What is Bangla QR?

Bangla QR is Bangladesh’s interoperable national quick response (QR) payment standard introduced by Bangladesh Bank.

It is a QR code that allows customers of different banks, mobile financial service (MFS) providers, and payment service providers to make digital payments through one common platform.

Before the introduction of Bangla QR, many banks and MFS providers used separate QR codes, meaning customers often needed the specific provider’s app to complete a payment.

Under Bangla QR, a merchant uses only one QR code, which customers can scan and pay through any participating bank or MFS app.

For example, a customer using bKash, Nagad, or a bank app can all make payments using the same Bangla QR code.

Officials at Bangladesh Bank said Bangla QR will reduce the use of multiple QR systems at shops, increase digital payments nationwide, lower merchants’ costs, and improve interoperability across the financial sector.

The initiative was developed under National Payment Switch Bangladesh so that separate bank or MFS QR codes could gradually be replaced by one unified system. Its early rollout began around 2020-2021.

On April 1, Bangladesh Bank instructed all banks and financial service providers to replace their proprietary QR codes at merchant points with the central bank’s interoperable platform, Bangla QR, by June 30, or face penalties of up to Tk 30 lakh.