Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Shamadhan Services Limited, a payment service provider and fintech arm of Grameen Telecom Trust, to strengthen digital financial services and enhance customer convenience.

SM Abu Jafar, deputy managing director of Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC, and Ahmed Armaan Siddiqui, chief executive officer of Shamadhan Services Limited, signed the agreement at the bank's head office in Dhaka today, according to a press release.

Mohammad Shahadat Hossain, head of MFS and digital banking at the bank; Mohammad Anwar Hossain, chief operating officer of the fintech company; and Md Salah Uddin Tanvir, head of product and pricing, attended the event.

The partnership reflects Al-Arafah Islami Bank's continued commitment to advancing Shariah-compliant digital innovation and promoting financial inclusion across Bangladesh, the release added.

ABM Saiful Bari, head of business and strategy at the fintech company, was also present, along with other senior officials from both organisations.