Bangla QR transactions cross Tk700cr a week

Digital transactions through Bangla QR are rising rapidly across the country following the introduction of the “One Country, One QR” system, with daily transactions now averaging around Tk120 crore and weekly transactions exceeding Tk700 crore, according to Bangladesh Bank data.
Both the number and value of transactions through Bangla QR have increased significantly in recent months.
At the beginning of July, an average of around 178,000 transactions worth Tk37.33 crore were conducted daily through the system.
By mid-August, the average number of daily transactions had risen to around 303,000, while their value had surged nearly threefold to Tk110.38 crore.
Bangladesh Bank decided to introduce the mandatory “One Country, One QR” system from 1 July this year as part of its efforts to expand digital and cashless transactions.
Following the central bank’s decision, banks and mobile financial service (MFS) providers started integrating their services with Bangla QR instead of using separate QR codes.
As a result, customers can now make payments at a wide range of outlets—from shopping malls and retail stores to small shops and roadside businesses—using a single QR code.
The number of merchants using Bangla QR has also increased sharply, rising from around 1.6 million to more than three million by 21 August.
Bangladesh Bank Executive Director and spokesperson Arif Hossain Khan told BSS that transactions through Bangla QR currently average around Tk120 crore a day, with weekly transactions exceeding Tk700 crore.
“We want this momentum in transactions to continue,” he said.
Bangladesh Bank is also focusing on addressing concerns among small businesses to encourage wider use of Bangla QR.
Arif said some merchants had initially expressed concerns over the merchant discount rate (MDR).
“If a small trader sells a product for Tk100 but receives Tk99, it is natural for him to ask why he should accept one taka less,” he said, adding that increased digital and cashless transactions could help merchants increase their sales.
He said easier cashless payments could encourage customers to make more purchases.
The central bank is also considering providing subsidies to merchants, and transaction growth has accelerated following announcements in this regard, he added.
The use of a single QR code to make payments from accounts maintained with different banks and MFS providers has also reduced hassles for customers.