As Bangladesh accelerates its transition towards a smart and digitally inclusive economy, Bangla QR is set to transform the country's payment landscape by making digital transactions faster, simpler and more accessible. Md. Ahteshamul Haque Khan, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC, shared this view in an exclusive interview with The Financial Express (FE) recently. According to Mr. Khan, Bangla QR will be a major catalyst in Bangladesh's journey towards a smart, cashless economy.
Md. Ahteshamul Haque Khan, Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Dutch-Bangla Bank PLC, outlined the bank's nationwide Bangla QR rollout strategy, discussed the key challenges ahead, and explained why the private commercial bank believes Bangla QR will become the backbone of Bangladesh's digital payments ecosystem over the next five years.
He was talking to The Financial Express in an exclusive interview recently.
Regarding the potential impact of Bangla QR on Bangladesh's digital payment ecosystem, the top executive said Bangla QR is a landmark initiative for financial inclusion in Bangladesh. It is more than just another payment option-it has the potential to become a key catalyst in accelerating the country's transition towards a smart, cashless society.
By enabling interoperability among banks, mobile financial service (MFS) providers and payment service providers (PSPs) through a single QR code, it makes digital payments simpler, more convenient and more accessible, the CEO explained.
Its greatest impact will be at the grassroots level. Small vendors, such as tea stall owners and vegetable sellers, will be able to accept digital payments at minimal cost without investing in expensive payment infrastructure, he said, adding that this convenience and affordability will encourage more consumers to choose digital payments over cash, expand financial inclusion and bring millions of small businesses into the formal financial system.
Describing the benefit of interoperability, the experienced banker said interoperability is Bangla QR's greatest strength. It simplifies digital payments for both consumers and merchants by eliminating the need for multiple QR codes and payment platforms.
For consumers, it offers the convenience of making payments through their preferred bank or mobile financial service (MFS) app by scanning a single Bangla QR code, regardless of the service provider, according to the CEO.
He also said this reduces the need to carry cash and eliminates the inconvenience of handling damaged or torn currency notes.
For merchants, a single Bangla QR can accept payments from all participating banks and MFS providers, he said, adding that this simplifies operations, reduces counter-side confusion, speeds up transactions and enables businesses to serve customers from every payment platform, ultimately creating greater sales opportunities.
Speaking about the bank's preparations for the implementation of Bangla QR, the MD said the bank had fully integrated Bangla QR into its NexusPay and Rocket apps, and the platform was already live nationwide.
He said the bank was actively expanding its reach through a structured rollout strategy and had deployed more than 220,000 Bangla QR codes across the country.
"Our strategy focuses on nationwide merchant onboarding campaigns covering both retail outlets and neighbourhood shops, supported by promotional offers to encourage customer adoption. We are also training our employees and merchants while educating customers about the convenience, safety and benefits of QR-based payments," Mr. Khan added.
In collaboration with Bangladesh Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank has conducted a number of awareness campaigns across the country to promote Bangla QR, according to the CEO.
"With Dutch-Bangla Bank's extensive distribution network and strong digital banking ecosystem, we are well positioned to accelerate the nationwide adoption of Bangla QR," the MD noted.
In response to the question of the challenges in the successful rollout of Bangla QR, Mr. Khan said the biggest challenge is not technology but changing mindsets. Bangladesh remained a cash-heavy economy, and sustained public awareness would be essential to building trust in digital payments.
Merchants need to understand that Bangla QR is more than a payment tool; it offers lower transaction costs, better record-keeping, reduced cash-handling risks and improved access to formal credit, according to the CEO.
He also said maintaining a secure and fraud-free payment ecosystem is equally important to sustaining customer confidence.
The encouraging aspect is the strong collaboration among the central bank, banks and mobile financial service (MFS) providers, which will be crucial to overcoming these challenges and accelerating the adoption of Bangla QR, the senior banker noted.
"Bangla QR is one of the most powerful tools for advancing financial inclusion in Bangladesh. Unlike traditional point-of-sale (POS) terminals, it requires only a printed QR code, making it a low-cost and practical solution for micro-businesses, SMEs and rural entrepreneurs," the MD said in response to a question about the role of Bangla QR in promoting financial inclusion.
Beyond facilitating digital payments, Bangla QR creates a verifiable transaction history that serves as proof of business activity and income, he said, adding that this digital footprint improves access to formal credit, working capital and other banking services.
In that sense, Bangla QR doesn't just collect payments-it helps bring millions of small businesses into the formal financial ecosystem and supports their long-term growth, according to the MD.
Mr. Khan believes that within the next five years, Bangla QR will become as common as cash in everyday transactions.
From supermarkets and neighbourhood shops to CNG stations, educational institutions and utility bill payment centres, QR-based payments will become an integral part of daily life across both urban and rural Bangladesh, according to the CEO.
While it will not eliminate cash overnight, it will significantly reduce the country's dependence on cash, he added.
"With wider industry adoption, continued public awareness and growing customer confidence, Bangla QR has the potential to become a key driver of Bangladesh's digital economy and accelerate the country's transition towards a smart, cashless society," the MD noted.
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