Bangladesh Commerce Bank
Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited is a private-sector commercial bank operating in Bangladesh.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited is a Bangladeshi private-sector commercial bank. Its institutional background reaches back to Bangladesh Commerce and Investment Limited, a non-bank financial institution established on 27 January 1986. That entity's activities were suspended by Bangladesh Bank in April 1992 during a liquidity crisis. Bangladesh Bank subsequently converted the organization into a bank, partly to protect the wider banking system as well as the institution's employees and customers. The present bank was incorporated on 1 June 1998. The bank operates in Bangladesh and provides conventional commercial-banking services. Publicly described activities include deposit-taking, lending, branch banking, and other services associated with a private commercial bank. In July 2022, it introduced Sharia-based banking services, broadening its product framework beyond conventional banking. The bank has also participated in corporate social responsibility activities, including contributions to a relief fund associated with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and spending connected with disaster management. Bangladesh Commerce Bank has faced substantial asset-quality and governance challenges. Bangladesh Bank placed it on a watchlist of problem banks in August 2004. In 2018, reported bad loans represented 31.6 percent of its loan portfolio. By 2021, the bank was experiencing difficulty recovering approximately 5.02 billion taka deposited with six non-bank financial institutions. The institutions named in public reporting were Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company, FAS Finance and Investment, First Finance, International Leasing and Financial Services, Peoples Leasing and Financial Services, and Premier Leasing and Finance. The reported losses were connected to wider allegations of embezzlement involving Prashanta Kumar Halder. The bank has also been involved in loan-rescheduling and recovery proceedings. On 28 June 2022, Bangladesh Bank permitted the rescheduling of a 1.99 billion taka defaulted loan owed by SB Exim. The borrower was associated with Shahjahan Bablu, who faced allegations involving money laundering through false export invoices. Separately, Bangladesh Commerce Bank brought a cheque-dishonour case against Marrin Vegetable Oils, a company associated with Nurjahan Group. The group's chairman, Tipu Sultan, and managing director, Jahir Ahmed, were sentenced to one year in prison in that case. Security and public-order issues have also affected the bank's public profile. On 21 April 2015, its Ashulia branch was attacked and robbed. Nine people, including the branch manager, were killed. One suspected attacker died and two others were captured, while reports estimated that approximately eight or nine attackers had participated. The assault was attributed to Islamist militants. Six members associated with Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Ansarullah Bangla Team were later sentenced to death, while other defendants received prison sentences. In October 2022, Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury was re-elected chairman of the board. After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, Bangladesh Bank dissolved the bank's board of directors and appointed former Bangladesh Bank official Md Ataur Rahman as chairperson. This intervention indicates the continuing importance of regulatory oversight in the bank's governance and financial rehabilitation. Available reference material does not establish a current private ownership structure, complete branch network, current management roster, or present financial condition.
History
Bangladesh Commerce Bank's institutional predecessor was Bangladesh Commerce and Investment Limited, established on 27 January 1986 as a non-bank financial institution. Its operations were suspended by Bangladesh Bank in April 1992 after a liquidity crisis. Rather than allowing the institution's difficulties to remain confined to the non-bank financial sector, Bangladesh Bank converted it into a bank in an effort to protect financial-sector stability, employees, and customers. Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited was incorporated on 1 June 1998 and subsequently operated as a private-sector commercial bank in Bangladesh. The bank entered the 2000s under regulatory pressure. In August 2004, Bangladesh Bank placed it on a watchlist of problem banks. Its public activities nevertheless included ordinary commercial banking and corporate social responsibility work. The bank contributed to a relief fund associated with Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and later reported spending related to disaster management. Md Enayet Ullah was appointed managing director during this period, although the available reference does not provide a complete chronology of his tenure. A major security incident occurred at the bank's Ashulia branch on 21 April 2015. Nine people, including the branch manager, were killed during a robbery. One attacker was killed and two were captured, with the total number of assailants estimated at eight or nine. Authorities attributed the attack to Islamist militants. Six members connected with Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Ansarullah Bangla Team were eventually sentenced to death, while other participants were imprisoned. Financial stress remained a central issue. In 2018, the bank was reported to have a bad-loan ratio of 31.6 percent. In 2021, it reportedly could not readily recover 5.02 billion taka deposited with six non-bank financial institutions: Bangladesh Industrial Finance Company, FAS Finance and Investment, First Finance, International Leasing and Financial Services, Peoples Leasing and Financial Services, and Premier Leasing and Finance. Public reporting linked the institutions' financial problems to alleged embezzlement involving Prashanta Kumar Halder. The bank's lending and recovery issues continued into 2022. On 28 June, Bangladesh Bank approved the rescheduling of a 1.99 billion taka defaulted loan owed by SB Exim. The borrower was associated with Shahjahan Bablu, who faced allegations of laundering money through fabricated export invoices. Bangladesh Commerce Bank also filed a cheque-dishonour case against Marrin Vegetable Oils, a subsidiary of Nurjahan Group. Nurjahan Group chairman Tipu Sultan and managing director Jahir Ahmed were sentenced to one year in prison in that case. The bank also launched Sharia-based banking services in July 2022, adding an Islamic-banking offering to its conventional commercial activities. Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury was re-elected chairman of the board in October 2022. After the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, Bangladesh Bank dissolved the bank's board of directors and appointed its former official Md Ataur Rahman as chairperson. The change placed the institution under a directly visible form of regulatory intervention. The available material does not document the bank's current ownership, full management structure, branch count, or latest financial results.
