Bangladesh and Singapore are exploring closer work on digital payments, artificial intelligence and e-commerce. Singapore's Non-Resident High Commissioner Derek Loh met Science and Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam at the Bangladesh Secretariat on November 2.
The talks covered the digital economy, telecom, online payments and AI. One idea stood out for everyday users: Bangladesh plans to turn post offices into hubs for e-commerce, parcel delivery and logistics. The envoy pointed to the reach of the postal network and shared Singapore's experience with digital payments in government services.
He also raised AI in healthcare, scientific research and biomedical technology, and said skills training for young people should be a priority. Philip Ong, chargé d'affaires at the Singapore High Commission, and Benjamin Chue of Enterprise Singapore also joined the meeting.
No agreement was signed. Still, the direction matters. Singapore is one of Asia's most digital economies, and its government services run largely on online payments. Learning from that model could help Bangladesh make public services faster and cut cash handling.
The post office plan could matter most outside Dhaka. Small sellers in places like Sirajdikhan, Lohajang or Gazaria who sell on social media often struggle with reliable pickup and delivery. A post office that doubles as a parcel and payment point would give them a nearby, trusted option.
The next step to watch is whether the two sides move from talks to a pilot project, and which services go first.
