Home
+
Published : 02 Feb 2026, 03:02 PM
The interim government has managed to keep the economy relatively stable and faced many challenges, but the challenges ahead are even bigger, according to Finance Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed.
Speaking at Sonali Bank’s annual conference on Monday, Salehuddin said: “The reforms we have undertaken are not enough, but they will be helpful for the next government. The challenges ahead need to be handled more tactfully.”
Advising Sonali Bank officials on professional conduct during an elected government, he said: “Pressure will come under a political government. You cannot say ‘no’ to them directly. You need to have negotiation skills, explain the government’s economic policies, and show them the banking laws and audit norms.”
He suggested that loans should be approved through discussion and consensus.
Emphasising support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over big businesses, he said: “They play a significant role in employment generation. Therefore, they should receive more loans. Lending to larger businesses carries higher risks.”
Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur said that the non-performing loans of state-owned Sonali Bank are now at a manageable level.
“In the past, lending caused losses. Now, there is caution in lending, and it must continue. But banks must also be bold in giving loans,” he said.
“Sonali Bank has recovered this year. From next year, it will be fully profitable. Credit cards are now a large sector. Efforts should be made to introduce new products. The number of credit card holders could reach 500,000–1 million,” he added.
Currently, the number of Sonali Bank credit cards stands at around 7,000.
Advising the bank to expand its lending portfolio, Mansur said: “Currently, the annual loan portfolio is around Tk 50–70 billion. It could double to Tk 150 billion. Banks need to be bolder in lending.”
Last year, Sonali Bank disbursed approximately Tk 50 billion in new loans.
He added that the bank is navigating challenges and warned that tougher times may lie ahead. “This must be overcome. In state-owned banks, collection rates are low, and that trend must be broken.”
Commenting on the bank’s performance, he said: “Sonali Bank is performing well across all parameters. It can serve as a benchmark for other state-owned banks.”
CHAIRMAN WANTS MD RECRUITMENT AUTHORITY
Highlighting that Sonali Bank now operates as a PLC, the bank's Chairman Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury said: “The bank must now be run under a corporate structure as much as possible. The board should have the authority to appoint the managing director (MD) and the power to hire and fire.”
Addressing officials of the Ministry of Finance and the government, he said: “Make the board accountable. Assess their performance, remove them if necessary, and appoint new ones. Despite being a state-owned bank, Sonali Bank is performing well. Currently, the government makes appointments and promotions for the MD (managing director) and two other senior positions.”
Sonali Bank Managing Director Shawkat Ali Khan said, “This year, the non-performing loan ratio will be reduced to 10–12 percent. Next year, it will drop to single digits.”
He added that once the non-performing loan ratio drops to 9 percent, the bank will focus on increasing export trade.
With 1,234 branches, including two overseas, Sonali Bank recorded a net operating profit of Tk 80.17 billion in 2025, up Tk 23.22 billion from 2024.
Earlier, the bank had reported deposits rising to Tk 1.79 trillion, an increase of Tk 150 billion from 2024.
Loan distribution also grew, adding Tk 55 billion compared to 2024, bringing the total to Tk 1.05 trillion.
