BB orders instant Bangla QR payments

Bangladesh Bank (BB) has ordered banks and other payment service providers to instantly credit Bangla QR payments to merchant accounts from 1 October, aiming to make digital transactions faster and more convenient.
Under the new directive, all payments made through Bangla QR must be credited immediately to the respective merchant accounts. 
The central bank said the move was intended to encourage more merchants to accept cashless payments and expand the use of digital transactions.
BB has also directed banks, mobile financial service (MFS) providers and payment service providers (PSPs) to make Bangla QR more easily accessible through their mobile applications.
The Bangla QR payment icon must be displayed at the bottom-centre of the app’s home page, within easy reach of users’ thumbs.
By 31 October, service providers must also allow customers to make payments by uploading QR-code images, in addition to scanning QR codes.
They have also been instructed to enable all savings and current account holders, including cardholders, to make Bangla QR payments through their mobile apps by the same deadline.
Under the previous rules, financial institutions providing Bangla QR services were allowed to determine the timeframe for crediting transaction proceeds to merchants other than small and marginal businesses, taking into account customer relationships and other relevant risks.
Those provisions will be repealed from 1 October .
The latest instructions, which also apply to payment system operators (PSOs) where applicable, were issued under Section 18(2) of the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2024.
Bangla QR is Bangladesh’s interoperable QR-based payment system, which allows customers to make digital payments by scanning a single standardised QR code using participating banks’ and financial service providers’ apps.
The system has expanded rapidly in recent years as financial institutions have increased merchant coverage and integrated QR payments into their mobile applications.
According to Bangladesh Bank data, around 963,000 merchants were covered by Bangla QR in 2025, with 46 banks, seven MFS providers and four PSPs participating in the system. 
Nearly 6.6 million transactions worth around Tk2,700 crore were made through Bangla QR during the year.
Despite the rapid expansion, merchant adoption has faced challenges, including concerns over transaction charges and taxation, as well as a preference among some businesses for cash because of their need for immediate access to funds.
The latest requirement for instant credit to merchant accounts is aimed at addressing delays in receiving transaction proceeds, one of the operational concerns surrounding digital payments.