Eastern Bank (EBL) PLC’s mobile banking platform, EBL Skybanking, has been awarded the “Recognition for Accessible Initiatives” honour at a Global Accessibility Awareness Day event in Dhaka, making it the only banking platform to receive the distinction, the bank said in a press release, as Bangladesh pushes to broaden digital financial inclusion for persons with disabilities.
The award was presented on 21 May at the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) Auditorium in Dhaka, at a programme organised by Aspire to Innovate (a2i) to mark Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 2026. Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam and State Minister for Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin jointly presented the award to M Khorshed Anowar, Deputy Managing Director and Head of Retail and SME Banking at EBL.
EBL Skybanking earned the recognition for its efforts to provide accessible, secure and user-friendly financial services to all customers, including persons with visual impairments. The platform incorporates screen reader compatibility, voice-assisted navigation, biometric login and instant transaction alerts — features designed to ensure a seamless banking experience across diverse user groups.
Speaking at the event, Minister Fakir Mahbub Anam said that ensuring equal access to digital services for persons with disabilities remains a central government priority. “This is not a matter of charity; it is their right,” he said, stressing the importance of aligning technology with people’s varied needs and abilities.
State Minister Farzana Sharmin said universal digital accessibility is essential to building an inclusive Bangladesh, and reaffirmed the government’s support for initiatives that advance accessibility and inclusion.
The programme was chaired by Kazi Anwar Hossain, Secretary of the ICT Division, and co-organised by Friendship and Sightsavers.
Representing EBL at the event were Ahsan Ullah Chowdhury, Head of Digital Financial Services; Sanjit Dutta, Head of Application Development and Technology Solutions; and Amin Md Mehedi Hasan, Head of Digital Banking and ADC, among others.
Through its digital offerings, EBL said it continues to work towards strengthening financial inclusion, encouraging cashless transactions and contributing to Bangladesh’s growing digital economy.
