What is the real story behind Paypal in Bangladesh?

[Billybuoy]

I have been hearing this news for ages and thought that Paypal is finally coming to BD after the formal confirmation from State Minister Zunaid Ahmed Palak, ICT ministry earlier this month. But now it seems it was not the real deal.

This story came in the Daily Star, 9th Oct 2017, quoting the State Minister who goes saying, paypal is finally coming to Bangladesh from 19 Oct onwards:
http://www.thedailystar.net/business...9-2017-1473820

But it seems Paypal is not coming to BD apparently, they have their Xoom service in BD, which actually test launched back in 2015.

What is Xoom, a subset of Paypal?

Basically it is a subsidiary company acquired by Paypal for $890 million in 2015, which now identifies BD as a customer residence location. You can sign up by providing some basic information and it lets you get money from anyone who has a Xoom account and affiliated with Bank account. This company identifies as a 'Part of Paypal' is not the same thing as Paypal. You can’t even use your PayPal balance to pay for a Xoom transaction at this time.

Xoom basically charges fee ranging between $0 and $4.99, depending on the country you’re sending to. In addition to the transaction fee, Xoom also makes money when it changes U.S. dollars into a different currency. (FAQs - Xoom)

The Confusion:
Prothom Alo did ask the State Minister about Xoom earlier this month, which he then cleared the confusion that, it is not Xoom but "Paypal itself for real" coming to operate in BD from 19th October 2017.

Here is the newslink:
"আইসিটি প্রতিমন্ত্রী গত বুধবার প্রথম আলোকে বলেন, ‘বাংলাদেশ আইসিটি এক্সপো ২০১৭-এর দ্বিতীয় দিন ১৯ অক্টোবর সকাল ১০টায় বাংলাদেশে পেপ্যালের উদ্বোধন করা হবে। নভেম্বরে পেপ্যাল প্রতিনিধিরা বাংলাদেশে আসবেন। সময়ের স্বল্পতার কারণে আমরা চাইছি আগে উদ্বোধন করতে।’
তবে ফ্রিল্যান্সারদের অনেকেই মনে করেন, এটি পেপ্যাল নয় বরং পেপ্যালের সেবা জুমের উদ্বোধন হতে যাচ্ছে। এ প্রসঙ্গে প্রতিমন্ত্রী বলেন, জুম নয়, এটা পেপ্যাল। তিনি এ-ও বলেন, অনেক আগেই পেপ্যাল ও জুম সম্পূর্ণভাবে মার্জ (একীভূত) করে গেছে।"

But now it seems paypal is not going to be launched in BD, after several journalist confirmed with the designated official from regional Paypal office in India. They also got a formal response from the regional office of Paypal that it has only Xoom launched in 2015 with a Gov Bank (Sonali Bank) and made some successful transactions on this period. They did not have any conformation on launching Paypal in BD either.

But the SM is very confidant that it Paypal which is going to be launched in BD.
"পেপ্যালের ই-মেইলের বক্তব্যের ব্যাপারে জিজ্ঞেস করলে গত বৃহস্পতিবার রাতে আইসিটি প্রতিমন্ত্রী প্রথম আলোকে বলেন, ‘১৯ অক্টোবর পেপ্যালের সেবা বাংলাদেশে চালু হবে, এটা নিশ্চিত। তবে এখন এই সেবার আওতায় আমাদের দেশের ফ্রিল্যান্সাররা কোনো ওয়ালেট (পেপ্যাল হিসাব) খুলতে পারবেন না। ফ্রিল্যান্সারের কাজ দাতা বা গ্রাহকের যদি পেপ্যাল অ্যাকাউন্ট থাকে, তবে তিনি পেপ্যালের গেটওয়ে ব্যবহার করে সোনালী ব্যাংকের মাধ্যমে ফ্রিল্যান্সারের কাছে টাকা পাঠাতে পারবেন, যা আগে সম্ভব হতো না।’

But if it is only Xoom then you can't send money using Paypal Balance. Here is what the FAQ states:
Question: Can I pay using PayPal?You can’t use your PayPal balance to pay for a Xoom transaction at this time.
However, once you log in or sign up with your PayPal login information, you’ll be able to use your PayPal-linked bank account, credit card, or debit card (when available).
Please note: Xoom transactions paid with your PayPal-linked bank account, credit card, or debit card won’t show up in your PayPal account. And on your bank or credit card statement, you’ll see the charge as coming from Xoom.


