Flexible investment, wider access Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC.

Mosleh Uddin Ahmed
Managing Director
Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC.

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With 25-year tenures, simplified financing for semi-pucca houses and targeted concessions, we aim to make Shariah-compliant home investment more accessible to women, first-time buyers and lower-income families across urban, peri-urban and rural Bangladesh.

Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC is seeking to widen access to Shariah-compliant home investment through 25-year tenures, takeover facilities and simplified financing for semi-pucca houses. Concessional profit rates, case-by-case fee waivers and conditional flexibility in document submission are intended to lower entry barriers for women, first-time buyers and lower-income customers.

The Daily Star (TDS): What are the primary bottlenecks preventing willing buyers from accessing formal home finance?

Mosleh Uddin Ahmed (MUA): The main obstacle is the documentation gap. Approved plans and a complete chain of property documents are difficult to arrange in many cases, complicating title verification and formal financing. Customers must also provide substantial upfront cash for down payments, legal fees, registration and other costs. Together, these requirements discourage many prospective buyers despite genuine housing demand.

TDS: What products and repayment options make home investment more accessible?

MUA: We sometimes offer home investment at a minimum profit rate. For lower-income customers, we provide up to Tk 50 lakh to finance semi-pucca houses through simplified documentation. Eligible customers may receive tenures of up to 25 years to reduce monthly instalments. For takeover facilities, financing can cover the remaining tenure of an existing investment. All facilities are structured under the bank’s Shariah guidelines and prevailing investment policy.

TDS: How are you addressing documentation delays and improving the application process?

MUA: Documentation formalities can delay approval. Under special conditions, we may allow certain documents to be submitted later, giving customers additional time while their applications proceed. At the same time, we are working to digitise our internal systems. This initiative remains under development, but is expected to simplify applications, improve service efficiency and reduce turnaround times once implemented.

TDS: How does the bank support women and first-time home buyers?

MUA: Eligible customers may receive concessions on the profit rate, depending on their income and circumstances. Other fees may also be waived on a case-by-case basis. We particularly encourage women and first-time buyers through lower profit rates and fee concessions.

TDS: What policy-level changes are needed to expand home finance?

MUA: Policy support must simplify documentation and speed up verifications to improve affordability. Having extended our investment tenure to 25 years and upgraded internal systems, we must keep evolving policies to make financing convenient while maintaining responsible, Shariah-compliant assessments.