DHAKA, April 22, 2026 (BSS) – Two Bangladeshi companies have been honored at the International Investment and Digital Finance Conference 2026 in Washington, USA. 

The conclusion of the two-day summit, organized by the In Search of Root Foundation (ISORF), on April 18 marked a pivotal litmus test for the burgeoning U.S.-South Asia economic corridor, said a press release here today. 

The summit served as a high-level forum for policy calibration and culminated in the presentation of the USA–South Asia Digital Finance & Investment Excellence Award 2026. 

The 2026 Excellence Awards were designed to recognize entities that have not only pioneered technological breakthroughs but have also institutionalized the transparency required to attract Western capital. 

Presented by a delegation including Md. Sarwar Hossain of Bangladesh Bank and Hanif Channa of the Embassy of Pakistan, the awards delineated the leaders of the new regional economy.

A total of five organizations, including two Bangladeshi, recognized for their contributions to international trade and digital investment. The companies are  bKash (Bangladesh), Trust Bank PLC (Bangladesh), Mastercard (United States), Greater New York Chamber of Commerce (United States) and Bank of Punjab (Pakistan).

Kamal Quadir, Founder and CEO of bKash, spearheaded discussions within the centerpiece session, "The Future of Intelligent Banking: AI, Risk and Innovation." 

In an era where digital finance is often viewed through the lens of pure technology, Quadir advocated for a more nuanced integration of robust regulatory frameworks to safeguard the expansion of financial inclusion.

The award for bKash reflects the entity’s success in transitioning from a mobile money provider to a central pillar of international trade infrastructure. 

Quadir’s contributions emphasized that for South Asian fintech to remain competitive, it must harmonize with global compliance standards while leveraging AI to mitigate systemic risks—a sentiment that resonated with the conference’s focus on sustainable, tech-driven growth.

Representing Trust Bank PLC, Vice Chairman Major General Md. Hakimuzzaman addressed the critical nexus between military-grade organizational discipline and corporate financial governance.

 He argued that the "frontier market" label can only be shed through the rigorous application of internal oversight and accountability mechanisms.

"Financial supervision, accountability, and governance are the essential foundations required to ensure long-term investor confidence," he added.