Bangladesh gets first locally built card personalisation system

KONA Software Lab Ltd (KONA SL), a leading provider of payment and security solutions, has announced the implementation of its Kona Card Personalisation System (K-CPS) for Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC.

This global platform-compliant EMV personalisation system enables Islami Bank, K-CPS's first client, to issue debit, credit, and prepaid EMV cards for TakaPay, the local scheme, as well as international ones such as Visa, Mastercard, and UnionPay International.

The milestone was celebrated at an event at The InterContinental Dhaka, attended by representatives from Bangladesh Bank, Islami Bank, and industry leaders.

Developed fully by Bangladeshi engineers, K-CPS is the first of its kind in Bangladesh. It is expected to reduce reliance on foreign vendors, saving time and foreign currency.

"With K-CPS, Bangladesh proves it can deliver world-class solutions with local innovation and support. This will shape the future of digital payments," said Siraj Siddiquey, chief business officer of KONA SL.

Arief Hossain Khan, Executive Director at the Bangladesh Bank, congratulated KONA SL and its partners, saying, "This achievement gives us new hope and lays a strong foundation for building a cashless Bangladesh."

Md Mosharraf Hossain, Executive Vice President and Head of Islami Bank's digital banking, praised the system's performance.

Building on this milestone, KONA SL plans to establish a card manufacturing factory and personalisation bureau in Bangladesh, and to launch its own card management system and certified tokenisation service.

With a proven track record in powering major digital platforms in Bangladesh, KONA SL's continued innovation reinforces its leadership in the country's payment ecosystem and sets the stage for a future of advanced, homegrown solutions.