Prospects of Digital Financial Services in Bangladesh in the Context of Fourth Industrial Revolution

This paper attempts to reveal the prospects of Digital Financial Services (DFS) in Bangladesh with introducing associated concepts-fourth industrial revolution, digital economy, and digital financial services. Required data and information was collected primarily from the numerous sources of a secondary resource. It finds that Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in mobile phone penetration and secured among the top four countries advancing towards the digital economy rapidly. The country has tremendous prospects of DFS ahead; it will bring impressive economic growth and reduce poverty with huge strategic opportunities through connecting and using cutting edge technologies of the 4 industrial revolution. Bangladesh government’s effective policy reforms, digital Bangladesh’s vision and a2i program ran by Prime Minister Office made this boom in spreading digital financial services. It was projected by Bangladesh Bank and Light Castle that the MFS trend will be grown consistently; there will be 407 million clients and BDT 121 billion will be transacted in 2022. Challenged IT infrastructures, few regulatory and operational constraints including digital illiteracy are considered as the barriers to using the full potentials of digital financial service. In realizing the goals of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the article will be useful for policy-makers, academia, learners, policy advocates, experts, and stakeholders of digital financial services.

Information and Communication Technology (ICT) plays important role to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), it is accelerating to achieve 17 goals of SDG within 2030. E-commerce and digital applications are promoting empowerment of women through creating entrepreneurs (Goal 5.b), creating decent job having with creativity and innovation through access to ICT enabled financial services (Goal 8.3). In achieving Goal 17.11, ecommerce is become increasing important to increase the exports of developing and Least Developed Countries (United Nation Conference on Trade and Development [UNCTAD], 2017). In 2016, Digital Economy represented 15.5% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP), 18.4% in developed economies and 10% in developing economies, accounting $11.5 trillion. The size of digital economy had grown two and half times faster than global GDP over the previous fifteen years and almost it was doubled since 2000 (UNCTAD, 2019).
According to Huawei Global Connectivity Index (GCI) 2019, Bangladesh is in top four countries in terms of development and growth of digital economy in the world. The report, based on 40 indicators, reveals that mobile subscription penetration jumped from 5 percent to 41 percent and smart phone penetration from 7 to 34 percent. This intelligent connectivity leads economic growth (Bangladesh among top four, 2019). DFS is mainly synonymous to Mobile Financial Service (MFS) in Bangladesh, mobile banking services especially Dutch Bangla Mobile Banking and bKash started the MFS. At least 18 banks and Non-Banks Financial Institution (NBFI) are operating MFS in Bangladesh covered 67 million people having with consistent growth; the average transaction is about BDT 316 billion as of December 2018. DFS is facilitating financial inclusion including rural people and leading technology adaptability among the people (Kibria, 2019).
The paper highlights the concept of 4 th Industrial Revolution (4IR), Digital Economy and DFS in first section. Secondly, the paper highlights the present scenario of DFS in Bangladesh. And finally the paper focuses on the prospects of booming DFS in Bangladesh.

The Concept of 4 th Industrial Revolution (4IR):
The term 'Fourth Industrial Revolution' coined in annual meeting of World Economic Forum (WEF) in 2016 at Davos by Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF, at first where connected technology with digital domains and offline reality will enable the human beings to manage their lives. The 4IR is building on the third industrial revolution that is characterized by fusion of technology and blurred the lines between the physical, digital and biological spheres. Speed, velocity, and system impact; these three key reasons marked 4IR distinctly compared to the third. The changes are occurring exponentially in 4IR rather than a linear pace (Xu et al., 2018). Schwab, (2016) explained 4IR in his book-'The Fourth Industrial Revolution', published in January, 2016; in which he explained how way of living and work relating with one another are changing fundamentally. He delivered that the 4IR is basically distinct from the previous industrial revolution in which human being gained triumph on animal power and made huge progress on production. 4IR is characterized with new developed technologies; has impact on every discipline-physical, biological, and digital arena. 4IR has direct immense stakes in economics, industries, and on emerging ideas in years to come. The characteristics of 4IR are mobile devices possessed with unprecedented processing power, unlimited storage, and unlimited access to the knowledge; using Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, internet of things, autonomous vehicles, 3-D printing, nanotechnology, biotechnology, crypto currency, material science, energy storage and quantum computing. Usage of AI is already explicit in many fronts, driven by exponential increases of computing power (Schwab, 2016).
Prisecaro, (2016) mentioned Jeremy Rifkin's views on the features of 4IR -a). It would shift fossil fuel to renewable energy based production b). It will transform the building stock into green micro plant for collecting green energies from onsite c). It would use hydrogen and other sources of energies for intermittent energies d). It will use internet to transform the electricity network in every continent e. it will increase the use of electric and smart car through using green energy.

