DHAKA, Jan 29, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur today announced that depositors of Sammilito Islami Bank will receive a maximum interest rate of 9.5 percent against their deposits starting from 2026.
 
“The new interest rate for Sammilito Bank as a market-based, competitive rate,” he said while speaking at a press conference at BB headquarters in the city.
 
 Mansur stated that depositors will receive a 4 percent profit rate for the years 2024 and 2025, noting that the five banks involved in the merger incurred huge losses during those two years.
 
While Islamic banking principles dictate that depositors do not receive profits if a bank is in loss, the Governor explained that the government is providing this 4 percent return as ‘ex gratia' (onukompa).
 
 This initiative is expected to cost the government a total of Taka 4,500 crore, he added.
 
The governor also said that depositors will get a monthly interest payment on their monthly deposit scheme from 1 February.
 
However, he said, withdrawal of principle amount of deposits over Tk2 lakh will take time, he said.
 
 To address consumer grievances, he said that the Bangladesh Bank will introduce a hotline by next week to receive complaints directly from depositors.
 
The governor acknowledged that dissatisfaction has surfaced in various quarters regarding Sammilito Islami Bank but said the authorities are working to address the issues.
 
“No plan can be implemented with 100 percent success. Problems are identified over time and resolved step by step,” he said, adding that some groups are attempting to obstruct the implementation of Sommilito banking operations.
 
Last year, the central bank finalised the Bank Resolution Scheme 2025 for Sammilito Islami Bank PLC, which was created by merging five crisis-hit Shariah-based banks. This scheme outlines the specific steps and timelines required for repaying depositors' funds as part of the resolution process.