5th Bangladesh FinTech Summit Held Focusing on Innovation, Policy, and Collaboration

The 5th Bangladesh FinTech Summit, centered on innovation, policy, and collaboration, was held on Saturday, November 8, at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel in Dhaka. The event was organized with the support of Mastercard and hosted by Prime Bank PLC. The full-day summit brought together experts from banking, financial services, fintech, technology, investment, regulatory authorities, startup entrepreneurs, researchers, policymakers, and academia.

Organized by the Bangladesh FinTech Forum, this year’s theme was “Future of FinTech: Digital, Decentralized, Democratized.” Discussions throughout the day focused on modernizing and securing the digital financial sector, promoting innovation, and creating a roadmap to prepare the country’s fintech ecosystem for the future.

The chief guest of the summit was Shish Haider Chowdhury, NDC, MCIIPS (CS), Secretary, Information and Communication Technology Division, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications, and Information Technology, Government of Bangladesh.

He stated, “To build a strong and inclusive fintech sector, we must encourage innovative efforts, establish proper policy frameworks, and strengthen trust in the financial sector. With coordinated efforts and a clear vision, Bangladesh can progress confidently and strengthen its position in the global digital economy.”

In his welcome remarks, Shariful Islam, Founder & Managing Director of Bangladesh Brand Forum and Founder of Bangladesh Innovation Conclave, said, “Our fintech sector is growing rapidly. What is now required is coordination, long-term planning, and a collaborative mindset. This will allow the sector to capitalize on future opportunities.”

The summit included three keynote sessions, three panel discussions, two insight sessions, and one case study session. The discussions emphasized fintech policy, emerging technologies, market demand, security, organizational capacity, and financial inclusion.

Keynote speakers included Osman Ershad Fayez, Additional Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer, Eastern Bank PLC; Sheikh Aminur Rahman, CEO, Prime Bank FinTech Limited; and Sopanendu Muhanti, Group CEO, Global Finance and Technology Network, Advisor, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Government of Singapore.

Mr. Fayez highlighted Bangladesh’s fintech ecosystem, noting that while the country has achieved significant fintech inclusion, sustainable growth requires moving beyond digitization to generate funding through credit, savings, insurance, and wealth tools. Funding remains a challenge for fintech startups, but structured collaboration models like Singapore’s APAC platform could unlock new avenues for sustainable financing. Innovations such as micro-savings, starter credit, and gamified finance can engage younger generations and reduce intergenerational gaps. Centralized identity-based payment systems enhance cross-bank connectivity and reduce transaction friction.

He also emphasized that AI-driven credit scoring, unified KYC portals, and robust cyber governance can expand SME lending, reduce intermediaries, and play a crucial role in transforming Bangladesh into a trillion-dollar economy by 2030.

Experts discussed global trends in digital finance, Bangladesh’s fintech potential, and strategies for sustainable growth based on international experiences. Other sessions addressed digital banking models, AI-powered financial technology, connected fintech solutions for SMEs, algorithm-driven finance, and the need for policy reforms.

Participants included Said Mohammad Kamal, Country Manager, Mastercard Bangladesh; Said Mahbubur Rahman, MD & CEO, Mutual Trust Bank PLC; Mashrur Arefin, MD & CEO, City Bank PLC; Chairman, Association of Bankers Bangladesh; Ali Reza Iftekhar, MD, Eastern Bank PLC; Farzana Chowdhury, MD & CEO, Green Delta Insurance PLC; Gitank Dutta, Director – Financial Institutions, Infinigent Consulting; Sajjad Haider Chowdhury, Deputy MD & CIO, Prime Bank PLC; Mohammad Ali, MD & CEO, Pubali Bank PLC; Mohammad Mamdudur Rashed, MD & CEO, United Commercial Bank PLC, among others.

The 5th Bangladesh FinTech Summit, hosted by Prime Bank PLC with support from Mastercard, was organized by the Bangladesh FinTech Forum. Organizer: Bangladesh Brand Forum; Innovation Partner: Bangladesh Innovation Conclave; Official Carrier Partner: Turkish Airlines; PR Partner: Backpage PR.