Play store
Bangladesh Bank’s net profit rose to nearly Tk 25,900 crore in the 2025-26 financial year despite continued pressure on the economy and banking sector, marking an increase of about Tk 3,280 crore, or 14.5 per cent, from the previous year.
The central bank posted a net profit of Tk 22,620 crore in 2024-25.
The Bangladesh Bank board approved the central bank’s financial statements for 2025-26 at a meeting on Sunday (August 30). Governor Mostaqur Rahman chaired the meeting, held at the central bank’s headquarters, with members of the board in attendance.
The board also approved an incentive bonus equivalent to six times the basic salary for Bangladesh Bank officials.
The rise in profit is mainly attributed to increased lending by commercial banks from Bangladesh Bank amid a liquidity crunch in the banking sector, as well as higher returns from investments of the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
As banks faced growing liquidity pressures, many were forced to borrow more from the central bank than in previous years. This increased Bangladesh Bank’s interest income from lending to commercial banks, contributing to its overall earnings.
The central bank also invests part of the country’s foreign exchange reserves in various foreign assets. Returns from those investments were relatively strong during the last financial year, helping boost both investment and interest income.
Economists, however, caution against viewing the rise in Bangladesh Bank’s profit as a straightforward sign of business success. They say profit-making is not the primary objective of a central bank. Its core responsibilities include controlling inflation, ensuring stability and good governance in the banking sector, reducing financial risks, and maintaining adequate liquidity and credit flows in the economy.
According to economists, when banks face liquidity shortages and structural weaknesses, they tend to borrow more from the central bank, which in turn increases Bangladesh Bank’s interest income. In that sense, weaknesses in the banking sector can themselves contribute to higher earnings for the central bank.
Bangladesh Bank’s profit has fluctuated significantly in recent years. In 2023-24, its total profit was around Tk 40,000 crore, including net profit of Tk 15,300 crore. Net profit rose to Tk 22,620 crore in 2024-25 before reaching nearly Tk 25,900 crore in 2025-26.
Analysts say the rise in Bangladesh Bank’s profit does not necessarily indicate an improvement in the country’s overall economic conditions. Increased borrowing by commercial banks can naturally raise the central bank’s interest income. Similarly, higher returns on foreign-asset investments do not necessarily mean that other economic indicators have improved.
They therefore argue that Bangladesh Bank’s policy role and its effectiveness in maintaining banking-sector stability should be assessed alongside its financial performance.
For the broader economy, they say, more important indicators include the central bank’s success in controlling inflation, reducing non-performing loans, stabilising weak banks and increasing credit flows to the private sector.