What do you guys think? Anyone has anything from ICT ministry or Government or Paypal?

Please share your thoughts......

[Dracu_JeF]

Here is something interesting from the newslink > "বাংলাদেশ ব্যাংকের নীতিমালার কারণে এ মুহূর্তে সরাসরি পেপ্যাল ওয়ালেট খোলা যাবে না বলে জানান প্রতিমন্ত্রী। তিনি বলেন, ‘বাংলাদেশে পেপ্যালের কোনো কার্যালয় বা কোনো রিসোর্স থাকবে না। পেপ্যালের গেটওয়ে ব্যবহার করে অর্থ আসবে।"

So yeah, give up on the hope of using paypal.

[Franklin]

Ecommerce website/money receive kora jabeto?

[Billybuoy]

Keu amre mairraaaalaaaaah.....XD

[Franklin]

I do not even have any words to describe this guy. Is it really that hard to understand the difference between PP and PP Xoom? The former is what we were asking for. He even said we were getting the actual PP. Not Xoom. Now, he says it is Xoom. Dahell?!

[SoMoN.Khan]

what do you guys expect from this type is guy, paypal with bd currency exchange!!!!

[minitt]

You can only receive funds in your local bank if your sender has a paypal account that's it. That's even worse than I expected.
RIP PayPal.

- - - Updated - - -

what do you guys expect from this type is guy, paypal with bd currency exchange!!!!

this guy has nothing to do with it. As I have explained before in another thread, it's due to our central bank monetary policy. Central bank will always try to safeguard our country's foreign reserve.

Nonetheless its a good start they will gradually allow more features down the road. Govt will bring these extra features like dlc to win popularity.

[Neon]

Nonetheless its a good start they will gradually allow more features down the road. Govt will bring these extra features like dlc to win popularity.

Yup, good start indeed and hoping for better things in the future.

- - - Updated - - -

Not good,
http://www.ebangla.tech/2017/10/xoom...iness.html?m=1

[Sybaris Caesar]

On the other hand PayPal just came to Sri Lanka last year or so.

[Billybuoy]

this guy has nothing to do with it. As I have explained before in another thread, it's due to our central bank monetary policy. Central bank will always try to safeguard our country's foreign reserve.

Bro, if you have followed the story from the start you would have known that people are furious not because the paypal not coming to BD, it is quite understandable if a company decides not to enter a market/country which relies on various dependable factors. They are furious cause this moron (yes he is) thought he could get the media hype and generate people attraction by telling a false claim that PayPal is really coming to BD. NOT Xoom, the REAL PayPal! So he could bid for his report card of achievement certificate to his masters.

He thought he could get away with general public (which he might got apparently, as many believe that it will be a start of official paypal launch in BD).

Thing is he knew that Bangladesh Bank would never allow PayPal or any other online payment transaction platform to operate in BD anytime soon because of fear of black money getting channeled out from the country (which is getting out anyway by the rich and powerful of this country, that's a mockery of money laundering itself right there). So he tricked us everybody in the business claiming he is really bringing paypal.

Politicians do it everytime with public, but we thought this 'guy' would be different. Turns out he is the wolf under sheep hide. Who knows this brilliant idea might come from the top branch of the tree.

Now people know this politicians are and always will be for their own benefits only.

Hope it clears out now.

[Shawon191]

Ecommerce website/money receive kora jabeto?

Apparently, you can't receive freelancing money either since commercial transactions aren't allowed in Xoom.

[Obelix]

Bro, if you have followed the story from the start you would have known that people are furious not because the paypal not coming to BD, it is quite understandable if a company decides not to enter a market/country which relies on various dependable factors. They are furious cause this moron (yes he is) thought he could get the media hype and generate people attraction by telling a false claim that PayPal is really coming to BD. NOT Xoom, the REAL PayPal! So he could bid for his report card of achievement certificate to his masters.

