Bangladesh Bank and the interim government are undertaking significant efforts to restructure the country’s banking sector, focusing on recovering both local and foreign assets embezzled by corrupt individuals. Officials have confirmed that these assets, laundered abroad, are being targeted for repatriation as part of a broader initiative to bring the financial sector up to international standards. The government emphasized its commitment to reforming the financial sector, acknowledging that the process is complex and time-consuming. A key element of this strategy will be the establishment of a banking commission tasked with investigating each implicated bank, uncovering the full extent of the corruption, and developing an action plan, according to the Chief Adviser’s press wing. This plan, which can be implemented within six months, aims to overhaul the sector to ensure compliance with global banking norms. The aim of Bangladesh Bank and the government is to be capable of complying with all international standards and building a strong banking sector. However, international technical assistance and funding will be required from the beginning to the end of the activities to achieve this objective. Read more: Bangladesh Bank reconstitutes boards of 3 banks, inc. two controlled by S Alam Group The reforms come in response to revelations that unscrupulous businessmen and influential figures have embezzled vast sums from the banking sector, laundering the funds abroad through fraudulent activities. Preliminary estimates suggest the total embezzled amount could exceed Tk 1 lakh crore, though the exact figure is still being determined. Significant steps have already been taken, with reforms initiated in several banks linked to the scandal. The boards of Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, National Bank, United Commercial Bank, Global Islami Bank, and Union Bank have been reconstituted as part of the restructuring efforts. Similar measures will be implemented across other affected banks and financial institutions. The government has also sought assistance from foreign agencies to track and repatriate the laundered funds. As the new management teams take control, they will be responsible for gathering accurate data on the embezzled amounts and leading the recovery efforts. Read more: Businesses agree with central bank's steps against bank robbers: DCCI

Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur, newly appointed governor of Bangladesh Bank, has said his priority will be to check the high inflation and restore stability in the financial sector.  Expressing satisfaction over his new responsibility Dr. Mansur told UNB on Tuesday night that he will work with all stakeholders in the financial sector to bring back stability and put it on a solid foundation. On Tuesday night the interim government's law ministry hurriedly waved the age limit of 67 years for anyone to be appointed as governor of the central bank. Economist Mansur is now 72 years old. The last time the age limit provision got amended from 65 years to 67 years was in July 2020 to accommodate the reappointment of then-governor Fazle Rabbi.  Read more: Money launderers won’t be allowed to sleep in peace: New Bangladesh Bank Governor He believed that despite high inflation - it hit 11.66 in July in a 13-year high- the central bank under the previous administration did not give full attention to curb it.  Controlling inflation remains a top priority for any central bank.  However, money supply, exchange rate stability, and inflation control all depend on the decision of the governor. Besides, the standard of living, international trade, investment, and employment depend a lot on the decisions of the central bank of any country, he said. Dr. Mansur started his career as a lecturer, at the Department of Economics, Dhaka University in 1976. He left for Canada for higher studies in economics the same year. As a graduate student and research assistant, he was also offering regular economics courses at the undergraduate level at the University of Western Ontario, Canada (1978-81).  Dr. Mansur joined the International Monetary Fund under its Economist Program in 1981 and thereafter completed his PhD in Economics (on general equilibrium analysis) from the University of Western Ontario in 1982. During his long career at the IMF, he worked in Middle Eastern, Asian, African, and Central American countries. He worked in important functional departments (Fiscal Affairs and Policy Review and Development departments) and area departments (Middle East and Central Asia and Asian departments) of the IMF. Read more: Inflation hits 13-year high of 11.7% in July: BBS He also served as the IMF Senior Resident Representative to Pakistan from 1998-01 and as the Fiscal Advisor to the Minister of Finance, Government of Bangladesh (1989-91).

A bank account holder can withdraw cash up to two lakh taka a day for this week given the current security situation, according to a Bangladesh Bank circular. The central bank issued the instruction to the MDs of all commercial banks through SMS on Saturday. It will be effective from Sunday, the first working day of the week. Earlier on Thursday the maximum cash withdrawal limit was set at one lakh taka.    Read more: Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf resigns However, businesspeople can draw larger amount of cash for payment of salaries of employees ensuring security on their own, said the circular. The same is applicable for the expatriates. The central bank also asked banks to supervise that a person cannot withdraw money from multiple branches of banks in a day. This directive should be followed especially in the case of key political leaders. On Thursday, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) under the BB was ordered to report any amount of money withdrawn by a politically important person. The names of political leaders, bank chairmen, businessmen, secretaries, and senior police officers are on this list. Such instruction is given mainly to prevent any person from withdrawing money for criminal activity or escaping from the country. Read more: Bangladesh Bank operates without governor and deputy governors

