The Department of Business Administration in Finance & Banking at the Faculty of Business Studies (FBS), Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP), organized a seminar titled "Digitized Payment Ecosystem in Bangladesh: Opportunities and Risks" on May 16, 2024, at the Bijoy Auditorium in BUP, Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka. The seminar aimed to provide students and scholars with a deep understanding of Bangladesh's digitized payment ecosystem, highlighting its opportunities and inherent risks.

Brigadier General Md Saadat Hossain, ndc, psc, Dean of the Faculty of Business Studies at BUP, graced the seminar as the chief guest. The event featured esteemed keynote speakers Muhommad Badiuzzaman Dider, Director (Administration) of Bangladesh Bank (Chattogram office), and Mohammad Ilmul Haque, Co-Founder of Sheba Platform and Managing Director of Sheba Fintech Limited. The keynote speakers meticulously covered the current landscape of the digital payment ecosystem, offering valuable insights for scholars and students alike. Topics included the foundation of digital payment systems in Bangladesh, growth and innovation opportunities, and potential regulatory risks and challenges. Muhammad Badiuzzaman Dider highlighted the regulatory aspects and the importance of ensuring security and compliance in the growing digital payment sector. Mohammad Ilmul Haque shared his experiences and insights on the entrepreneurial opportunities within the fintech space, emphasizing the potential for innovation and the importance of a supportive regulatory environment.

Dr. Jannatul Ferdaous, Chairman of the Department of Business Administration in Finance and Banking delivered an impactful welcome address and highlighted the rapid evolution of financial transactions and emphasized the balance of opportunities and risks this transformation entails.  She stated, "This transformation promises vast opportunities such as enhanced accessibility, improved transaction efficiencies, and innovative financial products. However, it also brings forth significant risks, including data breaches, privacy concerns, and the challenge of digital divides."

Student representative Ittesaf Rasul Shaporan from Batch 2021 shared the students' perspective on the digitized payment ecosystem, while Lecturer Maliha Rabeta laid the foundation of the topic, discussing the importance of digitization in the financial sector, the adoption of digital payments in Bangladesh, and comparisons with neighboring countries.

Brigadier General Md Saadat Hossain, ndc, psc emphasized the transformative impact of the digitized payment revolution, highlighting its role as a catalyst for profound social and economic change in Bangladesh. He emphasized on the key initiatives such as expanding internet connectivity, strengthening cyber-security measures, and promoting digital literacy. He remarked, "It is through such seminars that we can collaboratively develop pathways for innovation while ensuring that the mechanisms of regulation and oversight evolve in parallel to protect and empower all stakeholders involved."

The seminar concluded with an interactive session between the keynote speakers and participants, where queries regarding the opportunities and risks of the digitized payment system, and the legal framework in Bangladesh were addressed.

All faculty members of the Department of Business Administration in Finance and Banking, all department chairmen of the Faculty of Business Studies, and students from the Finance & Banking department of the university participated in this seminar.