Specialized and Private Banks Face Closure Over Mismanagement

In the wake of recent governance changes in Bangladesh, foreign correspondent banks are easing their previously tightened credit lines for Bangladeshi banks. This shift follows prompt repayment of overdue import bills—over $2.5 billion—which had previously caused international banks to restrict credit access.

In the October–December quarter of 2024, banks in Bangladesh recovered Tk 9,791 crore in non-performing loans (NPLs), marking a 23% increase from Tk 7,960 crore in the same period of 2023. Despite this nominal rise, the NPL recovery ratio—which indicates the percentage of recovered loans relative to total outstanding defaulted loans—declined to 3.44% from 5.12% in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.

In a major financial crime verdict, a Dhaka court has sentenced 11 individuals, including seven former officials of Sonali Bank, for embezzling Tk 1.38 crore from the bank’s Sheraton Hotel branch. The judgment was delivered on Monday by Judge Mohammad Zakaria Hossain of Dhaka's Special Judge Court-6. Among the convicted, seven former bank officials received 3-year prison terms

Moody's Ratings has identified Bangladeshi banks as among the most vulnerable in the Asia-Pacific region to the recent 37% increase in U.S. import tariffs on Bangladeshi goods. This heightened exposure stems from Bangladesh's heavy reliance on ready-made garment (RMG) exports, a sector now facing substantial challenges due to the tariff hike.

The Power Division has requested Bangladesh Bank's intervention to recover Tk 8.50 billion stuck with the financially troubled National Bank Limited (NBL), which has failed to transfer the remaining funds from a total of Tk 13.29 billion deposited by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) across three accounts in its Motijheel and foreign exchange branches.

After interest rates were liberalized in May 2024, agricultural loan rates surged to 15–18%, up from a previous cap of 8%, resulting in a notable decline in disbursements. In the first eight months of the current fiscal year, banks disbursed Tk 22,126 crore in agricultural loans, which is Tk 1,565 crore or 6.60% less than the same period last year.