Central Bank Mandates Faster Settlement Rules
Bangla QR Payments: Instant Merchant Credit Starts October 1
- All Bangla QR transactions must be credited instantly to merchant accounts starting October 1, 2026
In a major step to accelerate cashless transactions and empower small-to-large vendors, Bangladesh Bank has mandated that payments made through 'Bangla QR' must be credited to merchant accounts instantly starting October 1। Issued on Thursday (September 17) by Payment Systems Department-1, the directive applies to all banks, Mobile Financial Services (MFS), Payment Service Providers (PSPs), and Payment System Operators (PSOs)।
The upcoming rule replaces previous settlement timelines established in late 2025, eliminating operational delays for merchants receiving digital funds। By resolving payment waiting periods, the central bank aims to foster widespread adoption of QR-based payments across retail counters.
In addition to instant account crediting, the central bank outlined key user experience requirements for digital platforms:
- Prominent App Placement: Mobile apps must feature the standard Bangla QR icon at the bottom-center of their home screen thumb-zone starting October 1
- QR Image Upload: Service providers must integrate an image-upload payment feature alongside live camera scanning by October 31
- Universal Account Access: By October 31, all savings, current, and card account holders must be enabled to execute Bangla QR payments directly through their respective banking apps
Exercising authority under Section 18(2) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2024, Bangladesh Bank's latest reform lays a robust foundation for a modernized, cashless economy.
//DBTech/DBSr/SSM/MIS//
