Published : 06 Oct 2026, 12:07 AM
Updated : 06 Oct 2026, 12:07 AM
Banks' Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending in Bangladesh has fallen nearly 21 percent year-on-year.
A report released by Bangladesh Bank on Monday revealed that 17 banks -- including three foreign lenders -- spent no funds on CSR during the period.
According to the central bank's updated report on CSR expenditure, the country’s 61 commercial banks spent Tk 1.19 billion in the first six months of the year (January–June).
The spending was Tk 1.51 billion during the same period in 2025.
This represents a decline of Tk 315.2 million, or 20.94 percent.
The 61 banks included EXIM Bank, First Security Islami Bank, Global Islami Bank, Union Bank, and Social Islami Bank, which have since been merged under the state-owned Sammilito Islami Bank PLC.
Following the takeover of those five banks last August, the total number of commercial banks in the country has dropped to 57.
Banks are required to allocate CSR funds from their net profit after tax at the end of the year.
Financial institutions typically base their subsequent CSR spending on the preceding year's earnings, though they are permitted to spend beyond those earnings.
Under the policy, up to 30 percent of total CSR spending must go to education and healthcare.
Another 20 percent should be spent on the environment and climate, while the remaining 20 percent can be spent on sports, culture, disaster response, infrastructure development and income-generating activities.
The central bank said this year that CSR funds could also be used to promote the use of Bangla QR codes.
Banks operating at a loss are not allowed to spend on CSR.
The drop in banking sector profits in 2025 directly contributed to the reduced CSR expenditure in the first half of this year.
In total, 17 local and foreign banks recorded zero CSR spending. The list of private lenders includes Union Bank, Shimanto Bank, Padma Bank, Global Islami Bank, National Bank, ICB Islamic Bank, and First Security Islami Bank.
The state-owned banks on the list include Bangladesh Commerce Bank, Bangladesh Development Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank, Bangladesh Krishi Bank, BASIC Bank, Agrani Bank, and Janata Bank.
The foreign lenders that recorded no CSR spending were Woori Bank, National Bank of Pakistan, and Habib Bank.
