Mastercard and The Institute of Cost and Management Accountants of Bangladesh (ICMAB) jointly hosted the ‘Cashless Bangladesh Summit 2025’ under the theme ‘The Intersection of Finance and Technology’ at the Pan Pacific Hotel in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The summit brought together key stakeholders from the banking and fintech sectors, regulatory authorities, and policymakers to explore the possibilities, challenges, and future roadmap for building a cashless economy.
The summit was attended by Ahsan H Mansur, governor of Bangladesh Bank as chief guest, and Shish Haider Chowdhury, secretary, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division, as special guest.
The summit featured insightful discussions, including an opening session on ’The Role of Fintech in Building a Cashless Economy ‘, a keynote by M Masrur Reaz, chairman and CEO of Policy Exchange Bangladesh, and a panel discussing with Md Sharafat Ullah Khan, director, Payment Systems Department, Bangladesh Bank; Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank PLC; Ali Ahmmed, chief commercial officer of bKash Limited; Zakia Sultana, director, Bangladesh, Mastercard, and Adnan Imtiaz Halim, founder and group CEO of Sheba Platform.
The panel deliberated fintech’s role in expanding inclusion, driving collaboration, and enabling a strong and seamless cashless economy.
The final session of the summit featured a keynote by Debapriya Bhattacharya, distinguished fellow at CPD and a discussion, on ‘Regulatory Reforms and Policy Roadmap for a Cashless Bangladesh’ and a panel discussion with Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder, secretary, Finance Division; Md Abdur Rahman Khan, secretary of the Internal Resources Division and chairman of NBR; Md Habibur Rahman, deputy governor of Bangladesh Bank; Mashrur Arefin, managing director and CEO of City Bank PLC and chairman of The Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB), and Anita Ghazi Rahman, founder and managing partner of The Legal Circle.
The session underscored the importance of progressive reforms, regulatory sandboxes, and supporting tax frameworks to balance innovation with consumer protection, laying the foundation for Bangladesh to strengthen its digital finance ecosystem and position itself as a regional leader in cashless innovation.
Mahtab Uddin Ahmed, president, ICMAB, said, ‘Bangladesh is at a critical juncture in its financial evolution. The shift to a cashless economy is no longer a distant goal but an immediate necessity. This summit has brought together the right stakeholders to act on creating a digital-first financial system that promotes transparency, security, and inclusion.’
Syed Mohammad Kamal, country manager, Bangladesh, Mastercard, said, ‘A cashless society drives innovation, enhances efficiency, and expands financial access across all sectors and communities. Today’s dialogues mark a significant step in shaping a future-ready, inclusive Bangladesh.’
