Mamun Rashid

Banking, the lifeblood of any economy, faces unique challenges in Bangladesh. A high percentage of non-performing loans (NPLS), inadequate capital, and an overreliance on bank financing are just a few of the many obstacles impeding advancement.

Bangladesh Bank has announced a new plan to reduce non-performing loans (NPL) to less than 8 percent by June 2026. The central bank aims to bring down the NPL of state-owned commercial banks to 10 percent and private banks below 5 percent. As we know, many such initiatives have been introduced earlier and they failed to show desired results.

Reforming the Bangladesh banking sector is long overdue considering the ongoing struggles, such as liquidity issues, poor resource management, capital crises, and underperforming loans and their potential ripple effect on the economy. Forced bank mergers have been the talk of the town in recent times. But we have seen most of the "known to be good banks" quite confused and concerned about the possible measures.

The world's economic landscape is changing, shifting influence from the West to the East. In this transformation, Bangladesh, marked by a tech-savvy youth population is on the path of emerging as a promising hub for startups.

In 2023, Bangladesh's capital market faced a challenging environment characterised by internal constraints and external difficulties. It proved to be a tumultuous year for the stock business marked by unprecedented lows in average turnover and foreign investments, not seen since the collapse in 2010.

Post-pandemic, Bangladesh recovered reasonably quickly and was seeing encouraging signs that the economy was well poised to return to the pre-Covid growth path. However, a combination of global inflationary pressure and supply disruptions owing to the Russia-Ukraine War, a rising US dollar, increasing international inflation rates, and the emergence of recessionary fears in advanced economies coupled with a few not-so-thoughtful domestic policy measures created a hostile economic environment for us.

For years now, a plethora of reforms have been suggested by relevant stakeholders. As reactionary measures in a lot of instances, the government has explored some of these reforms and is taking steps in the right direction. However, considering where the economy stands right now and comparing with relevant countries, Bangladesh has significant ground to cover.

Bangladesh, with its emerging technology landscape, is an attractive playground for tech giants looking to invest, shape and benefit from this market. The government, with its Vision 2021 and SMART Bangladesh 2041 strategies, has pushed for a rapid digital transformation especially focusing on the public sector. 

The recent passing of Mr Fazlur Rahman, the founder of City Group, has left a profound void in the hearts of many who are mourning the loss of an iconic entrepreneur and industrialist.

Bangladesh has long relied on its diaspora's remittances, accounting for 4.76 percent of GDP in 2022-23 – the true potential lies in fostering deeper engagement

Given the challenges, the government must dive into the issues and come up with corrective measures immediately after taking charge

We need the central bank and the market operators to come up with the right price for the dollar

In FY23, RMG contributed 10.35 % to the country's GDP, driving economic growth

Our existing regulatory framework is barely functional at best, and this is constantly voiced by countless frustrated local and foreign companies

A look into how digital transformation can help banks in technological aspect.

Ever since the investment community started to talk about a rising Bangladesh and the potential the economy offers due to increased consumer spending, we get to host many international investors. Now that things are going a little topsy-turvy, the question is again surfacing: What may happen to the economy?

When I joined a global bank in the mid-eighties, we were given the understanding that a young person joins an organisation for brand value or monetary benefits, but the person leaves the organisation either with the boss or for the boss.

In an era defined by complex financial markets and ever-evolving investment opportunities, wealth management has emerged as a crucial discipline for individuals and families looking to secure their financial future.

When we think of branding, it is often that a company, business, or institution comes into our mind. However, another especially important aspect that we often do not talk much about is personal branding. Just think of Lionel Messi. Do you only know him as a player in the Argentine football team? I do not think so. For too many, he is regarded as the best footballer in the world. He is a brand all by himself.

In the journey towards professional growth and personal fulfilment, finding the perfect workplace plays a pivotal role. An extraordinary workplace goes beyond the conventional norms, nurturing an environment of productivity, positivity, and progress.