Concept of Digital economy:
Digital economy or internet economy or web economy refers to the economic activity based on internet, digital computing technology and World Wide Web. It is underpinned by spread of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in all businesses to increase productivity and it undermines the traditional business process. In 1990s, a Japanese professor and research economist mentioned the term 'Digital Economy' at first which was followed in the west and was coined in the book-'The Digital Economy: Promise and Peril in the Age of Networked Intelligence' by Don Tapscott in 1995. Thomas Mesenbourg mentioned three main components of Digital Economy in 2001 in his write up-Measuring Digital Economy. Three components are -1). E-business infrastructure: It includes hardware, software, telecom, network and human capital; 2). Ebusiness: It indicates how business is conducted and the process of organization to operate business; and 3). E-commerce: It denotes transfer of goods channelized by online platforms (Digital Economy, Wikipedia).
Choi and Winston, (2000) defined the term that an economy which is characterized by computer and networking technology where market behaves differently under different rules from physical economy. Digital Economy is affiliated with network effects which are distinct from traditional business network, which reduces transaction costs, facilitates communication, building trusts, making authentication easy (Basu et al., 2020;Colin et al., 2015).

The Digital Financial Service (DFS):
Digital Financial Service (DFS) is affordable financial services which facilitate financial inclusion and reduce poverty. It is enabled by financial technology (Fintech), has lower costs, accuracy, speed, transparency and easier facility to reach rural poor people. Linda Kambale defined DFS that Digital Financial services include a broad range of financial servicespayments, savings, insurance, remittance, credit, etc. through accessed and delivered digital channels like internet, mobile phones, ATMs, POS terminal, etc.. DFS is also synonymous to the Mobile Phone Services (MFS). MFS is the use of mobile phone to get financial services introduced-M-banking, M-money, M-payment. World Bank Group Report -2020 defines associated terms of DFS. Fintech refers to digital technologies containing potential to transform the provision of financial services spurring the development of newor modify existing-business models, applications, processes, and products. 5 In practice, the term "fintech" is also broadly used to denote the ongoing wave of new DFS. Examples of these technologies include web, mobile, cloud services, machine learning, digital ID, and Application Programming Interfaces (APIs).
A Fintech firm is a new entrant in the financial sector that specializes in offering DFS. Examples of Fintechs include digital payment providers, digital insurers, digital-only banks, and peer-to-peer lending platforms.

Open Application Programming Interfaces (APIs):
It allows systems to exchange customer or citizen' data and information. To cover large number of customer or people, the model is applied. For example -Adhar biometric identification system in India which covers around 1 billion people. Bangladesh follows APIs to provide allowances to the target people under social security programs.

State of Digital Financial Services (DFS) in Bangladesh:
Bangladesh is moving fast in injecting digital operations in finance with innovation. Innovation in using mobile phone, introducing e-wallet, ATMs, POS, ebanking services and other DFS are playing effective role to reach the people especially to the poor people. Such digital products are not only fulfilling the financial needs but also creating new avenues to fulfill the future economic needs (Mujeri & Azam, 2018). Digital Bangladesh is transforming the country regarded as important pillar of economy. The country graduated from lower income to lower middle income country, 34 th largest economy in the world with impressive economic growth in the last decade. The size of GDP is $250+ billion and Bangladesh has impressive 80% mobile penetration. Bangladesh is experiencing technological leapfrog which has large tech savvy young generation and 12 million middle class people expected to triple in 2025 (Islam, 2018).    Table 1 reveals key share holders who are shaping the market.

