Unveiling its 3rd edition, the Mastercard Presents Bangladesh Fintech Award Powered by Prime Bank PLC honoured 26 exemplary fintech innovations and solutions in 14 distinct categories through a prestigious gala ceremony at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Dhaka on November 8. This year, 14 entries secured Winner accolades and 12 received Honourable Mentions, reflecting the depth, diversity, and ambition of Bangladesh’s fast-growing fintech landscape.
Initiated by Bangladesh Fintech Forum and organised by Bangladesh Brand Forum, the accolade celebrates trailblazing initiatives that continue to drive the nation’s financial technology transformation.
The gala was graced by Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, Governor, Bangladesh Bank, as the Honourable Chief Guest. In his remarks, he stated, “Bangladesh’s fintech sector is stepping into a defining phase of its journey. As digital services advance, innovation must be inclusive, secure, and purpose-driven. The initiatives recognised tonight reflect the leadership and commitment required to build a strong, efficient, and future-ready financial ecosystem.”
The award programme received 301 submissions, which were evaluated through a set of multi-step assessments involving short jury sessions and 4 grand jury sessions conducted by 13 distinguished jurors from the banking and finance industry. Each submission underwent structured screening and expert evaluation to ensure a transparent and unbiased selection process.
Delivering the welcome remarks, Shariful Islam, Founder & Managing Director, Bangladesh Brand Forum; Founder, Bangladesh Innovation Conclave, said, “Bangladesh’s fintech ecosystem holds immense potential. Our goal is to accelerate innovation, strengthen collaboration, and build solutions that truly serve the nation. These recognitions are a testament to the progress we’re making — and a motivation to aim even higher.”
Earlier in the day, the 5th Bangladesh Fintech Summit 2025 set the stage for the evening’s award gala.
Held earlier in the day at the same venue and attended by leading figures from banking, fintech, finance, insurance, technology, investment, regulation, and academia, the summit focused on the theme “Future of Fintech: Digital, Decentralized, Democratize.”
The summit brought together sector leaders to discuss how Bangladesh can strengthen its digital financial services landscape through innovation, policy readiness, and institutional collaboration. The Honourable Chief Guest, Shish Haider Chowdhury, ndc, MCIPS (CS), Secretary, ICT Division, Ministry of Posts, Telecommunication and Information Technology, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, emphasized the need for a coordinated approach to advance fintech infrastructure and build nationwide trust in digital services.
The summit featured 3 Keynote Sessions, 3 Panel Discussions, 2 Insight Sessions, and 1 Case Study, exploring the future of digital banking, AI-driven financial technologies, embedded finance for MSMEs, regulatory modernization, and the next leap in Bangladesh’s fintech evolution. Industry leaders, including top executives from banks, fintech companies, and financial institutions, shared insights on how Bangladesh can accelerate innovation while ensuring resilience and inclusion.
Bangladesh Fintech Forum initiated the Mastercard Presents 5th Bangladesh Fintech Summit and 3rd Bangladesh Fintech Award Powered by Prime Bank PLC. The initiative was organised by Bangladesh Brand Forum. Innovation Partner: Bangladesh Innovation Conclave; Official Carrier Partner: Turkish Airlines; PR Partner: Backpage PR.
