In September, digital transactions in Bangladesh increased by more than 4,000 crore BDT compared to the previous month, according to updated figures from the central bank. Digital transactions through ATMs, POS, CRM, and e-commerce reached 38,270 crore BDT in September, up from 34,153 crore BDT in August—an increase of 4,117 crore BDT or 12 percent.
The number of transactions also rose significantly, with 4.57 crore recorded in September, up from 3.9 crore in August—an increase of 66.9 lakh transactions. The country now has 13,016 ATMs, extending digital banking access to remote areas. In September, ATM transactions reached 2.71 crore, involving 20,266 crore BDT, representing an 8 percent increase from August.
Cashless transactions through POS terminals also saw substantial growth, with 66.3 lakh transactions totaling 2,964 crore BDT in September, up from 2,579 crore BDT in August. E-commerce transactions continued their upward trend, with 56.7 lakh transactions amounting to 1,868 crore BDT, an increase of 167 crore BDT from the prior month.
CRM transactions also surged in September, with 1.26 crore transactions totaling 13,170 crore BDT, up from 11,126 crore BDT in August. While CRMs face occasional network issues, banks are steadily updating their technology to enhance service quality.
However, the rise in digital transactions also brings heightened cybersecurity risks. Bangladesh Bank recently issued a directive emphasizing cyber vigilance, especially as cyber-attacks worldwide are increasing. Banks have been advised to implement security measures such as biometric and CVV verification, OTP for every transaction, and QR code fraud awareness. The central bank also recommends using two-factor authentication and AI-powered transaction monitoring to identify anomalies and safeguard customer data.