The visiting International Monetary Fund (IMF) delegation has advised Bangladesh Bank to disclose detailed and complete information regarding bad and risky loans fin the public interest. Meeting sources said that the visiting IMF delegation gave this suggestion in the meeting held with the BB officials on Sunday (April 28).  In the meeting, the IMF asked to make the financial health of the banks and the inspection report open to the customers. At the same time, it urged to increase the number of inspections to prevent irregularities-corruption and loan scams. Officials concerned in the meeting said that bad loans or risky assets are increasing in banks due to various irregularities including big loan scams. Several banks have weakened which also acknowledged by the BB Governor.  Therefore, the IMF believes that the deposits of those banks which are in trouble are also at risk. In such a situation, the global lender suggested that the banks should disclose the full report of risky assets to the customers.  Read more: DUJ, DRU, TIB condemn ban on journalists entering Bangladesh Bank According to the IMF Officials, “If these reports are published, the customers will be able to make informed decisions about keeping their deposits.” In the meeting, the IMF sought to know whether the central bank's inspection of banks' financial health is continuing or not. Clarification has also been sought as to whether inspection reports are disclosed to customers or not.  In addition, the IMF delegation suggested increasing the quality and number of inspections to prevent irregularities, corruption and loan scams, sources said. When asked about the meeting with the BB, the executive director and spokesperson of the BB Mesbaul Haque said that the meetings with the IMF are ongoing. This meeting will be held step by step till May 8. He did not agree to make any comment other than that and said the details will be given in future. Read more: Islamic Banking in Bangladesh: Commendable contribution to the country’s economic growth

The central bank of Bangladesh has been forced to issue a statement to clear the air, as it were, of the confusion arising out of its initiative to bring about consolidation in the country's ailing banking sector. As a necessary part of the process aimed at reducing the number of banks in the country, the sector is going to witness a number of mergers between previously disparate entities in the coming days. Top execs of merging bank cannot hold posts at acquiring entity: Bangladesh Bank Five merger proposals have already been received and  are expected to be approved by the end of 2024. They involve around 11 institutions, and if completed as proposed, would reduce the number of banks in Bangladesh by 6 - around 10% of the total. Yet the unprecedented nature of these moves in the banking sector, where there is no previous record of two Bangladeshi banks having merged, has led to a state of panic and confusion among members of the public, to the extent that people are reportedly withdrawing their deposits from certain banks, said sources at some respected banks. Bangladesh Bank auctions gold for the first time in 16 years They said most of the depositors are suffering from the dilemma of whether or not to keep money in the bank. Some are withdrawing their money from the banks due to 'fear'. Bangladesh Bank was forced to address the issue in its statement today, asserting that individual as well as institutional depositors' money will remain fully safe and secure in banks during the merger process. Noticing different news and social media posts, the central bank said accountholders of two merging banks will be able to maintain their respective accounts as before even after the completion of the merger. Bangladesh Bank issues detailed directive on appointment of MD, CEO for NBFIs The merger process will be completed based on the consent of the entrepreneurial directors, current boards, and common shareholders of the banks covered by the merger, said the statement.

Shrikanta Nandi, manager of Natun Bazar branch in Chandpur town of Pubali Bank PLC, has gone missing with more than Tk 2.5 crores. Shrikanta Nandi, 40, is son of Nani Gopal Nandi and a resident of  Ghagra village in Kachua upazila. The new manager of the bank and a customer filed two General Diaries (GD) separately at Chandpur Sadar Model Police Station in this regard. Narsingdi UP member shot dead in broad daylight According to the sources, Shrikanta Nandi swindled Tk 2. 51 crore from the customers. On Monday (April 15) afternoon, the new manager of the branch  Humayun Kabir and  Chandpur Model Police Station Sub-Inspector (Investigative Officer) Nazrul Islam, came to know the matter after talking to customers. Akbar Hossain Liton, one of the victims, said Shrikant Nandi wanted to borrow money from him before Eid. A few days later, when he went to the bank for a pay order, he took Tk  1.76 crore from him. "But he disappeared without depositing the money in the bank," Liton claimed. On April 13, Liton lodged a GD at Chandpur Model Police Station. The accused bank manager also swindled Tk 75 lakh from another customer named Maruf of the Asrafpur area offering more profit. Padma Bridge: Record Tk 4.90 crore toll collected in 24 hrs The matter is being investigated through the higher authority, said the current bank manager, adding that there is no problem with internal customers' transactions. Chandpur Model Police Station Sub-Inspector Nazrul Islam said that they are investigating the issue following the GDs. "We will take legal action if there is any complaint regarding the transaction," he added. Read more: BRAC Bank promotes three senior officials to SEVP

