Such activities are continuing even after Bangladesh Bank issued stringent guidelines and cautions to stop illicit internet gaming transactions. Illegal gambling and porn applications are using local payment gateways to perform financial transactions and steal money overseas. The local online payment gateway “Amar Pay” is one of the gateways under question. There have recently been claims that this gateway was used for illicit activities.
Sources say that illegal online transactions take place through gambling and various dating apps, for which local payment gateways are used. Recently, illegal transactions related to online dating apps and pornography were conducted through the “Amar Pay” gateway. Even though Bangladesh Bank has issued strict instructions to prevent illegal online gambling and pornography-related transactions, money is still being transacted and laundered out of the country using this gateway. However, the payment gateway company claims that these apps only use their platform for transactions and that they have no further knowledge of what the apps do.
In this regard, when Media contacted Amar Pay’s Managing Director, A.M. Ishtiaq Sarwar, on Wednesday night (December 17), he declined to comment on the matter.
It is learned that a media team conducted an investigation into illegal pornography activities disguised as dating apps. The investigation revealed pornography and illegal transactions operating under the name of dating apps. Transactions for these apps are processed through the local payment gateway “Amar Pay” of Soft Tech Innovation. By using this gateway, apps involved in illegal activities are easily completing transactions, which is unlawful and illegal.
However, Soft Tech Innovation’s Managing Director (MD) A.M. Ishtiaq Sarwar denied any involvement with dating apps. He stated that although transactions may pass through their institution, the company has no relationship with dating apps. Such activities could be carried out by individual merchants.
When asked why apps involved in illegal activities such as pornography and gambling were allowed to use their payment gateway, he said that if any of his merchants are providing such services, there is nothing he can do about it. He added that he is not aware of which of his merchants might be involved in such activities and that it would require investigation to determine that.
Experts have expressed concern over the issue. According to them, bringing these local payment gateways under stricter accountability would make it possible to identify such networks and stop money laundering.
