The number of bank accounts with at least Tk 1 crore dropped by 1,018 in the first quarter of 2024, driven by high inflation and the dollar crisis, which increased production costs and reduced business deposits. According to Bangladesh Bank, deposits in these accounts decreased by Tk1,316 crore to Tk740,150 crore by the end of March.
Persistent inflation above 9% and a registered rate of 9.89% in May led to people depleting their savings. The ongoing dollar crisis has hampered import-export activities, further reducing deposits in high-value accounts. Additionally, a decline in export orders and higher loan interest rates have pressured businesses, impacting their deposits.