Some banks are recovering well, while others may continue to struggle, but no banks will be shut down, said Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed on Tuesday. “Some banks are recovering. Islami Bank, the largest bank, is improving. However, some banks will continue to struggle. But we will not shut down any bank,” he said while speaking at a press conference at the Secretariat, organised by the Ministry of Finance. Finance Adviser prioritises short-term reforms over long-term ones The Finance Adviser mentioned that the government’s commitment to stabilising the banking sector despite challenges. He also focused on fiscal management, mentioning that measures are being taken to reduce government expenditure. “Salaries and allowances for government officials will not be impacted,” he assured. Referring to the Annual Development Programme (ADP), Dr Salehuddin Ahmed mentioned that projects deemed unnecessary or influenced by political considerations are being reviewed for possible adjustments. Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Majumdar, Secretary of the Financial Institutions Division Nazma Mobarak, Secretary of the Economic Relations Division (ERD) Md Shahriar Kader Siddiqui, and National Board of Revenue (NBR) Chairman Md Abdur Rahman Khan were also present at the press conference.

Finance Adviser Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed on Wednesday said that the government is actively working to restore investor confidence in Bangladesh’s capital market, with a focus on both short- and long-term stability measures. Following a meeting with the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) at its headquarters in Dhaka’s Agargaon, Dr. Salehuddin addressed reporters, highlighting the government's commitment to addressing current market challenges. “We are committed to resolving existing and past issues in the stock market so that both local and international investors feel secure in their investments,” Dr. Salehuddin said. “Our approach includes both immediate measures and long-term plans to build a sustainable and robust capital market.” Finance Adviser urges banks to ensure rigorous loan scrutiny and inclusive lending He further noted that the discussions centered around key issues, including liquidity challenges and mutual funds, to ensure a more resilient market structure. BSEC Chairman Khondokar Rashed Maqsood, also present at the meeting, emphasized that several policy concerns were raised with the Finance Adviser. “I outlined key policy issues, and we anticipate that the ministry will make some visible, swift decisions to address pressing problems,” he said. The discussions touched on critical areas such as negative equity, liquidity support, tax reforms, buyback policies, and banking sector reform, all aimed at stabilizing the market and providing investor reassurance. The Finance Adviser also consulted with committees investigating stock market irregularities, signaling the government’s intent to tackle regulatory issues head-on.