Paperless online payment system relaunched at CU

A paperless online payment system has been introduced at the Chittagong University (CU), aiming to reduce students’ long-standing hassles in paying fees.

The service has been launched through a joint initiative of Chittagong University Central Students’ Union (Cucsu), the university administration, and Sonali Bank PLC, said Cucsu Executive Member Sohanur Rahman Sohan.

According to Cucsu sources, the new system allows students to pay various fees from home without having to stand in long queues at banks. From admission-related payments to all kinds of university fees and bills, transactions can now be completed online with ease.

Under the system, students can make payments by providing details such as their name, department, ID, session, academic year, and hall affiliation. Payments can be made through cards, mobile financial services, and internet banking.

However, some inconsistencies remain in the system, particularly regarding hall names. Although Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Hall and Bangamata Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib Hall have been renamed, the websites still display their previous names.

Sohan said, “We previously had an agreement with Agrani Bank, but the online service facilities were not fully functional. Later, we entered into an agreement with Sonali Bank. Currently, both online and offline payment systems are in operation.”

He added that no major technical issues have been reported so far and several transactions have already been completed successfully. The issue related to hall names will also be corrected soon.

Cucsu Office Secretary Abdullah Al Noman said the complexities surrounding online payments have finally been resolved after prolonged efforts. Previously, even though payments could be made online through Sonali Bank, students had to print the slip and submit it to the Student Counselling Centre. “Now students are free from that requirement,” he said.

The service was initially inaugurated on November 18, 2024, marking CU’s 59th founding anniversary. However, due to various complications, it could not be fully implemented, forcing students to continue paying fees by standing in bank queues despite the introduction of online services. With the system now relaunched, stakeholders hope it will significantly reduce students’ suffering.