The ticketing service of bdtickets, the premium online ticketing platform of Robi Axiata Limited, is now available through the extensive retail network of over 200 Village Digital Booths (VDBs) of Zaytoon Business Solutions Ltd.
This eliminates the need for locals to travel to district or upazila centres for long-distance bus tickets. Robi’s flagship digital entrepreneur platform r-ventures PLC and Zaytoon collaborated to enhance bus ticketing solutions for long routes in distant villages, according to a press release.
In a recent event at r-ventures' corporate headquarters, Kazi Mahboob Hassan, CEO of r-ventures PLC, and Akber Hossain, Managing Director of Zaytoon, signed the agreement between two parties. The ceremony was graced by Robi MD and CEO Rajeev Sethi and Md Arfan Ali, Founder and Chairman of Zaytoon.
Since its inception in 2022, Zaytoon has established over 200 VDBs across 15 districts, serving 64,000 customers. These VDBs make financial services accessible to unreached communities, contributing significantly to the national financial inclusion strategy.
Now long-route bus tickets are available at these VDBs. It will relieve the locals of traveling to district or upazila levels for bus tickets. This initiative also provides entrepreneurship and job opportunities for local entrepreneurs.
Rajeev Sethi emphasised the strategic importance of this partnership: "At Robi, we are committed to driving digital transformation across Bangladesh. This partnership with Zaytoon and r-ventures is a testament to our dedication to enhancing accessibility and convenience for our customers."
Arfan Ali mentioned, "Our vision has always been to bridge the financial divide in rural Bangladesh. By partnering with Robi and r ventures, we are making essential services like bus ticketing accessible to everyone, regardless of their geographical location.”
bdtickets has fostered travel and entertainment services, from bus bookings to hotel reservations. The platform ensures customers can purchase tickets anytime, anywhere, and offers secure payment processing through multiple channels.
From r-ventures, the distinguished representatives included Muntasir Ahmed, Head of Products and Brands; Syed Iftekhar Amin, Head of Deep Analytics; Md Tanvir Hossain, Head of Partnerships and Integration; Ahnaf Tazwar, Head of Tech; and Md Ismail Hossain, Head of HR.
Representing Zaytoon Business Solutions were Shamim Ara Khanom, Director; Sabit Israr, Director; Md Ariful Mazid, Consultant, Business and Product; and Md Khademul Islam, Head of Business and In-Charge, Agent Banking Division.
