Md Mehedi Hasan

Export and remittance sectors suffered disappointments in 2023, looking desperately for solutions this year

Bangladesh has failed to meet IMF’s target on keeping $17.78 billion as the minimum net international reserve as of December 31 last year

The central bank has extended a total of Tk 22,000 crore in emergency funds to seven beleaguered banks including five Islamic banks to dress up their balance sheet ahead of the year’s end.

Bangladesh and India on July 11 rolled out the cross-border trade settlement in the rupee to cut the dependence on the US dollar, but transaction figures illustrate a dearth of interest in carrying out businesses in the Indian currency.

National Bank, the country’s first private sector bank with a prosperous past, became a losing concern due to massive loan irregularities, lack of good governance and conflict among directors.

The devaluation of the taka has squeezed the import capacity of industries, particularly essential commodity importers and exporters

Bancassurance will help banks improve their profitability and boost liquidity, in addition to making them more responsible towards clients, said Syed Mahbubur Rahman, managing director and CEO of Mutual Trust Bank PLC

Fourteen banks, including six state-run ones, faced a record capital shortfall in the third quarter of 2023, an indication of their fragile financial health caused mainly by a lack of governance. 

Complexities involving deeds offered as mortgage, lengthy procedures for availing the loans, lack of collateral, and growing demand for Netflix and other video streaming platforms are the major reasons for poor demand

Bangladesh Bank sets December 26 deadline for the banks to adjust current account deficit

Bancassurance is an arrangement between a bank and an insurer, allowing the former to sell the products of the latter through its vast network

Pressure on the foreign exchange reserves remains high as the deficit in the financial account continues to widen despite the narrowing trade gap and a current account surplus.

Five Shariah-based banks are still experiencing liquidity crisis despite significant support from the central bank

The inflow of remittance to Bangladesh increased 21 percent year-on-year to $1.93 billion in November as most banks are offering higher rates for the US dollar to boost foreign currency collection.

Bangladesh Bank is hunting for dollars to rebuild its depleting foreign exchange reserves ahead of the January 7 national election.

interest rates on all kinds of deposits have been rising since the withdrawal of the lending rate ceiling in June

rate will be 7.75 percent, which will be effective from today

Janata Bank has failed to meet any of its performance improvement targets set by the central bank in the first half of the year -- a worrying development given that the state bank accounts for the second-highest volume of deposits and loans among the 61 scheduled lenders in Bangladesh.

Bad loans in six private banks increased by about 55 percent in the first nine months of the year, raising further alarms about the health of the banking sector.

Some banks are seeing extraordinary growth in remittance inflows thanks to offering at least Tk 4 more than the permitted rate per dollar.