Research Report on Banking Sector Reform in Bangladesh and its Impact

Posted on 21st Dec 2024 12:12:04 AM Banking, Finance


1.1 Background

There is no denying the fact that the financial system plays a significant role in the economic development of a country. The importance of an efficient financial sector lies in the fact that, it ensures domestic resources mobilization, generation of savings, and investments in productive sectors. In fact, it is the system by which a country’s most profitable and efficient projects are systematically and continuously directed to the most productive sources of future growth. Financial sector of Bangladesh comprises with commercial banks, non-bank financial institutions, insurance companies etc. However, the banks and non-bank institutions play the key role in the financial system of Bangladesh. After liberation of Bangladesh in December 1971, all the financial institutions including the commercial banks carried out their operations in order to achieve the objectives of the government. This situation continued up to 1982. At that period, some regulations were formulated and some directions were made to the banks with a view to fulfill the economic objectives of the government rather than to fulfill the commercial interest of the banks. 

In 1983, the Bangladesh Government initiated “ownership reform” program and allowed private commercial banks (PCBs) to start their business in the industry and to enhance the efficiency of the individual banks. At the same time, government decided to denationalize two NCBs. This initiative was not fully successful due to two major obstacles, namely the undue influence in the credit sanctioning process, and the absence of requirement to report loan classification and provisioning. 

In the backdrop of the prevailing poor performance and weak capacity of the banks, the government was sincerely concerned to identify the major problems in the financial system. Later on, a number of reform measures were initiated broadly under the Financial Sector Reform Program (FSRP) and subsequently under Banking Reform Committee (BRC) and Commercial Bank Restructuring Project (CBRP). 

1.2 Problem Definition

The performance of banks is important to the individual consumers of bank deposit and loan services, stockholders, employees, government regulators, management and to the entire economy. Broadly speaking, bank performance is important to individual consumers of bank deposit and loan services as well as to the performance of the entire economy. 

The foremost question now is whether the reform measures taken were successful or not. It is a matter of argument regarding how far these reforms have been effective towards both the development of Bangladesh's financial sector and the improvement in the banks' performance, and what measures still need to be undertaken to eliminate the present impediments in the sector.

The study aims to examine the progress in the financial development in the country, and to compare and analyze the progress under the CAMEL framework, which considers "Capital 
Adequacy, Asset Quality, Management Soundness, Earning performance and Liquidity". 

1.3 Objectives of the Study

The broad objective of the study is to examine the reforms that took place in Bangladesh and to explore the financial implications of the reforms. Followings are the specific objectives of the study:

  • To review the banking and non-banking sector reform programs; 
  • To compare the financial performance of the banking and non-banking system in Bangladesh before and after implementation of the banking and non banking sector reforms; 
  • To identify different problem areas of the banking sector of Bangladesh, which still 
    needed careful restructuring for better performance; and 
  • To suggest some policy measures for strengthening the restructuring mechanism. 

1.4 Scope and Limitations

This particular subject is extremely extensive in nature. To evaluate the effect of reform measures on the whole financial sector it is required to study both the banking and non-banking system as a whole. This research tried to concentrate only on the financial performance issues while evaluation of the reform measures also requires some other considerations. This particular study is extremely extensive in nature. Hard effort is given to make the study worthwhile and meaningful; even then, there exists some limitations. 

Lack of appropriate measurement yardstick and complexity of interlinks of the reform measures among different parts of the economy and information availability constitutes one of the major limitations of this report. In addition, the financial information was collected from secondary sources and the accuracy could not be verified which may cause deviation from the reality if this information is inaccurate. 

1.5 Presentation of the research

Chapter 1 discusses background of the study, objectives, scope and limitations. 

Chapter 2 reviews relevant conceptual framework and literature review on banking reforms. 

Chapter 3 reveals the methodology of research to evaluate the performance of banks.

Chapter 4 looks into the reform measures undertaken in order to remove the problems of the banking sector of Bangladesh and evaluates the impact of the reforms. 

Chapter 5 concludes from the financial picture depicted in the study and provides some policy inferences for further development of the banking system in Bangladesh.

