¶¶Òõ¾«Æ·

Retail chain shop Shwapno has taken a step in transforming Bangladesh’s shopping experience by launching the self-checkout counters in grocery retail.

This milestone is powered by an in-house developed application, designed and built by Shwapno’s young and dynamic technology team with support from Sunmi, Mastercard and EBL, reflecting the company’s commitment to innovation and customer convenience, said a press release.

This service was initially introduced at Gulshan-1 in Dhaka on Wednesday, with plans for phased expansion across the country.

The inauguration programme was held with the gracious presence of guests and officials, including Sabbir Hasan Nasir, managing director, Shwapno; Syed Mohammad Kamal, country manager, Bangladesh, Mastercard; Rukaia Rafa, product manager, Shwapno; Md Saniul Zadid, country head, Bangladesh Team, MEA, Shanghai Sunmi Technology Group Co Ltd; M Khorshed Anowar, deputy managing director, head of retail and SME banking, Eastern Bank PLC; and Miraz Anik, software developer.

With the self-checkout counters, shoppers can now enjoy a seamless and independent journey, including scan products, bag items and pay instantly using contactless cards or digital wallets without waiting in line.

To celebrate the launch, Mastercard will reward customers with eco-friendly, sustainable shopping bags at Gulshan – 1 outlet, when they make transactions of Tk 1000 or more using any Mastercard at the self-checkout kiosk.

Speaking at the event, Rukaia Rafa, product manager, Shwapno said, ‘It’s an honour to be part of the team that built Bangladesh’s first self-checkout system. This project proves that young Bangladeshi technologists can create innovations on par with any developed country.’

Sabbir Hasan Nasir commented, ‘Shwapno has always been at the forefront of retail innovation in Bangladesh. The launch of self-checkout counters, developed by our brilliant young technology team, is a landmark step in our journey to bring world-class convenience to our customers.’

‘We are proud to be the first in the country to introduce this service, and grateful to Mastercard, Sunmi, and EBL for their support in making this possible,’ he added.

Syed Mohammad Kamal said, ‘Mastercard is delighted to co-power Bangladesh’s first self-checkout experience in grocery retail with Shwapno. This milestone reflects our commitment to advance digital innovation and enhance everyday commerce.’

‘By enabling faster and more seamless payment experiences, we’re elevating convenience for cardholders and supporting Bangladesh’s journey toward a more digitally empowered economy,’ he added.

M Khorshed Anowar stated, ‘We are proud to provide the technology backbone for this pioneering initiative. EBL remains at the forefront of digital banking, and this collaboration is yet another testament to our commitment to delivering modern, frictionless payment solutions.’