Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder on Monday (March 11, 2024) said that around 200 mobile financial services (MFS) accounts are closing each day due to their Hundi connection. The central bank is checking rigorously trade transactions through LC and mobile financial services to prevent money laundering activities by any means, he said. The governor said this in the opening ceremony of the money laundering prevention workshop held at the head office of the Criminal Investigation (CID), Bangladesh Police in the capital on Monday. Rauf highlighted the steps taken to prevent money laundering since his joining the Central Bank as Governor. He said, “When I joined Bangladesh Bank in 2022, there was a severe crisis of foreign exchange in the country. At that time took the first step to stop over-invoicing.” Read more: Inflation, currency prime focus of BB’s next monetary policy Again, money laundering occurs despite keeping the profit of export products abroad. Initiatives are also taken to prevent that, he mentioned. The governor expressed the strong stand of the central bank on banning hundi. He said that expatriates may send Tk500 to their family in the country, then he gives it to someone he knows abroad and asks him to give it to his family in the country. That money remains abroad. In contrast, a representative in Bangladesh paid the amount. As earlier payment was made through home delivery, now it is done through MFS. Read more: Entry-level women's recruitment doubles in banking sector, but board representation still lagging Around 200 such accounts are being closed every day. Later some accounts were opened again with guarantees, permanent action was taken against some of them, he said. Highlighting the context of the campaign against money changers, the governor said that USD $45 to $50 million transactions are done through money changers in the country every year. About $270 billion in transitions are made in the banking channel. But despite a small fraction of transactions, when money changers hiked the dollar rate, many expatriates tried to hold on to remittances. This is how the dollar crisis was created, Rouf pointed out. “That is why the campaign against money changers is ongoing. Also, avoid dealing in cryptocurrencies. It is completely illegal in our country,” said the BB Governor. CID Chief and Additional IGP Muhammad Ali Mia in the chair, head of Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) Md. Masud Biswas also spoke at the function. Read more: Bangladesh received $2.16 billion remittances in February, highest in fiscal

Mobile financial services (MFS) provider has installed a large service booth at this year's Bishwa Ijtema, billed as the second largest congregation of Muslims after Hajj. Anyone can open Nagad Islamic accounts, and avail of cash-in, cash-out and other services at the booth. Islamic accounts of Nagad are fully managed under the supervision of a shariah supervisory committee. Read more: Nagad to feature in Philip Kotler's book 'Essentials of Modern Marketing' "Through Nagad Islamic MFS accounts, customers can easily manage their funds in an interest-free and Shariah-compliant manner, maintaining their religious values and principles," Nagad said Thursday. "Customers can easily convert their regular Nagad accounts into Islamic accounts. For that, they need to go to the My Nagad option in the Nagad app and click Account Type and then the running app will be changed to an Islamic account," it added. A customer will know that his account has been successfully converted to an Islamic account only when his or her Nagad app turns green. Read More: GMP issues traffic directives to reduce sufferings of Ijtema devotees The first phase of the three-day Biswa Ijtema is set to begin Friday (January 13, 2023) morning on the bank of the River Turag in Gazipur's Tongi.

Mobile financial services (MFS) provider Trust Axiata Pay (Tap) and Mutual Trust Bank (MTB) have brought a DPS facility for their customers to facilitate general and Shariah-based Islamic savings. Tap and MTB launched the service in Dhaka's Gulshan Wednesday (December 22, 2022). Tap customers will not have to stand in a queue or visit a bank to make payment for their DPS service. Anyone can open and operate an account through the tap app. Through tap, a certain amount of money every month would be deposited automatically into the designated bank account. For savings, both general and Islamic DPS can be opened. By accessing the tap app, anyone can avail of the DPS facility by opening an account and providing information about how much money they will pay per month and certain months. Read more: Towards a cashless society: MFS monthly transactions cross Tk 1.11 lakh crore The user will also have to provide information about which date of the month the money will be deducted from their tap account. Dewan Nazmul Hasan, chief executive officer of tap, and Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and chief executive officer of MTB, were present at the launching ceremony. Nazmul said: "There is no substitute for savings services for future financial benefits. We are hopeful that, as a result of this joint venture of Mutual Trust Bank and tap, customers will be interested in saving." Mahbubur said: "There is no alternative to savings considering the financial security and planning for the future. Mutual Trust Bank and tap have taken the initiative of DPS to encourage customers to save." Read more: MTB launches co-branded credit cards for GP customers

