Photo: Collected

DHAKA, May 12, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Bank (BB) has issued a mandatory directive requiring all scheduled banks to incorporate Quick Response (QR) codes into bank statements, solvency certificates, and investment certificates issued for visa application purposes.

The initiative is aimed at enhancing the accuracy of financial document verification while significantly reducing the administrative burden currently faced by foreign embassies and visa processing centres, said a BB press release issued today.

The central bank said various embassies and visa centres have been experiencing difficulties in instantly verifying financial documents due to the absence of a streamlined digital verification system. 

To address the issue, the new directive seeks to reduce the time and administrative costs associated with visa processing and establish an infrastructure enabling immediate online verification of submitted financial documents.

Under the new framework, banks must ensure that scanning the QR code on the specified documents provides secure and instant access to five key data points: account number, account name, report date opening balance, report date closing balance, and statement generation date.

The directive further stated that the information embedded in the QR-based verification system must remain digitally accessible for at least six months from the date of issuance of the document.

Bangladesh Bank instructed all scheduled banks to complete the required technical preparations and system upgrades within 90 days from May 12, 2026.

During the implementation and operation of the verification systems, banks have also been directed to strictly comply with prevailing cyber security standards and data protection regulations to safeguard customer financial information.

The instruction was issued under Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991, and took immediate effect.