Mastercard recently awarded banks and partner merchants for bringing innovative solutions in building a seamless, secure and efficient digital payments ecosystem in Bangladesh and supporting the country's financial inclusion goals.

The winners were announced at "Mastercard Excellence Awards 2020" through a digital platform marking the 29th anniversary of the global payments technology company's operations in Bangladesh.

This being the second edition, the awards also aim to recognise partners for contribution delivering accomplishments in various areas of business growth.

A total of 11 banks, one non-bank financial institution, one payment gateway and five partner merchants were recognised in 11 categories.

The winners are Prime Bank, United Commercial Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, LankaBangla Finance, National Bank, Eastern Bank, Southeast Bank, Brac Bank, City Bank, Dutch-Bangla Bank, Mutual Trust Bank, Software Shop, Islami Bank Bangladesh, Shwapno, Transcom Digital, bKash, Evaly and Daraz Bangladesh.

"This year has been exceptional, and Mastercard is thankful for the partnership and commitment demonstrated by all stakeholders to achieving uninterrupted commerce, even during the months of lockdown," said Porush Singh, division president at South Asia, Mastercard.

"Mastercard remains committed to its partners and will continue to work in collaboration with them and other local stakeholders to create a safe, secure and seamless payments ecosystem in the country," said Singh.

He said Mastercard fully supports Bangladesh's vision to build a "Digital Bangladesh" by 2021. Since the inception of Mastercard's journey in Bangladesh, adding "driving financial inclusion via innovation has been a key priority", he said.

Mastercard in recent years in collaboration with partners offered interoperability between mobile financial service and card by launching Add Money and BanglaQR, Bangladesh's first interoperable QR code acceptance solution approved by Bangladesh Bank.

Salman F Rahman, prime minister's adviser on private industry and investment; Vikas Varma, chief operating officer for South Asia at Mastercard, and Syed Mohammad Kamal, country manager for Bangladesh at Mastercard, were present at the virtual event.