Written by The Banking Post
Bangladesh Bank has raised the monthly spending ceiling for purchasing digital products and services through direct operator billing, a move aimed at widening access to digital services and supporting the country’s growing digital economy.
Under a circular issued on February 3, mobile subscribers can now spend up to Tk 2,000 a month using their airtime or mobile balance, up from the previous limit of Tk 600. The revised cap will remain in effect for an initial six months, with a permanent guideline expected to follow.
The expanded facility will allow users to pay for a broad range of services, including 33 government services such as citizenship, nationality, death and marriage certificates, orphan certificates and new voter verification. Payments for local and international OTT platforms and other digital content and services will also be covered.
The central bank said the move is intended to promote financial inclusion by enabling small-value digital payments without the need for traditional banking channels.
Mobile operators welcomed the decision, saying it would benefit both consumers and the wider digital ecosystem. The association representing mobile telecom operators said the higher limit would make it easier for subscribers to access digital products and services, adding that a permanent framework is expected soon.
Industry insiders said the revised ceiling could accelerate the uptake of digital services, improve public service delivery and open up new opportunities for digital content providers and service platforms.
