Md Mehedi Hasan

Investigation is my foremost interest

Md Mehedi Hasan, Bangladeshi investigative journalist covering financial crimes especially in banking industry. Currently, working at The Daily Star as senior staff reporter with more than eight years of experience in the field of journalism.

Ten banks hold 71% of total bad loans

Just ten banks, both state-owned and private, account for 71 percent of all non-performing loans (NPLs) in the country’s banking sector.

1w ago

Distressed asset law in the making to tackle NPLs

The interim government is formulating a distressed asset management ordinance that could pave the way for a state-owned corporation to buy and trade troubled assets from banks and non-bank financial institutions (NBFIs).

1w ago

Provision shortfall at banks widens six times

Bangladesh's banking provision shortfall soared six-fold to Tk 170,655 crore, due to soaring bad loans

1w ago

Bad loans hit record Tk 420,355cr

Bad loans in Bangladesh’s banking sector hit a record Tk 420,335 crore at the end of March as a clearer picture of the toxic loan is coming to light following the political changeover in August last year.

1w ago

FY26 budget offers no new move to restore public confidence in banks

Around a dozen banks are currently struggling to repay depositors, eroding public trust

3w ago

Mercantile Bank maintains good reputation amid turmoil

The banking sector is currently going through one of its worst times. People are suffering, with some even failing to withdraw their own money, causing immense distress.

3w ago

Central bank at odds with BPO over Nagad’s future

The discord became apparent after Faiz Ahmed Taiyeb, special assistant to the chief adviser with authority over the Ministry of Posts, Telecommunications and IT, sent a letter to the BB governor on May 12 and posted the letter to his Facebook account recently

3w ago

The curious case of imposter at BB

Bangladesh Bank has recently discovered through a probe that the joint director of its Rajshahi office, who has been serving the central bank for 12 years under the name of Md Abdul Waresh Ansary, is actually an imposter.

4w ago
December 31, 2024
December 31, 2024

BB plans to raise exchange rate amid forex volatility

After seven months of implementing a crawling peg exchange rate system in spot purchases and sales of US dollars, the Bangladesh Bank (BB) is now considering increasing the mid-rate to Tk 119 from Tk 117 per greenback, according to central bank officials.

December 29, 2024
December 29, 2024

A rush to heal exposed banking wounds

In October, a video on social media showed the manager of Social Islami Bank’s Agargaon branch breaking down in tears after enduring harsh verbal abuse from frustrated customers seeking to withdraw cash.

December 27, 2024
December 27, 2024

Agrani Bank’s health deteriorated fast in last five years

Once a reputable state-run commercial lender, Agrani Bank saw its financial health deteriorate fast over the past five years, mainly due to massive lending to politically backed businesses, mismanagement by the board and fallouts of Covid-19.

December 26, 2024
December 26, 2024

S Alam-linked firms account for 56% of loans from First Security

Companies linked to the controversial S Alam Group took out 56 percent of the total disbursed loans of First Security Islami Bank (FSIB), one of six Shariah-based lenders controlled by the Chattogram-based business giant.

December 25, 2024
December 25, 2024

BB waiting for law to sue Nagad

The Bangladesh Bank is waiting for the interim government to bring a Payment and Settlement System Act, 2024 into effect, as it intends to take legal action against mobile financial service (MFS) provider Nagad Ltd over alleged irregularities.

December 23, 2024
December 23, 2024

Forex market volatile again on Ramadan import rush, overdue LCs

After a five-month pause, dollar rates have started to rise, prompting the central bank to question the managing directors of 13 banks about the fresh volatility of the greenback.

December 22, 2024
December 22, 2024

Explanations sought from 13 banks for higher dollar rate

BB issued letters on Dec 19 and the deadline for explanation ends today

December 20, 2024
December 20, 2024

First Security Islami Bank: Almost 90pc of Tk 2,254cr loan to Sikder Group sours

As much as 89.3 percent of the credit extended by First Security Islami Bank, when controlled by the major Awami League beneficiary S Alam Group, to AL-affiliated Sikder Group by violating banking rules and regulations has become defaulted.

December 20, 2024
December 20, 2024

Padma Bank seeks Tk 1,300cr bailout

Problem-ridden Padma Bank has applied to the Bangladesh Bank for Tk 1,300 crore in liquidity support to mitigate its crisis and strengthen its ability to repay depositors.

December 18, 2024
December 18, 2024

Six private banks see bad loans nearly triple in a year

Defaulted loans at six private commercial banks nearly tripled in one year till September 2024, according to central bank data, which bankers term “alarming”.