Rupali Bank aims to onboard around 1 lakh merchants onto the Bangla QR platform over the next year as it seeks to accelerate adoption of Bangladesh’s unified digital payment standard and expand cashless transactions across businesses and public services.
In an interview with TIMES of Bangladesh, Kazi Md Wahidul Islam, managing director of Rupali Bank PLC, said, “We aim to onboard around 1 lakh merchants within the next year.” Merchant onboarding began earlier this month, with acquisition targets assigned to all branches and officers. Alongside expanding its merchant network, the bank will strengthen customer awareness, cybersecurity and promotional incentives to accelerate adoption.
Rupali Bank has completed the required technology infrastructure, system integration and user acceptance testing under Bangladesh Bank’s Bangla QR roadmap. Customers can now make payments through RupaliCash and the Rupali eBank app, while merchants have started accepting Bangla QR payments.
Over the next year, the bank plans to expand Bangla QR across SMEs, retail shops, supermarkets, restaurants, hospitals, educational institutions and transport while rolling out awareness campaigns, cashback offers, discounts and stronger fraud prevention, transaction monitoring and customer support.
Wahidul Islam said Rupali Bank is backing Bangla QR because its interoperability could make it “the backbone of Bangladesh’s digital payments ecosystem.” By replacing fragmented provider-specific QR codes with a single national standard, it can reduce reliance on cash, lower cash-handling costs and make transactions faster, safer and more transparent while improving service quality, encouraging competition and innovation, expanding financial inclusion and creating a unified payments infrastructure rather than simply introducing another payment method.
One QR for every customer
Wahidul Islam described Bangla QR as a “one country, one QR” platform that allows customers of any participating bank or mobile financial service (MFS) provider to pay through a single QR code.
Previously, merchants had to display separate QR codes for different banks, MFS providers and payment service providers. Under Bangla QR, one QR serves all participating institutions, simplifying payments for businesses and consumers alike.
Every transaction creates a digital record, improving bookkeeping, financial transparency and potentially tax administration while helping small businesses, micro-entrepreneurs and rural merchants join the digital economy more easily.
For consumers, one QR works across participating banking and MFS apps, enabling secure payments within seconds without searching for provider-specific codes. It reduces the risks of carrying cash, creates instant digital transaction records, eliminates the problem of unavailable small change and becomes increasingly convenient as acceptance expands across shops, restaurants, hospitals, transport and other services.
Merchants benefit from a single QR that accepts customers from any participating bank or MFS provider, expanding their customer base while reducing the costs and risks of handling, storing and depositing cash. Digital payments also eliminate counterfeit or damaged note problems, preserve transaction records for accounting and audits, improve access to banking services, loans and financial planning through documented transaction histories and ensure merchants receive the exact payment amount without losing Tk1 to Tk4 because of unavailable change.
Adoption depends on more than technology
Wahidul Islam said Bangla QR has strong potential among small businesses, roadside vendors and rural entrepreneurs because it offers a simple, low-cost payment system that accepts customers from different banks and MFS providers through one QR code.
“Technology alone will not guarantee widespread adoption,” he said.
Merchant onboarding must remain simple, supported by awareness, training, reliable internet connectivity and incentives such as cashback and discounts. Widespread merchant acceptance across shops, restaurants, hospitals, transport services and small businesses will also be essential because customers are unlikely to adopt Bangla QR unless they can use it everywhere.
“The biggest challenge is changing consumer behaviour,” he said. Many Bangladeshis still prefer cash, while smartphone availability, internet connectivity, digital literacy and cybersecurity remain constraints in some areas. Awareness campaigns, user-friendly apps, stronger cybersecurity, responsive customer support and incentives will all help accelerate adoption.
If banks, MFS providers, Bangladesh Bank and other stakeholders work together, Bangla QR could become one of the country’s leading payment platforms for small businesses and the rural economy within the next few years, advancing financial inclusion and supporting the vision of a Smart Bangladesh.
Security and public services
On security, Wahidul Islam said Bangla QR is built on international EMVCo standards and operates under Bangladesh Bank’s supervision, with banking safeguards including encryption, secure authentication and fraud monitoring.
“The biggest risks arise not from the technology itself but from social engineering,” he said. Fake QR codes, phishing attempts and fraudulent calls or links remain key threats. He called for stronger customer awareness, merchant verification, multi-factor authentication, AI-based real-time fraud monitoring, instant transaction alerts and faster information sharing and incident response among banks, MFS providers and payment service providers.
To encourage merchant adoption, he proposed lower or zero Merchant Discount Rates (MDR), cashback, bonuses, reward programmes, free QR stands, merchant kits, onboarding support, faster settlement, easier nano and SME loans, training and round-the-clock customer support. “Businesses need to see that Bangla QR lowers cash-handling costs while attracting more customers,” he said.
He also sees significant opportunities to expand Bangla QR across government services, education, healthcare, transport and utility payments, including taxes, passport and licence fees, land services, tuition fees, hospital bills, pharmacies, metro rail, buses, trains, ferries, toll plazas, parking and ride-sharing services.
Wahidul Islam said Bangla QR’s long-term success depends on close coordination among Bangladesh Bank, banks, MFS providers, payment service providers and government agencies to ensure full interoperability, common technical and security standards, real-time fraud monitoring, merchant onboarding, digital literacy and public awareness. Collaboration on customer service, complaint resolution, cybersecurity and product innovation will also be essential.
Calling on businesses and consumers to embrace the platform, he said, “Bangla QR is more than another payment option. It is a national initiative to build a more inclusive, modern and cashless digital economy.”
Users, however, should remain vigilant by using only trusted QR codes and never sharing PINs, one-time passwords or account credentials, Wahidul Islam said.
