Online payment system
Virtual card launched for apps developers, programmers
Staff Reporter
Bangladesh Bank has complied Bangladesh Association of Software and Information Services (BASIS) demand of online payment system for individual apps developers and programmers, says a press release.
Bangladesh Bank recently directed all banks to issue virtual card which led Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd to launch virtual card for individual apps developers and programmers to facilitate online payments. The virtual card was officially launched through a press conference arranged by BASIS and Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd at The Westin, Dhaka yesterday.
Sayem Ahmed, chairman Of Dutch-Bangla Bank Lt.; KS Tabrez, managing director of Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd and Suny Md. Ashraf khan BASIS director spoke at the conference presided by BASIS President and FBCCI Director Shameem Ahsan.
Shameem Ahsan BASIS president said, to get started with app development, the first step on the path to the App Stores is to register as a developer. Global debit card system is essential to facilitate the payments for App Store registration fees, Domains; and Boot camps and courses offered by different international apps development related organisations. Individual Apps developer and programmers have been facing troubles for not having payment facility in Bangladesh. BASIS has been negotiating with Bangladesh Bank for a long time to take necessary steps regarding the matter.
As a consequence of repeated persuasion from BASIS and ICT Division, Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd. (DBBL) has introduced a special Virtual Debit Card followed by an order from Bangladesh Bank. We hope the initiative will mitigate the hazards that the individual developers and programmers were facing during online international transactions. Youth will be encouraged to be involved in IT related professions.
A few years before, FE Circular No. 23 signed by Md. Abdul Mannan, deputy general manager of Bangladesh Bank was circulated to allow banks issue virtual card. Consequently, Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd. has started this service at all of their branches.
Bangladesh Bank has directed BASIS to verify whether an applicant meets the criteria of being developer or programmer. BASIS will authorize the authentic applicants to be issued the virtual card.
To get this card, applicants will need to show certificate provided during BASIS or ICT Division led programs i.e. mobile app/game/hackathon and apply with properly filled form of Dutch-Bangla Bank Ltd. Initially, BASIS member companies used to get this service, which is now open for individual level applicants as well.
The virtual card has an annual card limit of USD 300 which can be used to pay for games, Software license, mobile and games application development, vendor certification exam fee, domain registration, hosting, cloud service, hackathon and more in different online market places (Windows, Android, iOS, Blackberry, Firefox etc.). Consequently the card will solve the issues regarding international transactions that the developers and programmers were facing for a long time.
