Bank Asia launches Bangladesh’s first ATM booth for women

Bank Asia has launched Bangladesh’s first ATM booth for women at Sonakanda in Keraniganj, on the outskirt of the capital Dhaka.

According to a press release, the bank said it launched the ATM booth, dedicated to women, with an aim to encourage females’ access to digital transactions and improve financial management.

Mr Adil Chowdhury, President and Managing Director (CC), of Bank Asia inaugurated the ATM booth at the premise of Bank Asia DPO Agent Outlet at Sonakanda on Tuesday.

In his address at the inaugural programme, Mr Adil Chowdhury said that Bank Asia has a commitment to bring more unbanked people into the banking network to help achieve sustainable economic development by boosting financial inclusion across the country.

He also said, “Bank Asia has been working relentlessly to provide services to all segments of society, including rural masses and marginalized people living in the remotest parts of Bangladesh.”

Mr Chowdhury expressed his optimism that the new ATM booth for women would play a pivotal role in encouraging the women segment to digital banking transactions.

Later, the president & managing director inaugurated a Women's Corner inside Sonakanda Agent Outlet.

Mr Mohammad Ziaul Hasan Molla, Deputy Managing Director of Bank Asia; and Mr Jason Lamb, Deputy Director; and Ms Snigdha Ali, Senior Programme Officer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation were present.

"An ATM booth for women is the first of its kind initiative in Bangladesh as well as in the world probably. I never saw it before," Mr Jason Lamb explained.

The press release said the programme turned into a festive mood in the presence of a huge number of female clients and locals.

Bank Asia with support from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation established the Women ATM Booth aiming to facilitate financial inclusion activities by reinforcing women's empowerment in Bangladesh with a two-year grant-based digital financial inclusion project.

Under the same project, three more Women's ATM Booths have started operation from Tuesday at Begum Badrunnesa Govt. Girls' College, Kodomtola and Paris Road City Digital Centre Agent Outlets in Dhaka city to encourage women, clients.

Besides, another six women ATMs will be set up in different places of the country under the project.