B Mirror Report : Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H. Mansur has encouraged Economic Advisor Salehuddin Ahmed to hasten the revision process of the Bank Companies Act and the Bangladesh Bank Order 1972 ahead of the 13th National Parliamentary Election, which is set for February 12. The Governor stressed the importance of these law changes for the stability of the nation’s banking sector and the stock market as a whole while speaking at a roundtable titled “Reforms in the Banking Sector” that took place today at a hotel in Dhaka.
Governor Mansur argued that post-election amendments could face significant delays, making it imperative to complete the process within the tenure of the current interim government. He stressed that timely reforms would not only strengthen governance in banks but also enhance investor confidence in the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE) and the broader financial sector.
However, Economic Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed expressed caution regarding the tight timeline. He acknowledged the importance of the reforms but noted that with only a few weeks remaining before the election, it may be challenging to finalize amendments to both laws. “We will try. But the time is extremely limited, so we are not certain how much can actually be accomplished,” he said.
The roundtable was jointly organized by the English daily The Financial Express and Mutual Trust Bank, with the Economic Adviser attending as the chief guest and the Governor as a special guest. Managing directors of both public and private banks, as well as business leaders, participated in the discussion. The banking sector leaders expressed full support for the Governor’s proposed reform initiatives, highlighting the urgent need for structural improvements.
Experts have identified the banking sector as the most vulnerable part of the economy since the beginning of the current fiscal year due to rising financial risks. Legal reforms are seen as essential to restore governance, maintain liquidity, and stabilize operations within the sector. Business leaders attending the roundtable also emphasized the need for comprehensive, long-term changes to ensure efficiency and investor confidence.
While acknowledging the time constraints and limitations of the interim government, the Economic Adviser assured that maximum efforts would be made to advance the reforms. Observers hope that, if successfully implemented, these initiatives will strengthen governance in banks and restore investor trust in the financial sector, contributing to broader economic stability in Bangladesh.
