In 2022, Bangladesh’s life insurance sector saw a positive trend in claims settlement ratios, rising from 57.84% in 2021 to 66.97%. However, six insurers struggled, failing to settle even 50% of claims. Notably, Swadesh Islami Life Insurance had the highest settlement ratio at 48.15%, while Fareast Islami Life Insurance faced challenges, settling only 21.29% of its Tk4,559.38 crore claims. Progressive Life Insurance, though settling 39.11%, faced regulatory issues, being downgraded by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission.
The sector’s return on investment slightly decreased, with non-life at 5.65% (from 7.66%) and life at 7.39% (from 7.56%). The total gross premium for 2022 was Tk16,815 crore, with VAT and taxes of Tk1,305.73 crore deposited in the government’s exchequer. The insurance regulator, Idra, emphasized the importance of honoring mature policies for public benefit.