A total of 26 organisations in Bangladesh on Saturday were given Mastercard Excellence Award 2024 in recognition of their contribution to financial services in furthering innovation and inclusion.
The sixth edition of the awards were handed over in 18 categories at an awards ceremony at a city hotel on Saturday evening with this year鈥檚 theme 鈥楲eading by Resilience鈥�
Evercare Hospital, Meena Bazar, RFL Best Buy and Transcom Electronics won awards in Excellence in Mastercard Business (Merchant POS) category, Grameen Phone, Share Trip Ltd and SSL Commerz in Excellence in Mastercard Business (Merchant Online) category, Dhaka Bank PLC, Eastern Bank PLC, Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC, Mutual Trust Bank, Lankabangla Finance PLC and Southeast Bank PLC Excellence in Mastercard Business (Innovation) 2023-24 category.
bKash Ltd聽 in Excellence in the Mastercard Digital Business 2023-24 category, Bank Asia PLC in Excellence in Mastercard Business (Affluent) 2023-24 category, AB Bank PLC in Excellence in Mastercard Business (Financial Inclusion) category, AB Bank PLC, Al Arafah Islami Bank PLC, National Bank PLC and Prime Bank PLC in Excellence in Mastercard Debit Business (Domestic) 2023-24 category and National Bank, Pubali Bank, The City Bank,聽 Brac Bank, Dhaka Bank, Eastern Bank,聽 Southeast Bank, Brac Bank, Mutual Trust Bank,聽 United Commercial Bank, Islami Bank Bangladesh, Al Arafah Islami Bank, Dutch Bangla Bank, Brac Bank, Mutual Trust Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, The City Bank, United Commercial Bank, Eastern Bank, United Commercial Bank won awards in different other categories.
Addressing the event as chief guest, Bangladesh Bank governor Ahsan H Mansur claimed that there was no crisis in the country鈥檚 financial sectors at this moment.
鈥榃e are not facing any finacial crisis. The current condition of the country鈥檚 financial sector can be resolved. So, we will not have to face situation like Sri Lanka and other countries. We have already improved balance of payments and stable the country鈥檚 forex reserve and foreign currency exchange rates,鈥� said the governor.
He said that the interim government had lifted all kinds of bans on opening letters of credit.
He also said that the country had enough foreign currency reserves for importing essential commodities.
鈥榃e cannot reform the country鈥檚 financial sectors without reforming the country鈥檚 politics. The interim government could not resolve everything in a short period. But we have started the process,鈥� Ahsan said.
He said that there was a liquidity shortage in some banks but it would be curbed as Bangladesh Bank had taken several initiatives to overcome these obstacles.
He said that the interim government did not receive any foreign currency, including the World Bank and International Monetary Fund after it had assumed power.
In his welcome speech, Mastercard Bangladesh country manager Syed Mohammad Kamal Hossain said that Mastercard remained committed to driving digital innovations and fostering inclusive growth in the country.
鈥楾he company is pleased to collaborate with leading banks, fintechs and merchants as partners, who continue to play crucial roles in our combined vision of creating a robust financial ecosystem,鈥� he added.
He said that through the excellence awards, Mastercard Bangladesh was proud to celebrate these organisations for their outstanding contributions and achievements, which have powered the advancement of digital finance in Bangladesh.
United States Embassy in Dhaka acting deputy cheif of mission Trishta Maula was present as guest of honour.
Chief executive officers and managing directors of the Banks along with others were present at the ceremony.