The defaulted loans in the banking sector climbed by about Tk10, 954 crore to Tk1,31, 621 crore in the January-March quarter. According to Bangladesh Bank (BB) the defaulted loans increased by 9 percent from three months ago and 16 percent from a year earlier. Despite different initiative of the central bank, defaulted loans is on a rising trend, which is becoming challenging and a headache, the BB Governor said recently in a conference Association of Bankers Bangladesh (ABB).   In comparison, the default loan figure stood at Tk1,20,656 crore in December 2022. Also Read: Market-based interest rate, unified exchange rate from July: Bangladesh Bank The defaulted loan volume surged in post Covid-19 period while the businesses abstained from repaying loan installments citing poor business. During the pandemic the central bank announced a moratorium on regular repayment of loans that helped a large number of borrowers from becoming defaulters. After withdrawal of the moratorium facility, the defaulted loan volume increased by over Tk 1.20 lakh crore in December last year. Former governor of BB Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed told UNB that a group of businesses is becoming defaulters willfully and the central bank has to be strict with such people. Also Read: IMF-Bangladesh Bank meeting prioritizes unified exchange rate and competitive lending rate He said for lack of good governance, some organized groups have taken more money as loans than their ability, which is a reason behind surge in defaulted loans.

Despite Bangladesh Bank’s initiatives to promote good governance in the banking sector, 17 banks have recently violated their loan disbursement limits, and are now embroiled in a severe liquidity crisis. Having been over-aggressive in providing loans, they are now unable to recover the loans and attract new deposits as desired, according to a latest internal report of the central bank seen by UNB. The banks should not sanction any new loans until they restore the ratio of their loans to deposits in accordance with limits set by Bangladesh Bank, which regulates the financial sector.   Also Read: Banks' assets will decrease by 40% if international reporting standards followed: FRC Chairman Conventional banks can provide loans of up to Tk 87 for every Tk 100 in deposits, while Shariah-based banks can give loans of up to Tk 92 against every Tk 100 in deposits, according to the rules of Bangladesh Bank. This is called Advance Deposit Ratio (ADR) or loan-deposit ratio limit in banking terms. According to the central bank report covering January 1-26 of this year, 17 banks violated the limits set for them on lending order due to lack of discipline. As a result, the concerned banks have been plunged into an extreme liquidity crisis, making it difficult for them to sanction new loans. Some of them are even unable to pay depositors in some cases. Experts fear that the existing situation has created additional risks for depositors. According to them, irregularities, corruption and ‘ghost loans’ - loans to firms that turn out to be non-existent -are behind the collapse of the banking system’s loan disbursement process. Also Read: Prime Bank receives $50m from IFC to support trade, forex liquidity needs in Bangladesh “In the banking sector, there have been allegations of giving large amounts of ghost loans in recent times. If this continues, the sector will be at risk,” said Dr ABM Mirza Azizul Islam, economist and adviser on finance to the last caretaker government. Mirza Azizul told UNB, "Lending beyond the limit against deposits disrupts the credit system." Besides, the debt collection situation of the banks is not satisfactory now. In such a situation, if the non-performing loans increase further with additional loans, then there is a danger for the bank and its depositors will suffer, he added. He suggested the intervention of the central bank in these banks immediately. Also Read: BB signs deal with 32 banks to accelerate disbursement of green fund According to the Bangladesh Bank report, the ADR of National Bank Ltd stood at 98.23 while that of AB Bank was 96.64 in its conventional stream and 103.45 in its Shariah stream. State-owned Basic Bank’s ADR stood at 91.17, One Bank’s was 89, and multinational National Bank of Pakistan’s was 87.52. Widespread irregularities and corruption have already been reported in these banks. Apart from this, Community Bank's ADR was 88.28, NRB Bank’s at 88.05 and IFIC Bank's ADR was 87.48, the report states. Shariah-based Exim Bank's ADR stood at 100.28, Standard Bank's at 96.28, Premier Bank's Islamic Window 155.09 and Bangladesh Commerce Bank's Islamic Window's ADR was 133.26. Read More: Banks’ transaction time from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm for Ramadan Apart from this, the ADRs of five other Shariah-based banks ranged between 93.01 to 104.54. A managing director (MD) of a private bank told UNB that the lending limit has undoubtedly been set by Bangladesh Bank based on adequate research and global best practices. No bank should have to cross the limit. “These violations are creating risk in the banking sector. Depositors in particular will be at greater risk. Already some banks and non-bank financial institutions are not able to return money to depositors,” he said, maintaining anonymity. The central bank has also extended the period of ADR adjustment five times to allow the banks to bring their lending practices in line with the limits. Read More: BB disburses Tk 4000 crore as liquidity support to 5 Islami banks However, many banks could not coordinate this. In such a situation, Bangladesh Bank even increased the required ADR to improve the overall liquidity situation of the banking sector to maintain the pace in credit flow to the private sector. The executive director and spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, Md Mezbaul Haque, told UNB that although some banks may at times find themselves in violation of the ADR set for them, the central bank would under normal circumstances give them time to get themselves back within the limit. “But if they stay outside the limit for long, then they must be warned and action would be taken accordingly,” Mezbaul said. Read More: One of Silicon Valley's top banks fails; assets are seized