Bangla QR made mandatory for retail business licences
The LGD said the move followed a communication from Bangladesh Bank.
The Local Government Division (LGD) has asked city corporations, municipalities and district administrations to take steps to make transactions through Bangla QR mandatory for retail business establishments and merchants as a condition for issuing and renewing licences.
In a letter issued on 9 September, the LGD said the move followed a communication from Bangladesh Bank. The measure is aimed at helping the government achieve its targets for financial inclusion and expanding digital payments, according to the letter.
The LGD requested the relevant authorities to take necessary steps to ensure proper implementation of the requirement. The letter was signed by Jiamat Rahman, deputy secretary of the LGD's Administration-1 branch.
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The LGD addressed the letter to chief executive officers of all city corporations, administrators of all municipalities and district administrators, with a request to issue necessary instructions to union parishads under their respective districts.
Earlier, Bangladesh Bank made Bangla QR mandatory as the standard QR payment system from 1 July, replacing other QR codes at merchant points.
Following the move, the number of merchants accepting Bangla QR rose from around 16 lakh on 1 July to more than 30 lakh by late August.
During the eight weeks from 28 June to 22 August, Bangla QR transactions totalled Tk3,578.74 crore, with average daily transactions rising from 1.78 lakh at the beginning of July to 3.03 lakh by the final week.
