Mezbah Uddin Ahmed

The government’s proposed Tk 9.38 lakh crore budget for FY2026-27 is the largest in Bangladesh’s history.

It is no secret that the Islamic banking industry in Bangladesh is under significant stress.

While Islamic banking’s significant market share and systemic importance within the banking system are often highlighted as notable achievements, a troubling reality undermines this success: a substantial portion of investments in several Islamic banks are non-performing.

On January 14, a Bangladesh Bank (BB) letter announcing a “haircut” on deposit profits (no profit on deposits) for the five merged Islamic banks for 2024 and 2025 took depositors by surprise.

While we cannot control tectonic plates, we are not helpless in the face of climate degradation.

It has the potential to fundamentally reshape savings, deposits, and investments.

The UPS currently offers four schemes for citizens aged 18 and above: Probash, Progoti, Surakkha, and Samata.