The use of modern technology has close connection with women's empowerment, revealed data related to financial transactions in the banking sector. A report published in Prothom Alo on Thursday titled “New Era of Women's Empowerment” shows that women's participation in mobile banking has come closer to that of men. As more than 60 per cent of the customers of the conventional banks are still male, the participation of women is less than 30 per cent.
Mobile banking services are no longer limited to just sending money. Instead, this provides daily shopping, gas and electricity, water bills and various services including mobile recharge. The use of mobile phones has taken on multi dimensions. At present 15 companies in the country including bKash, Rocket, M Cash, Upay are providing Mobile Financial Services (MFS). Apart from this, the Bangladesh Post Office also runs a similar service ‘Nagad’.
Referring to the report of Bangladesh Bank, Prothom Alo reported that at the end of last March, the total subscribers of this service were 102.7 million. However, the active accounts were 34.6 million. Of the total accounts, 53 million account holders are men and 45 million were women. In March last year, the total deposits were Tk 56.14 billion. In March last year, the deposits in male customers’ accounts were Tk 41.5 million and in female customers’ accounts Tk 40.8 million. It seems female customers are close to male customers in terms of deposits. This data does not include deposits of ‘Nagad’.
Special circumstances during the pandemic also played a role in the expansion of mobile banking. Mobile banking services are being used to pay wages and allowances to workers in various export-oriented sectors, including the government own ready-made garment industry. Workers who used to get salaries or allowance through cash or conventional banking are now receiving it through mobile banking. Apart from this, funds of various assistance programmes of the government are also being distributed through such services. As a result, the customers can collect their dues at home.
To open a bank account, a customer has to go to the bank whereas mobile banking accounts can be opened at home. Opening this account has been made much easier than before. Men usually paid the utility bills when it had to be paid through banks. Now women are paying their bills through mobile banking at home.
The role of entrepreneurs in increasing women's participation in mobile banking is also positive. Kamal Qadir, CEO of bKash, said, "We have given priority to women's account opening from the very beginning. That is why the number of female customers are more in bKash.”
A woman's account in mobile banking should not be seen as just an account. Through this a kind of economic self-reliance is also established. In many countries, loans are given to customers through mobile banking. Mobile service providers in Bangladesh can launch small loans for women entrepreneurs. Mobile banking authorities can also provide a separate set of benefits for female customers. If women's participation in economic activities increases, they will be empowered in real sense.