Bangladesh Bank

What Bangladesh Bank does

Bangladesh Bank is the central bank and apex regulatory body of Bangladesh, established in 1971 following the country's independence and operating under the Bangladesh Bank Order, 1972. Headquartered in Motijheel, Dhaka, it serves as the country's monetary authority with exclusive statutory power over monetary policy, foreign exchange management, and supervision of all scheduled banks and authorized mobile financial service providers. Its core operational mandate covers maintaining price stability (headline inflation at 9.42% in May 2026 with a 10% policy rate), preserving financial system stability (NPLs at Tk 588,704 crore or 32.26% of disbursed loans as of end-March 2026), and managing foreign exchange reserves (US$33.01 billion under BPM6 as of July 2, 2026).

The institution runs the country's payment-infrastructure stack, including the National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB), the Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network (BEFTN), the Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS), the Interoperable Digital Transaction Platform (IDTP), and from July 1, 2026 the mandatory unified Bangla QR — with the next-generation Inclusive Instant Payment System (IIPS) targeted for July 2027. It operates active refinancing and credit-allocation schemes (a Tk 600 billion stimulus package in May 2026, a Tk 3,000 crore North Bengal agricultural refinancing fund, an expanded Tk 500 crore new-entrepreneur CMSME scheme, and the 39-bank Bangladesh Startup Investment Company with Tk 4.25 billion initial capital), an open banking API framework in development, a planned digital identity wallet system, a forward rate agreements framework, and the regulator-supervised agent banking and MFS ecosystems (238.6 million MFS accounts).

Bangladesh Bank does not generate commercial revenue. Its income derives from returns on foreign exchange reserves and open-market operations; infrastructure transaction fees are passed through to commercial participants with the NPSB merchant discount rate capped at 1% including VAT. Governance is provided by a Governor (currently Md Mostaqur Rahman FCMA, with Mohammad Sarwar Hossain serving as Deputy Governor) appointed by the Government of Bangladesh, to which the institution is accountable through the Ministry of Finance.

Name

Bangladesh Bank

Legal name

Bangladesh Bank

Website

https://bb.org.bd

Company type

Public

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Bangladesh Bank is the central bank and monetary authority of Bangladesh, headquartered in Dhaka. It formulates monetary policy, regulates all 39 scheduled banks and MFS providers, manages foreign exchange reserves, and operates the national payment-infrastructure stack including NPSB, Bangla QR, BEFTN, RTGS, and the forthcoming IIPS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Bangladesh Bank is the central bank of Bangladesh, operating as the monetary authority and apex financial regulator. It formulates and implements monetary policy, regulates 39 scheduled banks and mobile financial service providers, manages foreign exchange reserves, and operates national payment infrastructure including Bangla QR, National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB), BEFTN, RTGS, and the Interoperable Digital Transaction Platform. It also administers refinancing schemes for priority sectors, deposit insurance, and bank resolution frameworks.

