Recently, an official book launch ceremony titled “From Cash to Code” was held at a hotel in the capital city. This is considered an important event in the country’s digital finance and fintech sector.

The author of the book is Md Mahmudul Hasan, Digital Banking and Fintech Strategist of Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC. In the book, he highlights that a significant portion of Bangladesh’s digital economy still remains outside the formal financial system. As a result, achieving true financial inclusion still faces major challenges.

The Chief Guest of the event was Khwaja Shahriar, Chairman of Al-Arafah Islami Bank. Special guests included Mohd. Rafat Ullah Khan, Managing Director of the bank. In addition, Deputy Managing Directors, senior officials of the bank, and various professionals from the banking, fintech, and digital finance sectors were also present.

The author, Md Mahmudul Hasan, stated that having only digital services does not complete financial inclusion. The real issue is to connect people’s everyday economic activities with the digital and formal financial system. He further said that the next major transformation in Bangladesh will come when currently invisible economic activities are brought into the mainstream.

At a time when digital finance is rapidly expanding in the country, this book “From Cash to Code” has initiated a new discussion based on the concept of transforming cash-based systems into digital code. It particularly highlights the informal economy, which still remains largely outside formal accounting and measurement systems.