He thought he could get away with general public (which he might got apparently, as many believe that it will be a start of official paypal launch in BD).

Thing is he knew that Bangladesh Bank would never allow PayPal or any other online payment transaction platform to operate in BD anytime soon because of fear of black money getting channeled out from the country (which is getting out anyway by the rich and powerful of this country, that's a mockery of money laundering itself right there). So he tricked us everybody in the business claiming he is really bringing paypal.

Politicians do it everytime with public, but we thought this 'guy' would be different. Turns out he is the wolf under sheep hide. Who knows this brilliant idea might come from the top branch of the tree.

Now people know this politicians are and always will be for their own benefits only.

Hope it clears out now.

"Who" is this ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ?

[Billybuoy]

"Who" is this ¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ?

The great IT minister of our country who now has made a laughing stock out of himself on facebook.

https://www.facebook.com/zapalak/

[tth]

this guy has nothing to do with it. As I have explained before in another thread, it's due to our central bank monetary policy. Central bank will always try to safeguard our country's foreign reserve.

Nonetheless its a good start they will gradually allow more features down the road. Govt will bring these extra features like dlc to win popularity.

What do you think about bKash?

[minitt]

What do you think about bKash?

I think it's One of the best thing happened in a long time. It makes the financial system more efficient and more accessible for rural places, helps small business owners.

I remember even bill gates mentioning bkash as one of the revolutionary financial services.

[tth]

I think it's One of the best thing happened in a long time. It makes the financial system more efficient and more accessible for rural places, helps small business owners.

I remember even bill gates mentioning bkash as one of the revolutionary financial services.

LOL.
bKash is like a cancer in our monetary system.
Comparatively paypal is much more safer and transparent.
As long as bKash is there, paypal will be last choice for money laundering or crime.

[Fox Mulder]

LOL.
bKash is like a cancer in our monetary system.
Comparatively paypal is much more safer and transparent.
As long as bKash is there, paypal will be last choice for money laundering or crime.

You seriously have issues.

[minitt]

LOL.
bKash is like a cancer in our monetary system.
Comparatively paypal is much more safer and transparent.
As long as bKash is there, paypal will be last choice for money laundering or crime.

care to explain why do you see bkash as a cancer? On a macro level I see the pros significantly out-weights the cons. Having the financial liquidity at your finger tips is a huge win.

The crime or money laundering you were referring to happens on Institution level. Our central bank literally approves anything puts out by the finance ministry.
they can't probe or followup on outward remittance unless they are told to. for example Factory owners can buy millions of dollar worth of defective or zunk machinery. Everything goes through legal channel. This is just one of the many ways to channel money out. The problem is in the intention not in the system. We do have a decent system in place but we choose not to enforce or enforce with intentional lag.

And you would be naive to think paypal doesn't aid money laundering or financial crime.

The reason BD gov't isn't very fond of paypal could be because ppl will start to spend foreign exchange on nonproductive products and services which might induce stress on foreign reserve.
The 2nd reason could be paypal not seeing BD as profitable market when they factored in yearly cap/account which is a laughable amount.

[tth]

care to explain why do you see bkash as a cancer?
......
And you would be naive to think paypal doesn't aid money laundering or financial crime.

I believe you already know why I am seeing it as cancer. You just don't agree. Its alright. As I said before as long as bKash is there, paypal will be the last choice for money laundering. I think you know why. All I wanted to say

Central bank will always try to safeguard our country's foreign reserve.

is not the reason why paypal is still not available in BD. You latest statement

Our central bank literally approves anything puts out by the finance ministry

also share same view.

This topic is about the real story behind Paypal unavailability in Bangladesh? I like to stick there.

@ Fox Mulder, I am sorry if I hurt you. It was just my unprejudiced opinion and cancer is treatable btw.

[CvP]

@tth you keep saying things without explaining yourself or your reasoning/logic. That's not how you discuss things with people.
I'm interested about your views/logic but if you don't explain how will I either learn something or debate and prove you wrong?