Dhaka:Grameenphone and Robi, two leading mobile operators in Bangladesh, have launched Bangla QR-based payment systems at their retail outlets, marking a significant step in the country's move towards a cashless economy. The launches were held in separate events on Wednesday in partnership with Mutual Trust Bank PLC (MTB), aligning with Bangladesh Bank's initiative to expand digital payment adoption.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Habibur Rahman inaugurated the service at Grameenphone's Experience Centre in Gulshan and Robi's Walk-In Centre in Banani. The new system allows customers to use apps from participating banks, mobile financial service providers, or payment service providers to scan a single merchant Bangla QR code for direct payments from their accounts.
The Bangla QR payment system is part of the national QR standard designed to enable cashless transactions at participating merchants. Grameenphone will initially offer this service at its Experience Centres in Dhaka and Chattogram, while Robi will extend the service across its nationwide retail network, including all Walk-In Centres.
Bangladesh Bank's "One Country, One QR" vision aims to create a unified and interoperable digital payment ecosystem, with a target of facilitating 10 million digital transactions daily. At the launch events, Deputy Governor Rahman emphasized the role of connectivity and technological innovation in promoting economic growth and financial inclusion. He encouraged more industry players to adopt digital payment solutions to accelerate the transition to a cashless economy.
Grameenphone CEO Yasir Azman highlighted the partnership's potential to enhance customer convenience by enabling cashless transactions, thus contributing to the nation's economic vision. Similarly, Robi's Chief Corporate and Regulatory Officer Shahed Alam noted that familiar digital payment options would drive more people towards cashless transactions, benefiting the company's supply chain ecosystem.
MTB Managing Director and CEO Syed Mahbubur Rahman expressed optimism about the partnerships, stating that combining MTB's payment capabilities with the extensive reach of Grameenphone and Robi would expand the Bangla QR acceptance network, making digital payments more accessible to everyday consumers.