UK Visas and Immigration made the UK visa process for Bangladeshis safer, more modern and efficient by introducing the option to use card and online transactions to pay for a UK visa application effective from Tuesday.

This change improves the previous model where cash was the only way to pay for a UK visa application, giving customers greater choice during this process, sais the British High Commission in Dhaka.

Last year, almost 25,000 Bangladeshis were successfully granted a UK visa across all categories - a 26 percent increase on the previous year.

In addition, almost 85 percent of Bangladeshi customers receive a decision in 15 working days or less.

As more and more Bangladeshis choose the UK as a place to visit and study, this announcement can give them extra confidence that the UK system is modernising, efficient and secure, said the High Commission.

British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Robert Chatterton-Dickson said the UK government knows how much interest the UK visa system can generate in Bangladesh, and that is why they want to be sure that system is as efficient as possible.

"This announcement is a key part of that goal. By adding modern, digital payment methods to our visa service, we can give customers choice in how to pay and confidence to our customers that their money is safe and secure," he said.

This project is part of a six-month pilot in partnership with UKVI's commercial partner VFS.

Customers will still be able to use cash during this time and the Home Office will seek Bangladeshi views to ensure any feedback is built into any further plans.