bKash has won the Gold Award in the ‘Excellence in Sustainable Product Innovation’ category at the ESG Excellence Awards 2026 for its green financial initiatives.
Maj Gen Sheikh Md Monirul Islam (retd), chief external and corporate affairs officer of bKash, received the accolade at a city hotel.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Abdul Awal Mintoo attended the event as chief guest.
The event brought together senior government officials, diplomats - including heads of missions from the EU, Denmark, Sweden, and Australia - and business leaders.
Jointly organized by the ESG Institute Bangladesh and the UN Global Compact Network Bangladesh, the awards recognize organizations demonstrating excellence in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices.
bKash was honoured for embedding environmental responsibility and social empowerment into its core digital financial ecosystem.
bKash has been saving approximately 1,200 metric tonnes of paper annually from its 1.5 billion digital transactions conducted through the platform.
The shift towards mobile financial services has also significantly reduced customer travel to physical outlets, cutting transport-related carbon emissions.
Beyond environmental benefits, bKash’s digital financial ecosystem supports broader socioeconomic development.
Its platform contributes to financial inclusion, women’s economic empowerment, digital salary disbursements, government-to-person payments, humanitarian assistance, remittances, and access to formal financial products.
The award submission indicates that bKash has facilitated financial aid to approximately 14 million beneficiaries, while its digital financial services have also helped expand access to savings and formal credit.
Maj Gen Sheikh Md Monirul Islam (retd), chief external and corporate affairs officer of bKash, said: “At bKash, we view ESG not as a separate agenda, but as an integral part of how we innovate, grow, and create value. This recognition is particularly meaningful as it acknowledges how digital financial innovation can create shared value - advancing financial inclusion and economic empowerment while contributing to environmental sustainability. We appreciate the ESG Institute Bangladesh and the UN Global Compact Network Bangladesh for this recognition, which inspires us to keep innovating responsibly for a more inclusive, digitally connected, and sustainable Bangladesh.”
Looking ahead, bKash is also exploring tech-enabled afforestation initiatives that connect customer transaction milestones with tree planting and nurturing.
The inaugural edition of this award recognized the ESG contribution of 32 companies and three individuals.
Awards were presented across 20 categories, including energy transition, water stewardship, carbon emission control, occupational health and safety, worker wellbeing, skills development, gender equity, supply chain management, sustainability reporting, and product and digital innovation.
