For the past seven years, Mahmudul Hasan Nayeem has relied on his bKash merchant account to process digital payments at ‘Nayeem Collection’, his shop in the bustling Kapasia Bazar of Gazipur.

The interoperable Bangla QR standard is reshaping retail payments, reducing massive cash management overheads for commercial banks.

Bangla QR serves as a practical bridge between traditional cash transactions and formal credit.

For decades, cash has been the backbone of Bangladesh’s economy. From roadside tea stalls and neighbourhood grocery shops to wholesale markets and public transport, physical currency has remained the preferred mode of payment.