Mamun Rashid

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to generate curiosity, fear and hype. Some believe it will replace millions of jobs overnight.

Despite ongoing challenges across the sector, a few private banks delivered remarkable growth and profitability in 2025. BRAC Bank became the first local private bank to cross the Tk 2,000 crore profit milestone, while several leading banks recorded annual profit growth of between 20 percent and more than 100 percent.

The National Board of Revenue’s (NBR) collection of more than Tk360,000 crore during the first eleven months of the fiscal year deserves recognition. At a time when Bangladesh is grappling with mounting fiscal pressures, this performance signals improvement in revenue administration despite a challenging economic environment.

City Group has long been regarded as one of Bangladesh’s most successful local conglomerates.

Bangladesh’s banking sector is facing one of its most serious challenges in recent history.

Governor Mostaqur Rahman has remained true to his announcement. He committed to helping reopen closed factories and has launched stimulus packages to create synergy in the economy, though much depends on commercial banks, government guarantees and, more importantly, entrepreneurs themselves.

A national budget is more than a statement of revenue and expenditure. It reflects a government’s economic philosophy, political priorities and development strategy.

The recent decline in the non-performing loan (NPL) ratio, from 35.73 percent in September 2025 to 30.60 percent in December, may appear encouraging.