Transactions through Bangla QR -- the country’s interoperable national payment standard -- have nearly doubled since the system became mandatory for merchants on July 1, Bangladesh Bank (BB) said.

Every now and then, Bangladesh produces a rare policy miracle: an authority listens before the public loses its voice. Bangladesh Bank’s latest Bangla QR circulars deserve appreciation for correcting the course.

The move towards Bangla QR in Bangladesh is timely and welcome.

Bangladesh Bank is waiving the merchant fee for small shopkeepers, street vendors, and small businesses for accepting digital payments using Bangla QR codes.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) is working to increase digital transactions through Bangla QR to one crore a day by the end of the current fiscal year, BB Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman said yesterday.

Consumers will often tolerate minor transactional delays, but they are unlikely to tolerate the lingering fear that their lives’ savings could be compromised in an instant.

The minimum Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) -- the fee merchants pay on each Bangla QR transaction -- is discouraging adoption of the interoperable payment platform, industry insiders say, even after Bangladesh Bank made it mandatory from July 1.

Bangladesh’s transition to a digital economy is no longer a distant ambition. Mobile financial services, internet banking, e-commerce and instant payments are already changing how millions of people conduct everyday transactions. The introduction of Bangla QR is another important step towards a cash-lite, inclusive and interoperable payment system

The Bangladesh Bank today organised a daylong campaign at its headquarters to promote the use of Bangla QR codes for digital payments, with the interoperable system set to become mandatory from July 1 at all merchant payment points

Bangla QR, Bangladesh’s interoperable quick response (QR) payment collection system introduced by the central bank, expanded to nearly 9.63 lakh merchants by the end of 2025, reinforcing its role in the digital payments ecosystem.

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

Non-compliant institutions may face fines of up to Tk 30 lakh, imprisonment for up to three years, or both