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Bangla QR transactions jump to Tk110 crore a day
Published : Sunday, 23 August, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Business Correspondent
Symbolic Photo
Bangla QR transactions have nearly doubled in number and almost tripled in value in just over a month, showing a sharp rise in digital payments across Bangladesh, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB) officials.
The average daily transaction through Bangla QR reached Tk110.38 crore last week, compared with around Tk37.33 crore at the beginning of July, according to the BB data.
The number of daily transactions also rose to about 3.03 lakh last week, from around 1.78 lakh at the beginning of July.
The sharp rise came after the central bank made Bangla QR mandatory for all proprietorship businesses from July 1, 2026, replacing other QR payment arrangements with the national Bangla QR system.
A BB official said the latest figures show that customers and merchants are gradually becoming more comfortable with QR-based payments.
“People are now using QR payments for more everyday transactions.
The growth in both transaction numbers and value shows that digital payments are becoming a more normal part of business,” the official said.
The expansion is also visible in the number of merchants accepting Bangla QR.
The number of Bangla QR merchants has increased from around 16 lakh on July 1 to more than 30 lakh at present, according to the BB data.
The central bank said both private and state-owned banks are playing a role in expanding the network. Government-owned banks, in particular, are making a significant contribution to increasing the use of Bangla QR across the country.
For small businesses, the growth of Bangla QR could make digital payments easier without requiring customers to carry cash.
A wider merchant network also means customers can use a common QR system at more shops and businesses.
Bangladesh Bank officials see the development as an important step in expanding digital transactions and reducing dependence on cash.
The central bank has been pushing for greater interoperability in digital payments so that customers of different banks and payment service providers can make transactions more easily.
The latest Bangla QR figures suggest that the policy is beginning to have a visible impact.
From only about 1.78 lakh transactions a day at the beginning of July, the number has crossed 3 lakh a day, while average daily transaction value has reached more than Tk110 crore.
The Bangladesh Bank officials said the continued expansion of merchants and transactions will be important for taking digital payments beyond major cities and into smaller businesses and everyday transactions.
The central bank expects banks, payment service providers and other participants in the payment ecosystem to continue expanding Bangla QR acceptance.
For Bangladesh's move towards a less-cash economy, the rapid rise in Bangla QR use is an encouraging sign.
But the real test will be whether customers continue using the system regularly and whether the growing merchant network can turn QR payments into an everyday habit across the country.
-HIS
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Published by the Editor on behalf of the Observer Ltd. from Globe Printers, 24/A, New Eskaton Road, Ramna, Dhaka.
Editorial, News and Commercial Offices : Aziz Bhaban (2nd floor), 93, Motijheel C/A, Dhaka-1000.
Phone: PABX- 41053001-06; Advertisement: 41053012; 01793317829, 01550707291, E-mail: [email protected], [email protected] Online: email: [email protected] 41053014; 01550707297 Advertisement: 01550707296
