7.2% Bangladeshi women using mobile banking through own accounts

At least 7.2 per cent Bangladeshi women are using mobile financial services (MFSs) through their own account, according to the World Bank and GSM Association’s (GSMA) 2022 data.

Besides, 20 per cent women are receiving services directly and indirectly from MFS providers.

Also, according to Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies (BIDS) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) 2021 data, women are not connected to 57.8 per cent MFS services.

The information was disclosed at a seminar on “Gender Dimension of DFS in Bangladesh” organised by Innovation and Development Associates (IDEA) Foundation at the Bangabandhu Military Museum’s Seminar Hall on Sunday.

Kazi M Aminul Islam, chairman of IDEA Foundation, who is also the former chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA), presided over the seminar.

Md Hasanuzzaman Kallol, secretary of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, was the chief guest at the event.

Snigdha Ali, interim senior program officer and Gender Advisor, Bangladesh and Women’s Economic Empowerment Financial Services for the Poor, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, attended the event as a special guest.

Presenting the keynote article, senior researcher of IDEA Foundation Dr Monzur Hossain said DFS was started in early 2010 and has created a revolution in financial inclusion.

He said women’s access to MFS plays a catalytic role in reducing the gap between men and women in financial access. Socially, men in a family may have MFS accounts but the women do not.

MFS is used to pay wages to workers in garment manufacturing (RMG) and other industries.

Also speaking on the occasion, Md Hasanuzzaman said, “The Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs has undertaken various projects in connection with the digital banking system and mobile banking system to build equality between men and women. Some projects have already been launched through which women are able to export products out of the country.”

Snigdha Ali said, “Information obtained from research is being used by several government and private stakeholders to help the policy makers.

“The main objective of this joint initiative is to bring all the women workers from across garments and tea industries as well as household workers under financial inclusion and move forward in building a digitised economy in accordance with the Smart Bangladesh vision.

“There are 9.5 million domestic workers in the country who also need to be brought into the mainstream audience through financial inclusion.”