Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur has announced that Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) services will be introduced very soon at all seaports and airports across the country to facilitate round-the-clock transactions and further streamline import–export trade. He also revealed that Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh’s premier tourist destination, is being developed as the country’s first-ever “cashless district.”
The governor made the remarks on Saturday (December 20) while speaking as the chief guest at a views-exchange meeting titled “Economic Potential of the Chattogram Region and the Role of the Central Bank at the Regional Level”, held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Chattogram.
Dr Mansur said that to implement the vision of a “Cashless Bangladesh successfully,” it is essential to ensure that every citizen has access to a smartphone priced within Tk 6,000–7,000. He also emphasized expanding banking services to the grassroots level by strengthening agent banking, particularly by recruiting more female agents.
Highlighting the economic importance of the Chattogram region, the governor said regional and global connectivity must be enhanced along the lines of Singapore, Dubai, and Hong Kong. “Chattogram is the economic lifeline of Bangladesh,” he noted, adding that the full potential of its seaport, export processing zones (EPZs), and heavy industries cannot be realized without a strong and supportive financial sector. He reaffirmed the central bank’s responsibility to ensure adequate and affordable credit flows to productive sectors.
The governor also mandated the distribution of unused funds from Bangladesh Bank’s refinancing schemes to eligible clients in the region. As part of promoting financial inclusion, he directed every bank to conduct financial literacy training in at least one educational institution and to take initiatives to introduce digital and cashless transactions in schools and colleges.
Md Makbul Hossain, the Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank’s Chattogram Office, chaired the meeting. Guests of honour included Dr Mahmud Abdul Matin Bhuiyan, Vice-Chancellor of Chattogram University of Engineering and Technology (CUET), and Md Khosru Parvez, Executive Director of Bangladesh Bank’s head office. Representatives from chambers of commerce, port and customs authorities, economists, bankers, and other stakeholders attended the event and shared various recommendations.
Cox’s Bazar Life Report
Photo: Courtesy
