A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed on 24 April among Local Government Division (LGD), UNDP supported Access to Information (A2I) Programme of the Prime Minister`s Office and One Bank Limited for introducing branchless mobile banking service for rural communities.

According to the MOU, ONE Bank Limited will introduce branchless mobile banking in 156 unions in Rangamati, Khagrachhori and Rajshahi district as pilot project to provide banking facilities to rural communities. The remaining UISCs will be brought under the programme gradually. All banking facilities including opening of bank account, cash withdrawal and depositing of money and receiving remittances will be available through the mobile banking.

National Project Director of A2I Programme Mr. Md. Nazrul Islam Khan, Joint Secretary of Local Government Division Ms. Shamima Nargis and Mr. Farman R. Chowdhury, Managing Director of ONE Bank Limited signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organizationsat the Prime Minister`s Office.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Mr. Md. Nazrul Islam Khan reaffirmed that the government is committed in building `Digital Bangladesh` as charted out in the Vision 2021. "Union Information Service Centers (UISCs) have been set up in 4501 Unions across the country to bring rural people into the fold of banking services for developing their lives and livelihood.

Mr. Farman described the signing of MOU as an epoch making step for providing banking facilities to the rural people to accelerate the pace of building digital Bangladesh.