B Mirror Report: Former finance adviser of the interim government Dr. Salehuddin Ahmed has said that authorities must be prepared to firmly reject applications for new bank licenses in order to maintain stability in the financial sector.

He made the remarks on Saturday (April 11) while speaking at a conference held in Gulshan, Dhaka. The event, titled “Risk Conference on Banking and Finance 2026,” was jointly organized by financial consultancy firms DeFINE and DNET.

Referring to his experience as a former Bangladesh Bank governor, he said that during his tenure he received several proposals for establishing new banks and evaluated them carefully from a technical and cautious perspective. He added that political influence was never allowed to affect such decisions.

He noted that many depositors are currently struggling to withdraw funds from weak banks, which highlights the importance of rejecting new banking license applications when necessary.

Ahmed also emphasized the need to expand financial inclusion for those contributing to the economy, saying that technology-driven solutions can play a key role. He stressed that strict compliance in the banking sector is essential, as weaknesses in the economy have a direct impact on the financial system.

He further said that Bangladesh has no option but to strengthen its capital market, adding that the financial system cannot remain solely dependent on banks.

The former central bank governor also urged bankers to assess customers’ financial literacy and repayment capacity before approving loans in order to reduce risk. He emphasized that effective implementation of strong risk management policies is essential for the sustainable development of the banking sector.