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Bangla | Wednesday | 30 April 2025 | Epaper
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Exclusive Interview

Empower individuals to participate meaningfully in the national economy

AGAM CEO Shabnam tells 

Published : Wednesday, 1 January, 2025 at 12:00 AM  Count : 532
Shamsul Huda
Shabnam Nida Wazed, CEO of AGAM International Limited, believes financial technology is quietly reshaping how Bangladesh's informal workers steer their daily lives. Speaking exclusively, she outlined how AGAM's Earned Wage Access (EWA) platform is addressing pressing financial needs while planting seeds for systemic change.

The platform allows workers early access to their earned wages without requiring a bank account. For millions in informal sectors, where daily survival often depends on immediate cash flow, this service provides critical relief. It reduces reliance on high-interest loans and informal lenders, which often perpetuate cycles of debt.

Shabnam highlighted that real-time access to earnings offers immediate solutions for urgent expenses such as healthcare or education. However, the impact extends beyond practicality. The platform fosters trust in digital systems, a vital shift in Bangladesh's predominantly cash-dependent economy. Workers unfamiliar with formal banking find empowerment in technology tailored to their needs, subtly bridging the digital divide.

She emphasized that AGAM's innovation doesn't stop at convenience. It integrates financial education, enabling users to develop budgeting and saving habits alongside accessing their earnings. This approach strengthens economic resilience at the grassroots level, promoting stability and long-term growth.

Employers too experience significant benefits. Shabnam pointed out that financial stress among workers often leads to absenteeism and disengagement. AGAM's solutions alleviate these burdens, improving productivity, loyalty, and retention. These workplace improvements ripple outward, influencing the broader economy.

As workers gain steady access to their earnings, consumer spending becomes more consistent. This stability supports local businesses, strengthens supply chains, and drives economic growth. Shabnam observed that such patterns reduce income disparities while nurturing a more inclusive financial ecosystem.

She acknowledged persistent challenges. Many rural and informal workers remain excluded from formal financial systems due to limited awareness and reliance on cash. Despite significant progress by mobile financial services like bKash and Nagad, the gaps remain glaring.

Shabnam proposed solutions rooted in layered strategies. User-friendly platforms must align with the realities of underserved populations. Partnerships between fintech companies and employers can extend services like EWA, addressing immediate needs while fostering trust. Simultaneously, financial literacy programs can anchor these efforts, transforming how workers perceive and interact with money.

Under her leadership, AGAM is crafting a comprehensive model for financial inclusion. The company combines technology, education, and partnerships to connect workers to economic opportunities, reshaping lives while driving national progress.
Her optimism is grounded in stark realities. Over 87 per cent of Bangladesh's workforce operates in the informal sector, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) in 2023. Most lack access to formal financial tools, limiting their ability to save or invest. Shabnam envisions a future where financial technology addresses these systemic challenges, one solution at a time. By empowering workers to manage their earnings with confidence, AGAM International is not only fostering inclusion but also transforming how Bangladesh's economy functions at its core.

Her confidence reflects a deeper ambition. Financial inclusion is not just about tools or access. It is about empowering individuals to participate meaningfully in the economy. It is about changing lives while rewriting the rules of engagement for a cash-dependent society.

As Shabnam spoke, her words carried a quiet resolve. The transformation she describes is not just a technological shift. It is a revolution that enables individuals to reclaim agency over their finances, strengthens communities, and lays the foundation for a more equitable future.



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