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.

6m 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 26, 2025
June 26, 2025

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.

May 13, 2025
May 13, 2025

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.

April 8, 2025
April 8, 2025

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.

March 4, 2025
March 4, 2025

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.

February 24, 2025
February 24, 2025

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.

January 22, 2025
January 22, 2025

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.

December 16, 2024
December 16, 2024

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.

October 24, 2024
October 24, 2024

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.

September 16, 2024
September 16, 2024

The way out for weak banks

The banking sector of Bangladesh has expanded over the years in terms of the number of formal financial institutes and types of financing instruments and products available in the country.

September 2, 2024
September 2, 2024

Interim govt’s path to financial stability

Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, Bangladesh as a nation finds itself at a critical crossroads. The subsequent political turmoil has left the country’s financial sector in a fragile position, calling for urgent strategic plans and decisive execution of ideas by the interim government. As Bangladesh stands on the brink of graduating from least developed country (LDC) status in 2026, the priorities of the interim government must be clear.