In the first quarter of 2024, Bank Asia PLC witnessed a significant decline in profit, with a plunge of 41 % year-on-year, recording a profit of Tk 77.88 crore compared to Tk 132.9 crore in the corresponding period of 2023. Consequently, the earnings per share (EPS) also experienced a downturn, dropping to Tk 0.67 from Tk 1.14, as per the unaudited financial statements.
The bank attributed this decline in EPS primarily to the higher provisions it had to maintain during the quarter compared to the same period last year. Despite this decrease in profit, the net operating cash flow per share exhibited a positive trend, increasing to Tk 17.44 from Tk 13.77. This improvement was driven by a rise in cash inflows, a spike in deposits, and a slower growth of loans.