PayPal, a global online payment system, will start its service in Bangladesh today.

Sajeeb Wazed Joy, prime minister's adviser for information and communication technology, is scheduled to launch the international gateway at a function at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in Dhaka.

People can now receive the service from nine commercial banks, including Sonali, Rupali and Social Islami Bank, and the service will be extended gradually, an official of the ICT Division told the news agency yesterday.

"The PayPal authorities have taken the decision after reviewing the potential and market of Bangladesh," he added.

The official said the ICT adviser has provided all sorts of cooperation to launch PayPal to provide the country's people with the world's most popular online money transfer service.

PayPal, available in more than 200 markets around the world, enables its accountholders to receive money in more than 100 currencies, withdraw funds in 56 currencies and hold PayPal account balances in 25 currencies.