adding Progressive Web App (PWA) features for offline helpline access in remote regions with low internet connectivity.

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Updates

posted an update —

CitizenConnect AI — Official Launch and Final XPRIZE Submission Update

We are pleased to announce that CitizenConnect AI is officially deployed and submitted for evaluation at the Build with Gemini XPRIZE hackathon.

Below is a summary of how the platform has evolved into a production-ready civic tool:

Key Features and Technical Enhancements

  • Gemini 2.5 Flash Engine: Integrated @google/genai to provide fast, plain-Bengali guidance on national social safety net programs including Old Age Allowance, TCB Family Cards, and Agricultural Subsidies.
  • Zero-PII Privacy Protection: Implemented custom routing middleware (proxy.ts) and AI guardrails (AGENTS.md) to ensure sensitive personal identifying information like NID numbers or credentials are never collected or processed.
  • 1-Click Emergency Safety Desk: Added direct dialing links to core national helplines (999, 333, and 109) alongside basic digital safety guidelines.
  • Sustainable Ad-Supported Model: Integrated Google AdSense banner placeholders (AdBanner) to offset infrastructure costs while keeping the public service free for end users.

Code Highlight: Zero-PII Sanitization Logic

// proxy.ts - Ensuring zero sensitive data enters the Gemini API
export function sanitizePayload(input: string): string {
  // Strip NID, phone, and account patterns before API execution
  return input.replace(/\b\d{10,17}\b/g, "[REDACTED_PII]");
}

##  Future Roadmap
​Bengali Voice Interface: Implementing speech-to-text and text-to-speech for low-literacy users.
​Offline Progressive Web App: Adding offline cached helpline features for low-connectivity rural regions.
​Expanded Welfare Directory: Expanding database/services.json through civic partnerships to include municipal and district-level services.
​We welcome feedback, questions, or suggestions in the comments section below.

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Submission history