Mobile financial services (MFS) provider Nagad has brought a cashback offer of Tk50 on "add money" from banks. The offer will be valid till October 31 for the users of Nagad app and the online banking or mobile app of the partner banks, according to a media statement. Nagad customers will get Tk50 cashback for adding Tk3,000 to their accounts from banks. However, the customers of Nagad Islamic will get Tk70 cashback for adding the same amount from the Islamic Bank Bangladesh. Read Mastercard credit card bill payment: Nagad offers up to Tk 400 cashback When adding money to their wallet, Nagad customers will receive instant cashback from Trust Bank, City Bank, Community Bank, First Security Islamic Bank, Mutual Trust Bank, Prime Bank, Premier Bank, AB Bank, NRBC Bank, Dhaka Bank, Social Islamic Bank, IFIC Bank, National Bank, Exim Bank, Midland Bank, Standard Bank, Union Bank, Shahjalal Islamic Bank, NRB Bank, Rajshahi Krisish Unnyan Bank, Meghna Bank, Bangladesh Development Bank, Bengal Commercial Bank, South Bangla Agriculture Bank, Islamic Bank Bangladesh, Southeast Bank, and Mercantile Bank. A customer can avail of Nagad's Tk50 cashback offer on 'add money' from banks only once during the campaign. Read Mobile recharge: Nagad offers up to Tk1,000 cashback

Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have decided to continue its ongoing driv against illegal money changers and mobile financial services in the capital. The decision was taken at a meeting between the BFIU, a government agency responsible for investigating money laundering, suspicious transactions, and cash transaction reports, and the CID, a specialized unit of Bangladesh Police, held at the CID headquarters in the city on Wednesday. The meeting was organised as part of its initiative to control the hike in the US dollars’ price that has already created an artificial crisis of dollars in the open market. During the meeting both the BFIU and the CID firmly expressed to work jointly. Read: BFIU sought illegal money information from Swiss banks repeatedly: BB Chaired by CID chief Additional IGP Muhammad Ali Mia, the meeting discussed controlling the present rise in dollar price, increasing remittance flow and various issues of money laundering. Meeting sources said discussions were held for speedy settlement of money laundering cases, prevention of sending remittances illegally from abroad, prevention of hundi or money laundering from the country. Head of the BFIU Masud Biswas, its Additional Director Masud Rana and senior officials of CID were present at  the view exchange meeting.

Mobile financial services provider Nagad has brought a cashback offer of up to Tk 400 on Mastercard credit card bill payment. To avail themselves of the offer, the consumers will have to save their Bangladesh Bank-approved Mastercard credit cards in the Nagad app, according to a media statement. Cardholders can pay their bills through the "Bill Pay" option of Nagad by clicking on the "Credit Card Bill" payment option. They will get 1.5 percent cashback on two cycles or up to a maximum of Tk 400. Read 4 Mastercard, Visa cards fraud ring members held The cashback will be disbursed in two cycles. The first cycle, which started on September 21, will continue till October 20. A 1.5 percent or a maximum of Tk 200 cashback can be availed if one saves or pays the bill from a newly saved Mastercard credit card. Later, the second cycle will run from October 21 to November 30, 2022. During this time, if a customer pays his bill from a Mastercard credit card, he will get 1.5 percent cashback or a maximum of Tk 200. Read Nagad launches service for paying Mastercard Credit Card Bill A consumer can get cashback only once from one bank card in a cycle. But they will get this benefit again in the new cycle. Customers can avail of this facility from multiple banks' Mastercard cards in the same cycle. And in that case, the consumer will get a maximum cashback of Tk 200. Nagad Chief Business Officer Sheikh Aminur Rahman said: "Paying Mastercard credit card bills through Nagad will be a hassle-free process for the consumers. We hope consumers will no longer have to wait in queues at the banks to pay their bills." Read Cellfin launches Mastercard dual currency prepaid card