Product overview

Bangladesh Bank operates as the central bank of Bangladesh, providing core financial infrastructure and payment systems rather than consumer products. The primary product portfolio includes Bangla QR (unified QR payment system that became mandatory in July 2026), National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB) routing various digital payments, and payment platforms including BEFTN, BACPS, RTGS, and IDTP. Additional offerings include refinancing schemes for agriculture (Tk3,000 crore North Bengal scheme), CMSMEs (expanded to Tk500 crore), startup equity investment through BSIC, green finance frameworks with SCOP, and e-loan digital lending. The bank also oversees Agent Banking and Mobile Financial Services ecosystems. The open banking framework with standardized APIs is in early-stage development for launch by 2027.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bangla QR A unified QR payment system that consolidates previously incompatible payment platforms from various banks and mobile financial services, enabling customers of any participating bank or MFS to pay any merchant by scanning a single QR code. Made mandatory nationwide on July 1, 2026.
• National Payment Switch Bangladesh (NPSB) Centralized payment switch that enables interoperability between different banks and payment systems, routing transactions across POS terminals, Bangla QR, e-commerce platforms, cards, and mobile financial services. Bangladesh Bank reduced the maximum merchant charge from 1.5% to 1% effective July 2026.
• Bangladesh Electronic Funds Transfer Network (BEFTN) Electronic funds transfer system for batch processing of high-volume, low-value payments including salaries, dividends, and government disbursements. Contributed 65% of payment platform transactions by volume in first half of 2025.
• Bangladesh Automated Cheque Processing Systems (BACPS) System for processing and clearing cheques electronically, handling cheque truncation and electronic presentment. Contributed 3% of payment platform transactions by volume in first half of 2025.
• Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS) Real-time gross settlement system for high-value, time-critical payments with immediate final settlement. Handles 64% of total payment platform transaction value in first half of 2025.
• Interoperable Digital Transaction Platform (IDTP) Platform enabling interoperable digital transactions between different financial service providers, including person-to-person transfers and merchant payments.
• Agent Banking Branchless banking service extending financial services to underserved rural areas through agent networks. As of March 2026, agent banking posted 18.6% year-on-year deposit growth to Tk 505.63 billion with 20,339 outlets.
• Mobile Financial Services (MFS) Regulatory Framework Regulatory framework for mobile-based financial services enabling money transfers, bill payments, and merchant transactions. Bangladesh experienced 28% annual increase in MFS transactions reaching approximately $158 billion in 2024. Platforms include bKash, Nagad, Rocket, and others.
• North Bengal Agricultural Refinancing Scheme Three-year Tk 3,000 crore refinancing scheme for North Bengal's agricultural sector, administered through scheduled banks in Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions with refinancing at 4% and maximum end borrower rate of 9%.
• Tk 600 Billion Refinancing and Support Fund Stimulus package of Tk 600 billion for closed industries, CMSMEs, agriculture, exports, and employment generation, comprising a Tk 410 billion refinancing fund and Tk 190 billion support fund.
• E-Loan Digital Lending Fully digital lending service of up to Tk 50,000 through end-to-end paperless processes with tenures of up to 12 months, maximum interest rate of 9% for banks using refinancing facilities, biometric verification, and compliance with cybersecurity and data protection laws.
• Bangladesh Startup Investment Company PLC (BSIC) Equity investment company formed in partnership with 39 scheduled banks to provide equity financing for startups, with initial paid-up capital of Tk 4.25 billion.
• Forward Rate Agreements (FRAs) Framework Framework allowing Authorised Dealers to offer Forward Rate Agreements to importers hedging interest rate risks on foreign currency import loans, with safeguards including 10 basis point pricing cap and 25% exposure limit.
• New Entrepreneur Refinancing Scheme Expansion Expanded refinancing scheme for new CMSME entrepreneurs providing collateral-free loans of up to Tk 10 lakh at maximum 7% interest rate, with a separate Tk 500 crore Startup Fund offering loans at 4% interest.
• Deposit Insurance Scheme Deposit insurance scheme protecting individual and institutional depositors under the Deposit Insurance Scheme and Bank Resolution Act 2026, providing deposit safety and withdrawal access during bank resolutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Record remittance inflows of $35.56 billion in FY2025-26, representing 17.3% YoY increase
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Dhaka UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 July 2026Bangladesh Bank partnered with Dhaka University to conduct an AI course for bank officers. Following media reports that all 30 initially nominated employees were men, BB reversed its decision and added 4 female officers including Afsana Rahman and Nazia Haque to the revised list.
• SCOP (Global Climate Fintech Platform)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 July 2026Bangladesh Bank partnered with SCOP to accelerate funding for renewable energy and climate-mitigation projects by establishing a digital framework that standardizes project documentation and due diligence procedures. SCOP will support structuring and issuance of green bonds while organizing capacity-building workshops for government agencies and financial institutions. The initiative aims to address delays in green project financing caused by inconsistent documentation and lengthy approval processes.
• AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Australia reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Bangladesh's banking sector reforms through technical assistance. Discussions covered macroeconomic outlook, non-performing loan management, foreign exchange reserves, and bank restructuring. Both countries expressed intention to deepen collaboration in financial sector modernization, capacity building, and knowledge sharing through programs like Australia Awards.
• MUFG Bank (Japan)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 24 June 2026MUFG Bank expressed interest in launching a branch in Bangladesh. Bangladesh Bank Governor assured the Japanese delegation that the central bank would provide necessary policy and regulatory support to facilitate such an initiative.
• Meghna Bank PLCminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 18 May 2026Meghna Bank signed Participation Agreements with Bangladesh Bank under the Cluster Financing Scheme and FSFDCMSME Refinancing Scheme to strengthen financing support for Cottage, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises across Bangladesh. CMSME customers can access financing at a concessional interest rate of 7% per annum.
• Business Continuity Institute (BCI, UK)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 April 2026Bangladesh Bank became a corporate member of the UK-based Business Continuity Institute. The membership is intended to enhance the bank's operational continuity, stability, and risk-resilience framework while supporting development of 'BCP Version 2.0' from 2015. BB expects to gain access to international training, certifications, and global best practices in business continuity management.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights8 records

Direct peers

• Reserve Bank of India: Central bank of India and apex monetary authority with comparable regulatory, payment infrastructure (UPI), and financial inclusion mandates. Operates in a much larger but adjacent South Asian financial system.
• State Bank of Pakistan: Central bank of Pakistan with a similar mandate, IMF program dependency, and FX reserve management focus. Directly comparable in governance structure and reform posture.
• Bank Indonesia: Central bank of Indonesia, operating a payment switch (BI-FAST), open banking framework, and QR interoperability (QRIS) that closely parallel Bangladesh Bank's Bangla QR and NPSB mandates.
• Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas: Philippine central bank operating InstaPay, PESONet, and a national QR (QR Ph). Comparable emerging-market regulator with active digital payment infrastructure build-out.
• Bank of Thailand: Central bank of Thailand with PromptPay and an established open banking framework. Comparable in mandating nationwide real-time retail payments and operating a financial inclusion agenda.

Broad incumbents

• People's Bank of China: China's central bank with the digital yuan (e-CNY) and an integrated payment infrastructure. Comparable in scope of monetary authority and digital currency ambitions, but vastly larger.
• Monetary Authority of Singapore: Singapore's central bank and integrated financial regulator. Operates PayNow, SGQR, and a national digital infrastructure. Comparable in the digital payment mandate, but serves a much more developed market.

Regional players

• Nepal Rastra Bank: Central bank of Nepal with a similar South Asian regulatory profile, smaller in scale, but comparable in remittance dependence, FX management, and digital payment modernization.
• Central Bank of Sri Lanka: Central bank of Sri Lanka. Comparable emerging-market central bank with IMF program involvement, FX reserve adequacy concerns, and post-crisis banking sector restructuring.
• Central Bank of Myanmar: Central bank of Myanmar. Adjacent emerging-market monetary authority facing its own FX and political transitions, useful as a regional-comparable benchmark for Bangladesh Bank.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BBGovernor
• Facebookfacebook.com/BangladeshBankOfficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments4 records

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Frequently asked questions about Bangladesh Bank