The overall Islamic banking sector’s deposits dropped by 1.94% to Tk 436,667 crore by September, down from Tk 445,309 crore in June, reducing its market share to 25.08% from 25.56%. This shift reflects growing depositor preference for Islamic banking services at conventional banks amid concerns over irregularities and financial instability at fully Shariah-based institutions.
Deposits at Bangladesh’s 10 full-fledged Islamic banks fell by 2.9% to Tk 390,760 crore by September, down from Tk 402,541 crore in June, reflecting a 1.11% year-on-year decline. In contrast, conventional banks with Islamic banking branches saw a 3% rise in deposits, reaching Tk 20,582 crore in September from Tk 19,986 crore in June. Islamic banking windows of commercial banks also experienced deposit growth during this period, driven by stronger financial health and fewer irregularities compared to full-fledged Islamic banks.