2024-07-05 06:17:31
Eighth grade student Rishad Kabir is used to doing his own work since childhood. Working parents leave in the morning, return in the evening or night. As a result, Rishad does all the shopping himself, going to and from school or coaching, buying books, eating at restaurants, and shopping.
Rishad said, ‘It was seen, I went to buy something at the shop next to the house or ordered some breakfast online in the evening, then called my mother or father and told them that they are paying Bikash from the office. But, now they don’t have to wait any longer. Because, a few days ago I told my parents that I have opened a development account.’
Recently, Bikash has introduced ‘Student Account’ for the first time in the country’s mobile financial services. This special account for under 14 to 18 years of age is aimed at creating a cashless society and preparing the future generation for digital transactions. It will be linked to their mother or father’s Bikash account. This ‘Student Account’ is being opened with Digital Birth Certificate, Mother’s or Father’s Bikash Account Number and their consent. This ‘Student Account’ has been introduced as per the directives of the Central Bank to bring the new generation into digital financial inclusion in the smart economy of the country.
In relation to opening a ‘student account’ for her son, Aryan’s mother Sultana Sharmeen said, ‘Since we are both out all day due to work, my son is used to doing his own work, from going to school to doing essential shopping, ordering food from restaurants. With Bkash’s student account, even if we are busy, we are able to easily send necessary money to the child for any urgent need. Again, as the account is linked, I can see what the child is spending when and where. As a result, we are also able to stay safe, children are also able to transact safely. At the same time, money management is also being learned.
Services available on student accounts
The service list of this account has been developed keeping in mind the needs of the under 14 to 18 years of age. Students can use this account to pay school-college fees, small daily purchases, mobile recharge, send money to someone, bill payment etc. According to the instructions of Bangladesh Bank, a maximum of Tk 30 thousand can be kept in this account. These account holders can transact up to 5 thousand taka per day and maximum 25 thousand taka per month. Student account can receive money through send money, but there is no opportunity to use cash in or add money service here.
How to open a ‘Student Account’
To open ‘Student Account’ with Bikash App, first download the app and tap on Login/Register. You have to select the ‘Birth Certificate’ option with your mobile number. Here you have to take the photo of the digital birth certificate and enter some other personal information and proceed to the next step. Then select mother or father as nominee and confirm with their active development account number. A verification code will be sent to that number. Registration must be completed immediately or within the next 48 hours using the verification code. After successfully opening this ‘Student Account’ by following the specified steps, the students are getting a bonus of 25 rupees on the new account from BKash. Moreover, there is a chance to get another 105 rupees bonus conditionally after doing certain transactions.
How parents supervise
A ‘Student Account’ can be opened subject to the consent of the mother or father. A mother or father can manage all transactions of their child’s ‘Student Account’ from their Bkash app statement at any time.
About this new service, Chief External and Corporate Affairs Officer of BKash Major General (retd.) Sheikh Md. Monirul Islam said, We applaud this contemporary initiative of the central bank to prepare the future generation for digital transactions. In future all daily transactions will be cashless. The more familiar today’s youngsters are with the digital payment ecosystem, the sooner they will become proficient in their financial transactions and management. This opportunity to open ‘Student Account’ in BKash for new customers will be a milestone in financial inclusion in the country.
He also said, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Robotics, Big Data – these digital technologies are now ahead of everyone. Facilitating easy, secure and fast financial transactions digitally through MFS accounts will make them interested in new technologies and strengthen the ecosystem of cashless digital payments in the country.