Bangladeshi tech leader Mehedi wins European FinTech 'Rising Star award'

Barcelona-based Bangladeshi technology leader Md. Mehedi Hasan has won the "Rising Star of the Year" award at the European FinTech Awards 2026. He was also a finalist in the "Director of the Year" category.

The award recognises his contributions to financial technology and marks a notable achievement for Bangladeshi professionals working in the European technology sector, according to a press release.

Mehedi, whose family hails from Dhamoirhat in Naogaon and who was raised in Dhaka, completed his bachelor's and master's degrees in physics at the University of Dhaka before pursuing an MBA at IESE Business School in Spain, where he received the "Most Transformed Student 2020" award.

Over his career, he has worked with organisations including the World Bank, Grameenphone, Volkswagen Group, Kubbo Smart Logistics and Hastee Ltd. He joined Hastee as chief technology officer in late 2024 and led several technology and organisational initiatives, including an AI-driven transformation of the company's technology operations.

According to the press release, under his leadership Hastee achieved a 93 percent staff retention rate in 2025, reduced customer support resolution time through an internal engineering initiative, and completed the technical due diligence process following the company's acquisition by the UK-based Zellis Group. The company also introduced AI-assisted software development, with more than 60 percent of the code for a key web application generated using AI, reducing development time significantly.

The European FinTech Awards recognise companies and individuals across Europe's fintech industry. The awards are organised by FinTech Intel, with finalists selected through an independent judging process across 23 categories, including four individual awards.

The winners were announced on June 25 at a ceremony held at One Moorgate Place in London, where Mehedi Hasan received the Rising Star of the Year award.