Dhaka, March 21 -- Issuance of plastic cards (debit, credit and prepaid) has risen by 142 per cent and the total transaction volume through cards has increased by 166 per cent over the past five-year period, according to Bangladesh Bank (BB) data.

Over the past five years, Bangladesh has witnessed a remarkable transformation in its financial landscape, driven by the rapid expansion of card-based transactions.

The initiative by BB has been successful in promoting a cashless banking system and the continued growth in card usage indicates a positive trend towards a more digitally inclusive financial ecosystem in Bangladesh.

The number of debit cards issued grew by 113 per cent from 18.6 million in January 2020 to 39.6 million by December ...