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Published : 26 Jul 2026, 02:06 PM
The High Court has issued a rule asking why the service charges imposed by mobile financial service (MFS) providers bKash, Nagad and Rocket should not be declared illegal.
A High Court bench of Justice Md Mozibur Rahman Miah and Justice Md Rezaul Karim passed the order on Sunday, giving the authorities and the companies four weeks to respond.
The respondents include the finance secretary, information and broadcasting secretary, posts and telecommunications secretary, the Bangladesh Bank governor, deputy governor, and the chairmen of bKash and Nagad, among others.
Lawyer Obaidullah Al Mamun (Sakib) moved the public interest writ petition, which he filed a week ago.
On the rule being issued, he told bdnews24.com: "Under the Mobile Financial Services (MFS) Regulations, 2022, services like bKash and Nagad are meant primarily for low-income people.
“Yet they're charging customers excessive service fees.”
In response to a question, the lawyer said customers pay only about Tk 10 to Tk 15 per transaction to transfer or withdraw Tk 100,000 through regular banking channels.
By contrast, MFS providers charge around Tk 14 to Tk 18 per Tk 1,000 transferred.
"That means bKash deducts about Tk 1,850 in fees on a Tk 100,000 transaction, while banks charge only Tk 10 to Tk 15," he added.
He said the petition asked the court to replace the current percentage-based fee structure with a fixed transaction charge.
“Based on that application, the rule asks why service charges deducted on a percentage basis, as currently allowed under the law, should not be declared illegal."
On interim directions, the lawyer added that the bench ordered notices served on respondents via special messenger within two days before the matter comes up for a full hearing.
