FE Report

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Atiur Rahman said all banks will come under National Payments Switch (NPS) by January to ensure smooth financial transaction through credit and debit cards, mobile phone and internet.

"NPS will accelerate the transaction with cost minimizing and secure," said the BB governor at an inauguration programme on 'e-commerce week' at a city hotel Saturday.

He also mentioned that Bangladesh Electronic Fund Transfer Network (BEFTN) has brought dramatic change in payment and clearing system.

Recent initiatives taken by the central bank will lead to promote e-commerce in the country, said BB Governor.

Bangladesh Bank and Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) are jointly organizing the programme from Saturday (January 5) to 12 to promote the e-business thanks to the development of information and communication technology.

Brac Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank and SSL Commerz are the core partners of the event.

A total of 15 ICT companies are taking part in the event.

Dasgupta Asim Kumar, Executive director of the BB, said the central bank is now working for establishing most modern payment system- 'Real Time gross Settlement (RTGS)'.

BASIS president Fahim Mashroor who is also managing director and CEO of BD Jobs, said in the era of the ICT, e-commerce has immense importance for diversified business and financial transaction.

The event with the slogan of 'Shop online: Anything Anytime" will showcase the benefits of e-commerce that easy people`s lives by saving both time and money.

Topic based seminar, roundtable and exhibition will be focused in the week according to the organisers.

Roundtable on 'E-commerce in Bangladesh: How Ready are We?' and 'Google Business Group on e-Commerce' will take place at the Daily Star and the BASIS auditorium on January 6.

Two-daylong exhibition on e-commerce will be held at the TSC, Dhaka University from January 6 to 7 and January 11 to 12 at the Bashundhara City Mall.

Mr Fahim said they have especial plan to create awareness among the young people who are willing to online base work.

Head of Cards of Brac Bank Toufiq Hasan hoped that recent initiative of central bank will promote e-business and people will be encouraged for online shopping.

He mentioned that almost 2 million people are using master, visa and nexus cards.