Dhaka:<Text>
The Policy Research Institute of Bangladesh (PRI), supported by the Gates Foundation, organized a stakeholder consultation workshop titled 'Toward a Cashless Economy: A Strategic Roadmap for Bangladesh' at the PRI conference room. The event gathered policymakers, regulators, economists, financial sector representatives, and development partners to discuss the pathways, challenges, and policy priorities essential for advancing digital and cashless transactions in Bangladesh.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the workshop highlighted significant progress in digital payments in Bangladesh, primarily driven by mobile financial services, QR payments, and online banking. Despite these advancements, the country remains heavily reliant on cash. The presentation identified several constraints, such as limited interoperability, infrastructure gaps, cybersecurity risks, and low digital literacy. The study underscored financial inclusion, reduced transaction costs, an d improved economic governance as the core benefits of transitioning to a cashless economy, drawing on global and regional experiences that emphasize the need for robust digital public infrastructure and coordinated regulation.
The proposed roadmap advocates for phased reforms, stronger regulatory coordination, expanded digital infrastructure, consumer protection, and fintech innovation to facilitate an inclusive and secure shift to a cashless economy. Arief Hossain Khan, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank, attended the event as the chief guest and emphasized the importance of coordination among regulators, financial institutions, and technology providers to ensure an inclusive transition.
Dr. Zaidi Sattar, Chairman of PRI, who chaired the session, remarked on the evolution of human transaction methods, noting the shift from barter to cash and now toward a cashless society. He emphasized the need for the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics to adopt the UN System of National Accounts 2025 to accurately reflect the value added by digital and cashless transactions in GDP growth.
Dr. Ashikur Rahman, Principal Economist at PRI, delivered the keynote presentation, advocating for the elevation of the cashless agenda to a national development priority. He stressed the role of digital and cashless instruments as powerful enablers of financial inclusion and economic governance, with the potential to extend formal financial services to underserved populations and improve transparency.
The workshop concluded with an open floor discussion, where participants shared insights on merchant adoption, the cost of digital transactions, cybersecurity risks, rural outreach, and fintech innovation. Dr. Khurshid Alam, Executive Director of PRI, provided closing remarks, reiterating PRI's commitment to evidence-based policy dialogue to support Bangladesh's digital transformation agenda. Dr. Bazlul H. Khondker, Research Director of PRI, was also present at the workshop .
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