Dhaka:A city hotel: Nobel Laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus emphasized the importance of making technology and financial services accessible to everyone, especially the poor and those in rural areas.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Professor Yunus spoke at the launch of the digital financial service platform Gpay. He highlighted the disparity in access to technology between the rich and the poor, stressing the need to bridge this gap so that people from all walks of life can benefit.
The Gpay platform was introduced under the theme 'Solution in Gpay', aiming to simplify financial transactions and make them more secure and accessible. Professor Yunus, the chief guest, noted that Gpay would eliminate the need to carry cash, thus providing relief from related concerns. He emphasized the importance of extending services to ordinary people as a measure of success.
Professor Yunus recounted the early challenges faced by Grameen Bank due to limited connectivity and described how mobile phones have since transformed operations, allowing members to conduct activities easily. He also recalled the launch of Grameenphone, which aimed to introduce mobile services to rural women, demonstrating that telecommunications could thrive in rural areas.
Describing Gpay as a social business, Professor Yunus stated that its profits would be reinvested for expansion rather than distributed as dividends. The program featured a welcome address by Ashraful Hassan, managing director of Somadhan Services Limited, which launched Gpay. Dr. Ahmad Armaan Siddiqui, Gpay's CEO, presented the platform's features, highlighting its potential to address financial complexities.
At the conclusion of the event, Professor Yunus handed over TakaPay cards to Grameen Bank borrowers and spoke about Grameen University‚¬Å¡¬€¦¡¬‚¬Å¡¬€¦¾¢s mission to achieve a world with three zeros.