Salekeen Ibrahim

A senior banker.

Market access is the missing link for CMSMEs

In Bangladesh, we cannot think of a holistic economy without attending to the CMSME sector. From rural artisans to urban tech start-ups, CMSMEs are everywhere, creating jobs, generating income, and driving inclusive growth. Over the past decade, it is evident that the Bangladesh Bank, along with private commercial banks, has made significant strides in improving access to finance. This effort continues to evolve.

2w ago

The road from cheap labour to a skilled workforce

Our country has long been recognised for its abundant labour force. In addition, this abundance has often been labelled as “cheap labour”, a term that underscores a missed opportunity for a prospective nation.

2m ago

Navigating pathways post-LDC graduation

Bangladesh is on the verge of graduating from the least developed country (LDC) category in 2026, which will be a significant milestone in the history of its economic journey.

3m ago

Closure of weak banks: to be or not to be?

Years of corruption, mismanagement, fragile governance and bank looting have left several banks in distress in Bangladesh.

4m ago

Combating financial scams in banking system

Remarkably, the pandemic has acted as a blessing for digital services and dramatically transformed our financial setting, steering it in a nature where digital banking has renewed as an easy solution in our everyday lives.

4m ago

SMEs: Start locally, think globally

Since the country’s independence in 1971, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have played a pivotal role in GDP growth, employment, income generation, and local development.

5m ago

New loan classification policy a double-edged sword

Starting from the pandemic in 2020, Bangladesh as a nation has gone through a number of incidents in the last five years followed by the Ukraine war, interest rate capping, dollar crisis, high inflation, sluggish GDP growth, banking sector exploitation, intense corruption in different layers and lastly the political changeover in August.

7m ago

Building a loyal customer base

Talking about any industry from anywhere on the globe, customer loyalty stands as the foundation for a stable and long-term business venture. Considering Bangladesh, where market dynamics are very complex and rapidly evolving, nurturing customer loyalty is more crucial.

8m ago
June 27, 2024
June 27, 2024

Ecommerce a path to progress for SMEs in Bangladesh

In general, e-commerce is the exchange of goods and services, and the transmission of funds and data over internet. It is governed by technology and digital platforms, including websites, mobile apps and social media, which make buying and selling more feasible.

June 5, 2024
June 5, 2024

How to build a sustainable, ethical, and profitable business

The temptation to prioritise quick profits over long-term sustainability and ethics is predominant.

May 20, 2024
May 20, 2024

Building a brand

The word brand means a product, service or concept that is evidently distinguished from other products, services or concepts so that it can be simply communicated and frequently marketed.

April 25, 2024
April 25, 2024

SOS from SMEs

Micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), thanks to their entrepreneurial spirit and agility, have emerged as the heart of the growing economy of Bangladesh and the backbone of the financial ecosystem.

April 2, 2024
April 2, 2024

Financial bootstrapping: a key to pioneer startup revolution

In the thriving economy of Bangladesh, expanding the startup ecosystem and the quest for financial bootstrapping methods stands as one of the fundamental gateways to success.

March 7, 2024
March 7, 2024

Financing green growth

In the financial sector, green financing focuses on funding eco-friendly projects that will support managing intents towards a healthy environment not only for the existing generation but also for the future generation. It refers to the promotion of environment-friendly practices and the reduction of bank finances towards carbon-related footprint.

February 8, 2024
February 8, 2024

Unmasking the economic menace: the rising bad loans

Recently the Bangladesh Bank projected a significant drop in non-performing loans (NPLs) and is hoping that it will decrease by 2.76 percent over the next couple of years. This estimation came in Bangladesh Bank's roadmap on the strategic move to streamline NPL management.

January 31, 2024
January 31, 2024

Unprecedented role of artificial intelligence

In the rapidly changing landscape of the financial industry, where accuracy and anticipation are dominant, artificial intelligence (AI) can play a crucial role in the risk management process across institutions.

January 4, 2024
January 4, 2024

Good corporate governance key to better business

Corporate governance refers to a system of rules, practices, and processes by which a company is directed and controlled

December 13, 2023
December 13, 2023

Managing finances in high inflationary environment

During the period of high inflation, it becomes crucial to manage personal finances effectively