Interim Govt Tries Best: Economic challenges lie ahead for next govt: Finance Adviser
Business Report :
Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed has cautioned that major economic challenges lie ahead for the next elected government, noting that while the interim administration has managed to bring relative stability to the economy, further reforms are needed.
Salehuddin said, “The reforms we have undertaken are not enough. They will be helpful for the next government. The upcoming challenges must be handled more tactfully.”
He made these remarks while addressing Sonali Bank’s Annual Conference 2026 as the chief guest at International Convention Center in the capital on Monday.
Advising Sonali Bank officials to maintain professionalism during the tenure of an elected government, the finance adviser warned that political pressure would inevitably arise.
“You can’t always say no directly. Instead, you need to develop negotiation skills and explain economic policies, banking laws, and audit norms,” recommending dialogue and mutual understanding in loan disbursement decisions.
He also urged banks to prioritise small and medium enterprises (SMEs) over large business groups in loan disbursement, noting that SMEs play a crucial role in employment generation. “They deserve more credit support, while loans to large businesses involve higher risks,” he said.
Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr. Ahsan H. Mansur spoke as special guest.
Dr Mansur said at the event that weak borrower selection remains a major factor behind rising defaults, adding that improving credit appraisal is essential to keeping loans from turning non-performing.
Years of tight regulatory controls have made state banks excessively cautious, constraining credit growth and limiting their contribution to the broader economy, the Governor said.
At the event, Sonali Bank Chairman Mohammad Muslim Chowdhury stressed the need for greater autonomy under the bank’s new PLC structure. He said the board should be given authority to appoint and remove the managing director to ensure corporate governance.
Sonali Bank’s Managing Director Shawkat Ali Khan said, “This year the default loan rate will be reduced to 10-12 percent. Next year it will come down to single digits.”
He added that once the default loan rate is reduced to 9 percent, the bank will focus on expanding export trade.
It may be noted that Sonali Bank, the country’s largest bank with 1,234 branches including two overseas branches, made an operating profit of Tk8,017 crore in 2025, an increase of Tk2,322 crore compared to 2024.
Highlighting this achievement, it was earlier announced at a press conference that deposits rose to Tk1,79,000 crore during the same period, which is Tk15,000 crore higher than in 2024.
Loan disbursement also increased by Tk5,500 crore compared to 2024, bringing the total to Tk1,04,723 crore.
Finance Secretary Dr Md Khairuzzaman Mozumder and Financial Institutions Division Secretary Nazma Mobarek also spoke at the inaugural session of the bank’s annual conference.