Freelancers and Founders Frustrated by Lack of Global Payment Gateways

Young entrepreneurs and freelancers in Bangladesh continue to face significant barriers while working with international clients due to the absence of widely-used global payment gateways. At a press conference held at the Abdus Salam Hall of the National Press Club on Tuesday (April 29), the Bangladesh Freelancer and IT Professional Community called for the immediate introduction of international payment systems such as PayPal, Wise, and Stripe in the country.

A memorandum addressed to Nobel Laureate Dr Muhammad Yunus, acting as the chief advisor to the interim government, was read aloud during the event. The memorandum emphasized the urgent necessity of accessible international payment systems to unlock Bangladesh's economic potential and foster further growth in the IT sector.

Among those present were freelance and IT professionals including Mrajina Islam, Abdullah Al Mamun, H M Osman Shakil, Golam Kamruzzaman, Atikur Rahman, Suman Saha, Minhajul Asif, Russell Khondokar, and Sajid Islam.

Following the press briefing, the community members announced their plan to formally submit the memorandum to the Office of the Chief Advisor under Dr Yunus’s leadership. They reiterated that the absence of internationally recognized gateways hinders Bangladesh’s freelancing sector, despite its growing global demand.

“There are currently over one million active freelancers and IT entrepreneurs in Bangladesh who contribute a substantial amount of foreign currency annually to the national economy,” the statement said. “However, the lack of payment services like PayPal, Wise, and Stripe creates repeated complications when collaborating with international clients.”

Speakers at the event noted that although remote work opportunities are increasing worldwide, Bangladeshi freelancers are falling behind due to complex and limited payment mechanisms. They urged the current government and concerned authorities to take immediate and effective steps to enable international payment gateways in the country.

The press conference also highlighted that PayPal, operational in nearly 200 countries, remains the top choice for online payments globally. “When we ask foreign clients to use an alternative payment method, they often refuse because PayPal is their first preference,” said one participant, underscoring the commercial disadvantage Bangladeshi freelancers face without access to the platform.