A total of six cattle markets under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) will accept digital payment this Eid-ul-Azha.
Digital payment booths will be set up in cattle markets of Gabtoli, Bosila, Aftabnagar, Bhatara, Kawla and Uttara sector 17 from July 1 to July 12 as part of Bangladesh Bank's pilot project 'Smart Bangladesh, Smart Hat'.
Rural Development and Co-operative Division Minister Tazul Islam inaugurated the project at Sheraton Hotel in Dhaka’s Banani on Wednesday.
Speaking as the chief guest, the minister said, “We believe digital transactions will gradually take hold on all parts of the country and not just the cattle markets of Dhaka.”
Before Eid-ul-Azha, as cash transactions increase centring the cattle markets, so does the likelihood of theft, counterfeit currency, and other mishaps that cause major loss to both buyers and sellers.
In order to solve all these problems arising in the sacrificial cattle markets and to facilitate the payment process for the people, Bangladesh Bank has launched Smart Bangladesh, Smart Haat project.
Bangladesh Bank and DNCC are working together to make the project a success in correlation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s vision of Smart Bangladesh 2041.
In the event, DNCC Mayor Md Atiqul Islam said, “We want to give a smart city, smart Bangladesh, smart DNCC. And we are working to build a smart Dhaka.”
“DNCC is already conducting various activities digitally and gradually digital activities will increase,” he added.
The concerned tenants of the six cattle markets have also agreed on the need for such public welfare activities and are providing all possible assistance in this project.
Bank Asia, BRAC Bank, Mutual Trust Bank, Eastern Bank, Islami Bank Bangladesh and The City Bank are working to set up and operate digital payment booths in the markets.
Alongside this bKash and Islami Bank MCash are working together as mobile financial services providers.
Under this project, buyers will be able to pay the seller through POS via debit or credit card, QR Code, MFS and Agent Banking without any excess charge from July 1 to July 12.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock and the Bangladesh Dairy Farmers Association are also cooperating in this regard.
