Bangla QR code usage to be mandatory from 1 July

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has announced that
the use of the standardised interoperable Quick Response (QR) code, known as
"Bangla QR", will become mandatory nationwide from 1 July 2026 as
part of efforts to reduce cash transactions and accelerate the transition to a
cashless economy.
BB Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar made the
announcement while inaugurating the "Bangla QR Transaction Campaign"
at the central bank headquarters in Motijheel today (25 June).
"The initiative to launch Bangla QR
has been taken to build a cashless society by reducing cash transactions,"
Nurun Nahar said, adding that the platform would enable customers to pay exact
bill amounts more conveniently and securely.
Deputy Governor Habibur Rahman said wider adoption of digital payments would
help reduce undocumented economic activities by creating transaction records across
digital channels.
"The informal footprint of the
economy will gradually shrink as more transactions move to digital
platforms," he said, adding that greater financial inclusion and
formalisation could support economic growth and strengthen macroeconomic
stability.
He urged banks and payment service
operators to integrate Bangla QR into their mobile applications to expand
access to digital financial services.
Deputy Governor Kabir Ahmed said increased
digital transactions would improve transparency, boost the tax-to-GDP ratio and
strengthen anti-money laundering efforts.
He also announced that a fully
interoperable Instant Payment System (IPS) is expected to be launched next
year, enabling instant transfers between bank accounts and mobile financial service
wallets.
According to the central bank, the
campaign aims to demonstrate the effectiveness of cashless transactions and
encourage wider adoption of digital payments. Major retailers and consumer
brands participated in the event, where central bank officials used Bangla QR
codes to make purchases and pay utility bills.
















