Bangladesh Bank has issued a new directive mandating all scheduled banks, Mobile Financial Services (MFS), Payment Service Providers (PSP), and Payment Service Operators (PSO) to prominently display the ‘Bangla QR’ payment option on the homepages of their respective mobile applications.
The central bank issued the official circular on Saturday with the primary objective of reducing the reliance on physical cash and accelerating the expansion of digital transactions across the nation. The directive has been formally dispatched to the chief executives of all scheduled banks and financial institutions in the country for immediate implementation.
Key Operational Directives and Merchant Integration
According to the circular, financial institutions and MFS providers are required to actively increase customer registration on their digital applications. The user interfaces of these mobile applications must be designed in a manner ensuring that the Bangla QR option remains highly visible, allowing users to effortlessly locate and utilize the feature for transactions.
Furthermore, the central bank has made it compulsory for all retail merchants possessing a valid trade license to be integrated into the Bangla QR payment channel. To streamline operations and maintain a dedicated focus on this initiative, Bangladesh Bank has ordered the restructuring of the previously established ‘Cashless Bangladesh Unit’, officially renaming it the ‘Bangla QR Implementation Unit’.
Implementation Timelines and Action Plans
The central bank has outlined specific deadlines for financial institutions to ensure compliance with the new digital payment framework:
| Objective / Requirement | Deadline | Destination / Status |
| Submission of a detailed action plan for customer registration and merchant onboarding | 3 June 2026 | Payment Systems Department, Bangladesh Bank |
| Execution of the specific action plan to increase registrations and onboard new merchants | 31 July 2026 | Target Completion Date |
| Ensured deployment of a unified single QR code across all merchant points | 30 June 2026 | Unchanged Existing Deadline |
To ensure the smooth execution of these digital payment initiatives at the grassroots level, financial institutions have been instructed to designate a specific officer at every bank branch. This individual will serve as the dedicated ‘Bangla QR Branding Officer’ to oversee and promote the system locally. Meanwhile, the central bank confirmed that the previously established deadline of 30 June remains unchanged for ensuring a single, unified QR code across all merchant points nationwide.