Abstract

The aim of this study is to summarize the major reforms undertaken in the banking industry of Bangladesh and to evaluate their impact on the financial development and individual performances of the banks. Development of financial system is measured by financial deepening, competitiveness and profitability within the banking industry. Individual Performances of the banks are measured by "Capital Adequacy, Asset Quality, Management Soundness, Earning performance and Liquidity" of the banks. The study reveals that the financial system in Bangladesh has been developed to some extent. However, we observe a mixed result for different types of banks in case of performance evaluation of the banks. While the local banks failed to achieve satisfactory improvement, the foreign banks were able to improve their performance considerably perhaps for having strong and efficient management, and additional compliance with the policy, guidelines, standards issued by their head office.

Keywords: Banking sector reform; Financial development; Bank performance; Competitiveness; CAMEL Framework

List of Acronyms

BBO     :           Bangladesh Bank Order

BCA     :           Bank Companies Act

BCD     :           Banking Control Department

BIS       :           Bank for International Settlement

BKB      :           Bangladesh Krishi Bank

BRC     :           Banking Reform Committee

BRPD   :           Banking Regulations & Policy Department

CBPASS            :           Commercial Banking Problem Analysis and Strategy Study

CBRP   :           Commercial Bank Restructuring Project

CIB       :           Credit Information Bureau

CRAR   :           Capital to Risk weighted Assets Ratio

CRGS   :           Credit Risk Grading System

CRR     :           Cash Reserve Requirement

DFIs     :           State-owned Development Financial Institutions

EPZ      :           Export Processing Zone

EWS     :           Early Warning System

FCBs    :           Foreign Commercial Banks

FSRP    :           Financial Sector Reform Program

SCBs    :           State-owned Commercial Banks

IAS       :           International Accounting Standard

MOU   :           Memorandum of Understanding

NBFIs   :           Non Bank Financial Institutions

NCBs    :           Nationalized Commercial Banks

NPLs    :           Non-Performing Loans

OBU     :           Offshore Banking Unit

OECD   :           Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development

PCBs    :           Private Commercial Banks

PPS      :           Performance Planning System

RAKUB :           Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank

RWA    :           Risk Weighted Assets

SBs       :           Specialized Banks

SLR      :           Statutory Liquidity requirement

SMA     :           Special Mention Account

WB      :           World Bank

 

Contact us to read the full 'Research Report' internshipreport12@gmail.com

 

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Abstract

List of Acronyms

Table of Contents

List of Tables

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Background

1.2 Problem Definition

1.3 Objectives of the Study

1.4 Scope and Limitations

1.5 Presentation of the Report

Chapter 2: Conceptual Framework and Literature Review

2.1 Conceptual Framework

2.1.1 Defining Banking Sector Reform

2.1.2 Significance of Banking Sector

2.1.3 Why Financial Sector Reform?

2.1.4 Nationalization of the Banking System in Bangladesh

2.1.5 Privatization of the Banking System in Bangladesh

2.1.6 Current Structure of the Financial System in Bangladesh

2.2 Theoretical Framework of Financial Sector Reform

2.2.1 Financial Reforms in South Asia

2.2.2 India

2.2.3 Pakistan

2.2.4 Sri Lanka

2.2.5 Nepal

Chapter 3: Methodology

3.1 Research Methodology

3.2 CAMEL Rating

3.2.1 Capital Adequacy

3.2.2 Asset Quality

3.2.3 Management Efficiency

3.2.4 Earning Performance

3.2.5 Liquidity

Chapter 4: Banking Sector Reforms in Bangladesh

4.1 Instigation of Reforms

4.2 Financial Sector Reform Program

4.3 Brief Description of the Reforms

4.3.1 Policy Reforms

4.3.2 Institutional Reforms

4.3.3 Legal Reforms

4.4 Impact of Banking Sector Reforms: Empirical Evidences

4.5 Impact of Reforms to Financial Development

4.5.1 Financial Deepening

4.5.2 Competitiveness of the Banking Industry

4.5.3 Profitability of the Banking Industry

4.6 Performance Evaluation of Banks

4.6.1 Capital Adequacy

4.6.2 Asset Quality

4.6.3 Management Efficiency

4.6.4 Earning Performance

4.6.5 Liquidity

Chapter 5: Conclusions and Policy Inferences 

5.1 Conclusions

5.2 Policy Inferences



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