Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that the government has taken concrete steps to introduce PayPal in Bangladesh, aiming to facilitate smoother digital transactions and support the country’s growing ICT sector.
Speaking during a question-answer session in Parliament on Wednesday, the Prime Minister said a dedicated committee has been formed to accelerate the process. The committee will also oversee the effective functioning of hi-tech parks and ICT infrastructure alongside preparing the groundwork for PayPal’s entry.
According to a gazette notification issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on 2 March, the committee is headed by Rehan Asif Asad, adviser to the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology. Its members include the governor of Bangladesh Bank, the chairman of Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, the chairman of National Board of Revenue, and other senior officials.
PayPal has shown interest in entering the Bangladeshi market on several occasions. The latest indication came during discussions at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting held in Davos, Switzerland. At that time, Lutfey Siddiqi, special envoy on international affairs to the interim government, said the company had expressed willingness “in principle” to operate in Bangladesh, though the process may take time.
Earlier, former Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H Mansur had also indicated that efforts were underway to bring PayPal into the country, particularly to support freelancers, e-commerce businesses and the IT industry.
In December, a delegation from PayPal’s South Asia team, based in Singapore, visited Bangladesh and held meetings with local freelancers and ICT officials to explore potential opportunities.
PayPal, currently operating in over 200 countries, is a widely used digital payment platform that enables users to send and receive money, make online purchases, and conduct international transactions securely. Its introduction is expected to significantly benefit Bangladesh’s growing digital economy and freelance workforce.