Prospects of DFS in Bangladesh:
According to Global Connectivity Index (GCI), Bangladesh is in leading four countries in terms of growth and remarkable achievement in Digital Economy. GCI reports that since 2015, Bangladesh advanced from 5% to 41% in mobile subscription penetration and boosted its score by 7% (Bangladesh among top four, 2019).
China Campus Network Bangladesh opined that access to information or a2i program, conducted by Prime Minister's office and supported by UNDP and USAID, is facilitating digital economy in Bangladesh. Government policy reform like-ICT policy, cyber security policy, mobile banking policy guideline, digital centers across the country, introducing national web portal and numerous policy support made this DFS boom in Bangladesh (Booming Digital Economy of Bangladesh, 2019). Bangladesh has been in a progressive move with adaptation of digital economy tools. Human resources development, people involvement, civil service and use of technology in businesses are four key elements of government to translate 'Digital Bangladesh Vision'. DFS has immense opportunity to include rest 53% unbanked population.  with support from Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The report predicts the prospects of DFS in Bangladesh. According to Bangladesh Bank and LightCastle projections, the registered clients will be increased from 321.1 million in 2018 to 407.6 million in 2022 (Fig 4) while transactions through MFS will be reached from BDT 67.5 billion in 2018 to BDT 121.87 billion in 2022. MFS trend is forecasting consistent upward trend of use of MFS in Bangladesh. Chakraborty, (2020) sees huge potentiality in widening DFS in Bangladesh as the country has seen rapid growth in digital economy. Intensive smart phone penetration, maturing support form young generation and enthusiastic entrepreneurs are gearing up the move towards digital economy. Educated people are getting accustomed to internet banking, digital payments using credit and debit card, mobile financial services, and ewallet. Shehab, (2019) observed that with present digital financial services, a large variety of DFS will be included in near future like-saving schemes, credit disbursements, insurance, and investing services. Hard cash transaction will decline; no matter what we think about future; there will be consistent boom in using DFS in Bangladesh.
For example that-amidst of corona virus pandemic, the use of MFS is increased greatly. The volume of leading MFS-bKash daily transaction in the pandemic is BDT 450 crores with 5.7 million transactions disclosing the density of digital transaction in the country (Daily 4.5 crores Transaction in bKash, 2020). Most recently, The Bank Asia is going to launch 'Digital Banking' in the coming December 2020. The entre-preneur is waiting for central bank approbation to initiate their services in full speed. This proposed digital bank will be connected to the National Payment Switch of Bangladesh where clients will be able to enjoy most of banking services from home instead of visiting bank physically. Bank Asia's Managing Director says the reason of introducing digital banking that-'Now, our new generation doesn't want to visit bank physically and they want to enjoy the banking services from home' (Sakib, 2020).

CONCLUSION:
Bangladesh has achieved remarkable progress in introducing digital economy through spreading digital financial services. Government's effective policy reforms and digital Bangladesh vision made this boom in financial technology industry. The country has huge prospects in DFS in years to come in the changed context due to fourth industrial revolution. Linking with 4IR tools-5G network, Artificial Intelligence, internet of things and associated technological development will open up new horizon of opportunity in spreading DFS. Instead of immense progress towards building digital economy; nearly half of population remains unbanked and deprived from institutional financial services; DFS has opportunity to facilitate financial inclusion through MFS who are out of formal financial institutions especially to the rural and remote areas' people. Certainly, DFS will eradicate poverty from the bottom with opening new avenue of employment. Regulatory constraints-cash out limits, rigorous Know Your Customer (KYC) process, clients' incapacity-lack of digital literacy, management challenges, and operational challengesincreased transaction costs, lacking in IT infrastructure are crating barrier to unleash full advantages of DFS. If the regulatory authority and associated stakeholders come forward with transformational attitudes and meet the regulatory, management and operational challenges, the country will be able to use full potential of digital financial services.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
I would like to thank my lovely wife for her tireless support and courage to complete the article within timeframe. I am offering gratitude to my colleagues, Department of Public Administration and Governance Studies, Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, who inspired me incessantly to write on this issue.

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST:
It is being declared that there is no conflict of interest about the authorship and authenticity of this article.