Dhaka, Jan. 21 -- Agent banking comes as a trailblazer in driving financial inclusion in Bangladesh, showing strong business growth, but entrepreneurs feel it is increasingly getting under strain from regulatory and operational challenges.

Starting off over a decade ago to serve unbanked and underbanked segments of the country's population, agent banking has significantly expanded rural banking and remittance services, contributing to progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations for its member-nations with greater goal of balanced global progress.

It is an innovative banking model operated by scheduled banks, using technology to deliver basic financial services to millions of people, particularly i...