Business Desk :
Book lovers planning to buy books at the month long ‘Ekushey book fair’ can purchase their books through bKash. Payment through bKash will be accepted by 77 leading publishing houses at the book fair, says a press release.
This is for the first time in the history of ‘Ekushey book fair’ where books can be purchased through mobile payment, an alternative to cash.
“This is going to be a unique experience for the visitors at the fair as it will give them opportunities for alternative payment option outside cash,” said Kamal Quadir, Chief Executive Officer of bKash.
If a customer has some shortage of money he or she would be able to receive from others thorough his/her bKash account and pay for the books he or she wants to buy.
Mobile financial service is gaining momentum in Bangladesh. According to the Bangladesh Bank data, the number of mobile banking customers reached to 1.31 crore as of December 31, 2013.
Around 85 percent mobile banking customers belong to bKash, a joint venture of BRAC Bank, Money in Motion-a US based company and World Bank’s private sector investment arm International Finance Corporation.
