Dhaka: Bangladesh Bank: BB Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur today addressed the ongoing concerns regarding the return of five merging banks funds to depositors, clarifying that the central bank is acting to protect the interests of the general public while adhering to Islamic financial principles.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, a key decision regarding deposit returns was based on the recommendations of the Shariah Council. These principles dictate that profit cannot be distributed during periods when a bank has incurred significant losses, which was the case during the 2024-2025 period. This specific change in policy was necessitated by the massive losses identified in the revised accounts for those years.
The BB governor made these remarks while speaking at a press conference at its headquarters in the city. To clarify recent reports that highlighted only the lack of profit for 2024, the Governor emphasized that depositors will still receive their principal amount.
Additionally, he stated that all accrued interest and investment returns up to the year 2023 will be paid in full. “If someone made a deposit ten years ago, they will receive their full return, including investment profits, up until the end of 2023,” the Governor noted, emphasizing that the central bank is ensuring these payments even though the actual returns during those periods were often unclear due to the banks’ precarious conditions.
While the revised accounts for 2024 and 2025 show that banks were facing severe financial strain, the Governor reiterated that the central bank is prioritizing the protection of depositors’ original investments. He acknowledged that although losses had been mounting for some time, the central bank is now focused on a transparent settlement process that respects Islamic principles of loss-sharing while minimizing the impact on the public.