A new book titled ‘From Cash to Code: Making Bangladesh’s Invisible Economy Visible’, authored by Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC Digital Banking and Fintech Strategist Md Mahmudul Hasan, has called for integrating Bangladesh’s informal economy into the formal financial system.
The book was launched at a city hotel recently, bringing together senior bankers, fintech leaders and digital finance practitioners, organisers said.
Al-Arafah Islami Bank Chairman Khwaja Shahrier and Managing Director Mohd Rafat Ullah Khan attended the event, along with deputy managing directors, senior officials of the bank, and stakeholders from the banking, fintech and digital financial services sector.
“Access without integration does not constitute true inclusion,” Hasan said.
He said Bangladesh’s next phase of financial development depends on bringing economic activities that remain beyond digital systems into the formal structure.
The discussion extended beyond a book launch into a wider policy dialogue on financial inclusion, as participants highlighted the need to address an informal economy that remains underserved and undercounted.
The publication comes at a time when regulatory changes and fintech expansion are reshaping Bangladesh’s financial landscape, adding to ongoing debates on inclusion and system integration.
