News Flash
SANGSAD BHABAN, Sept 6, 2026 (BSS) – The Bangladesh Bank is introducing a Dual Banking System to expand customers’ access to both conventional and Shariah-based Islamic banking services according to their religious and financial needs and to further integrate the country’s financial sector with the international Islamic finance system.
Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury disclosed this today while replying to a written question from Syed Zainul Abedin, a Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker from Dhaka-4, in the Jatiya Sangsad.
The finance minister said Bangladesh Bank has already taken steps to introduce the dual banking system to expand customers’ options to choose between conventional and Shariah-based Islamic banking services.
He said the government has also taken initiatives to strengthen Bangladesh’s integration with the international Islamic finance system.
According to the minister, the Bangladesh Bank had approved 1,699 branches for full-fledged Islamic banks as of June 30 this year. Of these, 1,074 branches are located in urban areas and 625 in rural areas.
Among these branches, Islami Bank Bangladesh PLC has 400, Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC 226, Shahjalal Islami Bank PLC 141, Standard Islami Bank PLC 138 and Sammilito Islami Bank PLC 761 branches.
Of the 761 branches of Sammilito Islami Bank PLC, 206 belonged to First Security Islami Bank PLC, 181 to Social Islami Bank PLC, 155 to EXIM Bank PLC, 114 to Union Islami Bank PLC and 105 to Global Islami Bank PLC. Besides, ICB Islamic Bank has 33 branches under the arrangement.
The finance minister further said 35 conventional banks currently operate Islamic banking services through 75 Islamic banking branches and 1,102 Islamic banking windows.
He added that two more conventional banks have received approval to conduct Islamic banking operations.
The minister said the government has continued efforts to further expand the scope of the dual banking system since assuming office.
