Information and Broadcasting Minister Zahid Uddin Swapon announced that reforms in Bangladesh’s banking sector will be brought under a commission framework. He made the statement on Sunday at a seminar titled “Good Governance in the Banking Sector and the Role of the Media,” held at the Economic Reporters Forum office in Dhaka. Swapon emphasized that banking sector governance is linked to the broader political and administrative governance of the state, and without systemic reform, discipline cannot be ensured.

During the event, speakers highlighted that the banking sector remains central to the country’s financing system, as the capital market and bond market have failed to meet demand. United Commercial Bank Managing Director Mamdudur Rashid noted that the sector has faced continuous pressure since 2020 due to the pandemic, foreign exchange volatility, and political changes. He identified lack of governance, transparency, and ethics as key causes of the current crisis, with non-performing loans rising from 11 percent in 2023 to 35 percent in 2025.

The seminar underscored that at least 14 banks and 20 financial institutions are struggling to return deposits on time, warning that further deterioration could trigger economic instability.