As Ramadan evenings turn into crowded shopping nights across Bangladesh, banks quietly enter their busiest season of the year.
For Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, the surge in Eid shopping is also a moment to push card payments deeper into everyday transactions.
The bank has rolled out a range of promotions for its credit card holders this Ramadan and Eid, offering discounts, cashback, instalment facilities and prize campaigns to encourage customers to pay digitally rather than rely on cash.
“Islami Bank brings various attractive offers for our card users on the occasion of Ramadan and Eid to ensure ease in shopping and celebrating the festival,” said Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC Managing Director Md Omar Faruk Khan in an interview with TIMES of Bangladesh.
Under the campaign, cardholders can receive discounts at more than 2,000 branded outlets covering lifestyle products, electronics, furniture, mobiles and laptops through the bank’s EzzyBuy facility.
The offers also include cashback campaigns, 0 per cent equal monthly instalment facilities for up to 36 months at more than 250 merchants and buy-one-get-one or multiple free deals at selected retailers.
Depending on the card category, customers can also access more than 1,500 airport lounges at home and abroad.
Master-branded Khidmah credit card and prepaid card holders are also eligible for prize campaigns including a couple’s trip to Malaysia, smartphones, microwave ovens, electronics and grocery vouchers.
Khan said Eid shopping typically pushes card transactions higher as consumers increasingly adopt digital payment tools.
“Credit cards play a vital role in promoting a cashless economy by providing a modern alternative to traditional cash transactions,” he said.
Digital banking adoption among Islami Bank’s customers has grown rapidly in recent years. About 60 to 70 per cent of customers now actively use digital platforms such as Cellfin, debit cards, Khidmah credit cards, internet banking and mCash.
Cash transfers from Khidmah credit cards to bank accounts through the Cellfin app account for roughly 60 per cent of total transactions, Khan said.
He said the share is rising as customers respond to the card’s relatively low-cost cash transfer feature. Islami Bank’s credit card portfolio has also entered what Khan described as a strategic expansion phase driven by digital integration and global partnerships.
In March the bank launched UnionPay International branded Khidmah credit cards, expanding international usability for customers.
The number of Khidmah cards issued has grown about 13 per cent compared with the previous year, while transaction volumes have increased around 18 per cent.
Khan said the bank expects credit card growth to reach around 25 per cent this year. The Khidmah credit card differs from conventional cards because it follows the Ujrah concept under Islamic banking principles.
Instead of charging interest, the card operates through a transparent service fee structure designed to remain compliant with Shari’ah rules.
“This allows us to offer interest-free transactions while maintaining strict adherence to Shari’ah principles,” Khan said.
Cardholders also receive a charge-free period of up to 45 days and instalment facilities through EzzyBuy for up to 36 months at more than 2,000 branded outlets.
Alongside payment convenience, the cards also provide lifestyle benefits such as airport lounge access and promotional deals at hotels and restaurants.
Khan said Islami Bank’s credit card growth strategy is closely linked to its digital ecosystem, particularly the Cellfin mobile banking platform.
In most cases, Khidmah credit cards are issued to customers who already maintain deposit accounts such as Mudaraba Savings Accounts, Al-Wadeeah Current Accounts or Mudaraba Special Notice Deposit accounts.
This structure ensures that most cardholders already have a deposit or investment relationship with the bank before receiving the card.
Recently the bank has also started issuing Khidmah credit cards through third-party agents to individuals who do not yet hold accounts with the bank.
Khan said the bank’s credit card model demonstrates how Shari’ah-compliant banking can adapt to modern payment systems.
“The Khidmah concept transforms a debt-based product into a service-based contract,” he said. The UnionPay partnership, he added, also strengthens the bank’s ability to support customers travelling for trade, education, medical treatment and tourism between Bangladesh and China.
For Islami Bank, the Eid shopping rush is therefore not only a seasonal spike in spending. It is also an opportunity to expand digital payments while reinforcing the role of Shari’ah-compliant banking in Bangladesh’s evolving financial landscape.
