While Bangladesh’s banking sector is rapidly moving toward digital services, students of Patuakhali Science and Technology University (PSTU) remain deprived of the convenience of online fee payment. Administrative indecision and a lack of efficiency have once again raised serious questions regarding the university’s service delivery.
IFIC Bank PLC, in which the government holds a 32.75 percent share, has introduced a fully automated online fee collection system named EduPay as part of the digital transformation of the education sector. The system is already operational in various educational institutions across the country, allowing students to pay fees from home 24 hours a day through bKash, Nagad, Rocket, and credit or debit cards.
According to sources, to ensure this facility for PSTU students, a formal letter of intent was submitted in 2024 to the university registrar, signed by IFIC Bank’s Patuakhali branch manager, Abdur Rahman Islam. The letter proposed the introduction of modern technology in the university’s fee collection system and outlined details of a fully paperless and automated accounting process.
The bank’s initiative was not limited to proposals alone. Considering students’ transportation needs, IFIC Bank gifted a university bus to PSTU on 16 May 2025—an example widely seen as evidence of the bank’s active engagement in student welfare.
After a prolonged delay, the issue of student inconvenience was revisited, and on 21 January 2026 the registrar’s office requested a re-evaluation of IFIC Bank’s proposal. However, no final decision or visible progress regarding the launch of an online fee payment system has yet been made.
Speaking on the matter, Mehdi Hasan, In-charge of IFIC Bank PLC’s Patuakhali Old Bazar sub-branch, said, “The bank has long been cooperating to ease students’ difficulties. In November 2024, during a discussion with the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, issues such as student suffering and transportation problems were raised, and it was then that we proposed initiating banking services for students’ convenience.”
He added that the proposal included installing an online payment gateway on the university’s website, enabling students to pay fees from home through bKash, Nagad, Rocket, and credit cards. Additionally, fees could be paid without any service charge from more than 1,400 IFIC Bank branches nationwide.
However, Director of the ICT Cell, Professor Dr. Shamsuzzaman Sabuj, stated, “Activities to launch an automated online fee system have not yet begun, mainly due to a shortage of skilled manpower. According to the approved organogram of 2016, the ICT Cell should have 16 staff members, but currently only five are working. Most of them are engaged in networking tasks, making it difficult to implement a full automation system.”
University Registrar Professor Dr. Md. Habibur Rahman said, “As the Vice-Chancellor is currently not on campus, a final decision cannot be taken. Both IFIC Bank and Rupali Bank have expressed interest in introducing automation systems. A decision will be made after assessing the advantages and disadvantages.”
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. S. M. Hemayet Jahan added, “IFIC Bank has been asked to resubmit a formal letter of intent. The bank has already donated a bus for students and has expressed willingness to provide further support in the future. Considering students’ convenience, the matter will be reviewed with due importance and coordination.”
Meanwhile, students continue to suffer from standing in long queues, cash transactions, and loss of valuable time. Repeated attempts were made to contact the Vice-Chancellor by phone for comment, but he could not be reached.
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