Mymensingh: A seminar titled “Cashless Bangladesh Initiative” was held at Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) in Mymensingh today. Under the slogan “Transactions are going cashless, Bangladesh is moving forward,” the event took place at the Syed Nazrul Islam Conference Hall at noon.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the seminar was organized by Bangladesh Bank to promote its Cashless Bangladesh Initiative, with overall support from Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC. Rafiza Akter Kanta, Director of the Payment Systems Department at Bangladesh Bank, presided over the session. Professor Dr. G M Mujibur Rahman, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at BAU, attended as the chief guest.
At the outset of the seminar, a video message from Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur was screened. In his message, the Governor noted that while digital transactions are expanding, they have not yet reached the grassroots level. He emphasized the goal of ensuring that people can make payments through digital platforms without relying on physical cash.
Later in the seminar, Jewel Majumder, Joint Director of Bangladesh Bank, presented an overview of the Cashless Bangladesh Initiative. He discussed the drawbacks of cash-based transactions, the advantages of digital payments, and the importance of building a secure and efficient digital banking ecosystem in key sectors such as education, health, transport, and utilities.
Professor Dr. G M Mujibur Rahman highlighted that paper currency in Bangladesh is often unhygienic and costly to print. He advocated for moving towards a cashless campus to ensure cleanliness and cost efficiency, while also stressing the need for banks to reinforce cybersecurity and fraud prevention to build public trust.
In her closing remarks, Rafiza Akter Kanta stated that the Bangla QR code system is being expanded across the country to enable grassroots-level users to adopt digital transactions. She emphasized that Dutch-Bangla Bank is committed to providing affordable and accessible digital services for all.
The seminar concluded with an open discussion, where students interacted with bank officials and inquired about the cashless system. Joydeb Chandra Banik, Director of Bangladesh Bank’s Mymensingh Office, and Abedur Rahman Sikder, Deputy Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Dutch-Bangla Bank, attended the event as special guests, which saw participation from around 200 university students.