Mobile financial services (MFS) provider Nagad has recognised its top 28 distributor sales officers (DSOs) for their achievements during a two-month campaign. The "Aurjon O Bijoyullash" was launched in February 2022 to encourage sustainable growth by boosting the engagement of Nagad entrepreneurs. Nagad recognised DSOs from different regions during a recent event at a city hotel, a media statement said Sunday. Nagad Managing Director Tanvir A Mishuk handed over the awards and crests to them. Read: Islami Bank recognised for digital services Tanvir said: "In just three years, Nagad has acquired 6.5 crore customers and the individuals who have contributed the most to this achievement are our regional employees." "Today, Nagad has established itself as one of the best MFS providers in the country – as a result of their unwavering efforts. I am honoured to recognise their work." Nagad executive directors Niaz Morshed Elite, Md Shafayet Alam, Maruful Islam Jhalak and Mohammad Aminul Haque were also present at the "Aurjon O Bijoyullash" campaign's award-giving ceremony. Read BURO partners with Nagad for easier savings, instalment payments

Mobile financial services (MFS) provider Trust Axiata Pay (Tap) and Trust Bank have started the add money service to make financial transactions easy and affordable. Tap customers can now add money from their Trust Bank accounts, according to a media statement. Read: Fintech MFS: Best Mobile Financial Services in Bangladesh Dewan Nazmul Hasan, chief executive officer of Tap, said: "Tap customers can add money to their tap wallets from Trust Bank. This process will help them save their time and money." "Tap customers can add Tk50,000 in a day and Tk3 lakh in a month from their bank accounts," he added. Read Tap offers up to Tk60 cashback on GP bundle purchase

Mobile financial services (MFS) provider Nagad is turning to solar energy to ease the strain on the nation's electric grid. The MFS has committed to using solar energy as much as possible in all areas of its daily operations, including advertisements, according to a media statement. Nagad recently converted its billboards installed for promoting campaigns into solar-powered billboards. In line with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, this drive is anticipated to encourage the usage of renewable energy. Read: MFS sector led financial transactions during Covid-19 pandemic: Nagad MD The MFS will gradually transform all its billboards into solar-powered ones. Sheikh Aminur Rahman, Chief Marketing Officer of Nagad, said, "We installed solar-powered billboards which will be operated using only natural energy. Gradually a significant number of Nagad's operations will be powered by pollution-free, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solar energy."

Global payments service provider Visa has conferred mobile financial services provider (MFS) Nagad with the "Excellence in Fintech Product Innovation 2022" award for its easily accessible payment solutions and for enabling users to transfer money from their mobile wallets to any Visa card. This was the first time Visa awarded the title to an MFS in Bangladesh. Rahel Ahmed, chief executive officer of Nagad, received the award at the "Visa Leadership Conclave-Digital Payments for Smart Bangladesh 2022" recently held at a city hotel. Read: Technical, madrasa students to get stipends through Nagad "We want to make people's lives easier and this Visa award will inspire us to come up with more such solutions," he added. "We are delighted to recognise Nagad's contribution through the 'Excellence in Fintech Product Innovation 2022' award," Soumya Basu, Visa country manager for Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan, said. Nagad and Visa jointly pioneered a solution a few months ago that allows consumers to use Nagad to transfer funds directly from their wallet to any bank account linked to a Visa card, he said. Read Nagad offers up to 30% cashback and discount on Eid shopping