Bangladesh Bank Pushes Digital Payments With ‘Bangla QR Implementation Unit’

Bangladesh Bank has taken a fresh initiative to strengthen digital payments and accelerate cashless transactions across the country by renaming the existing ‘Cashless Bangladesh Unit’ in banks and financial institutions as the ‘Bangla QR Implementation Unit’.

The directive was issued through a circular published by the central bank on Saturday, May 23.

According to the circular, all scheduled banks, mobile financial service (MFS) providers, payment service providers (PSPs) and payment system operators (PSOs) must immediately rename their existing units at the head office level to support the nationwide expansion of Bangla QR-based transactions.

The central bank said the move aims to reduce dependence on cash transactions and build an inclusive digital payment infrastructure by rapidly expanding the Bangla QR platform across the country.

Under the new instructions, banks, MFS operators and PSPs have been asked to increase customer registration through mobile apps. They have also been directed to keep the Bangla QR payment option prominently visible on the homepage of their apps for easier customer access.

To expand the merchant payment network, all scheduled banks have been instructed to bring retail account holders with valid trade licences under the Bangla QR channel.

The circular also said banks and financial institutions must submit detailed action plans, including specific targets for new customer registrations and merchant onboarding until July 31, 2026, to the PSD-1 department of Bangladesh Bank by June 3.

In addition, the central bank directed every scheduled bank branch to appoint a ‘Bangla QR Branding Officer’ to promote and monitor the service at the field level.

The initiative is part of Bangladesh Bank’s broader effort to accelerate digital financial inclusion and strengthen the country’s cashless payment ecosystem.

/DBTech/BSS/EK/