B Mirror Report: The government has withdrawn its decision to reduce the profit rates on savings certificates and has decided to maintain the existing rates.
The Finance Department has instructed the Internal Revenue Department (IRD) to issue a notification on Sunday canceling the revised profit rates and retaining the previous ones. Accordingly, the IRD will issue an official notification in this regard.
As a result, investors will continue to receive the same profit rates on savings certificates that were in effect from July 1 to December 31, 2025, for the next six months as well.
Earlier, on December 28, a notification was issued announcing a reduction in the profit rates of all types of savings certificates for the period from January 1 to June 30, 2026. This decision caused concern among middle-class and limited-income investors. In response, the government has decided to maintain the earlier rates.
Under the existing structure, profit rates vary depending on the investment amount. Investments of up to Tk 7.5 lakh receive higher profit rates, while investments exceeding this amount earn lower rates. The government reviews and sets savings certificate profit rates periodically as part of its income and debt management strategy.
Among the various savings certificates offered by the National Savings Department, the Family Savings Certificate remains the most popular. The profit rate at maturity after five years for investments up to Tk 7.5 lakh remains 11.93 percent, while investments exceeding Tk 7.5 lakh continue to earn 11.80 percent.
For Pensioner Savings Certificates, the profit rate at five-year maturity for investments up to Tk 7.5 lakh remains unchanged at 11.98 percent. Investments above Tk 7.5 lakh will continue to receive a profit rate of 11.80 percent.
The Bangladesh Savings Certificate also maintains its previous rates. Investments of up to Tk 7.5 lakh will continue to earn 11.83 percent at maturity after five years, while investments exceeding this limit will receive 11.80 percent.
Additionally, the profit-based savings certificate with quarterly returns will continue to offer a profit rate of 11.82 percent for investments of up to Tk 7.5 lakh and 11.77 percent for investments above Tk 7.5 lakh.
Savings certificate holders are primarily middle-class families who rely on these investments during financial emergencies. Many households also depend on the regular profit income to cover monthly expenses.
The country has been experiencing high inflation for more than two years due to rising commodity prices. Although inflation has eased slightly in recent months, it remains between 8 and 9 percent.
Profit rates on savings certificates are reviewed every six months. After canceling the proposed reduction, the government has effectively kept the profit rates unchanged for nearly a year.
