Bangladesh Bank is stepping up efforts to expand interoperable digital payments beyond major urban centres, urging merchants in Rajshahi to adopt Bangla QR as part of its drive to reduce reliance on cash and build a more inclusive cashless economy.
The central bank organised an awareness workshop in Rajshahi on Thursday in collaboration with the International Finance Corporation (IFC), with BRAC Bank serving as the lead bank.
The session focused on accelerating adoption of the national Bangla QR standard, which enables customers to make digital payments through a common QR system across participating banks and payment service providers.
Held at the training centre of Bangladesh Bank’s Rajshahi Office, the workshop brought together central bank officials and Bangla QR merchants to discuss ways to expand secure, seamless and interoperable digital payments at the local-business level.
Bangladesh Bank officials said wider adoption of Bangla QR could reduce merchants’ reliance on cash, simplify payment acceptance, improve transaction transparency and strengthen business record-keeping. They also highlighted its potential to improve financial inclusion, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises.
The push reflects a key challenge for Bangladesh’s cashless ambitions: digital-payment infrastructure must translate into regular use by merchants and consumers, particularly outside major commercial centres.
Bangladesh Bank Rajshahi Office Executive Director Muhammad Badiuzzaman Didar attended the workshop as chief guest, while BRAC Bank Additional Managing Director and Head of SME Banking Syed Abdul Momen was special guest.
Bangladesh Bank Payment Systems Department-1 Director A N M Moinul Kabir chaired the session. Bangladesh Bank Rajshahi Office Director Md Nazim Uddin, Bangladesh Bank Additional Directors Md Perwez Anzam Moonir and Mohammad Main Uddin, Bangladesh Bank Joint Director Juwel Majumder and BRAC Bank Head of Merchant Acquiring Khairuddin Ahmed also attended.
As lead bank, BRAC Bank reaffirmed its support for Bangladesh Bank’s digital-payment agenda, saying it would expand Bangla QR acceptance, onboard more merchants, raise public awareness and encourage greater use of digital payments.
The initiative seeks to move Bangla QR beyond a payment-technology standard and into everyday commerce, where broader use could bring more transactions into formal financial channels while giving businesses better records and reducing the cost and risks associated with handling cash.
