Leading mobile financial service provider bKash has won "Fintech Pioneer Award" at the Bangladesh Startup Summit-2023 for playing a pioneering role in the fintech sector.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina handed over an award to bKash Founder and CEO Kamal Quadir in the inaugural ceremony of the summit organised by the Startup Bangladesh at InterContinental Dhaka on Saturday, MFS provider said in a press release.

"The award came as a recognition of bKash's 12-year-long endeavours of making peoples' daily transactions convenient and secure through financial inclusion. Receiving the "Fintech Pioneer Award" from the Prime Minister will greatly inspire us and further accelerate our journey," said Quadir.

bKash started its journey 12 years ago as one of the facilitators of the government's vision of building "Digital Bangladesh".

Having policy support from the Bangladesh Bank and guidance from the government, the company has built up a strong base of 70 million verified customers, 330,000 agents, and 550,000 merchants.

The company has fetched $381 million worth of investment from globally renowned companies like Brac Bank, US-based Money in Motion LLC, International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Ant Group, and SoftBank Vision Fund.

State Minister for ICT Zunaid Ahmed Palak, ICT Division Secretary Shamsul Arefin and Startup Bangladesh's Managing Director Sami Ahmed were also present.