- 2022
Sharia-based banking services introduced
[1]The bank launched Sharia-based banking services in July.
- 2022
Board chairman re-elected
[1]Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury was re-elected chairman of the board in October.
- 2015
Ashulia branch attack
[1]A robbery at the Ashulia branch on 21 April resulted in nine deaths, including the branch manager.
- 2004
Placed on Bangladesh Bank problem-bank watchlist
[1]Bangladesh Bank placed the bank on a watchlist of problem banks in August.
- 1998
Bangladesh Commerce Bank incorporated
[1]Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited was incorporated on 1 June.
- 1992
Operations suspended during liquidity crisis
[1]Bangladesh Bank suspended the predecessor's activities in April because of a liquidity crisis and subsequently converted it into a bank.
- 1986
Predecessor institution established
[1]Bangladesh Commerce and Investment Limited was established on 27 January as a non-bank financial institution.
Products and positioning
A Bangladesh-focused private commercial bank serving conventional banking customers while also offering Sharia-based services. Its public profile is shaped by regulatory supervision, loan-recovery challenges, and governance changes.
Commercial banking · 1998
Conventional commercial banking
The bank's core business is private-sector commercial banking in Bangladesh. The available reference identifies the institution as a commercial bank but does not provide a detailed current catalogue of account types, loan products, fees, or digital channels. Its general banking scope includes deposit-taking, lending, payments, and branch-based customer services.
Islamic banking · 2022
Sharia-based banking services
Bangladesh Commerce Bank launched Sharia-based banking services in July 2022. The reference confirms the introduction of the service line but does not specify the exact products, governance model, branch coverage, or whether the offering operates through dedicated windows or a separate division.
Controversies
2022
Loan-rescheduling and cheque-dishonour cases
Bangladesh Bank authorized rescheduling of a 1.99 billion taka defaulted SB Exim loan. Separately, a cheque-dishonour case brought by the bank resulted in prison sentences for two Nurjahan Group executives.
2021
Difficulty recovering deposits from non-bank financial institutions
The bank reportedly faced difficulty recovering approximately 5.02 billion taka deposited with six non-bank financial institutions amid wider allegations of embezzlement involving Prashanta Kumar Halder.
2015
Ashulia branch robbery and militant convictions
An attack on the bank's Ashulia branch killed nine people. The robbery was attributed to Islamist militants, and six members associated with Jama'atul Mujahideen Bangladesh and Ansarullah Bangla Team were later sentenced to death.
Brand decisions
2022
Launch of Sharia-based banking servicesProduct launchBackground
The bank was operating as a conventional private commercial bank while facing financial and asset-quality pressures.
Action taken
It introduced Sharia-based banking services in July 2022.
Aftermath
The available reference does not report customer uptake, revenue, or subsequent expansion of the service.
2022
Rescheduling of SB Exim defaulted loanOtherBackground
SB Exim had a reported defaulted loan exposure of 1.99 billion taka at the bank.
Action taken
Bangladesh Bank permitted the bank to reschedule the defaulted loan on 28 June 2022.
Aftermath
The reference does not establish whether the rescheduling ultimately restored repayment or reduced the bank's credit loss.
Defaulted loan approved for rescheduling. 1.99 billion taka defaulted loan → Rescheduled; subsequent outcome not stated (28 June 2022)
- Regulatory replacement of the boardStrategy
Background
Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, Bangladesh Bank intervened in the bank's governance.
Action taken
Bangladesh Bank dissolved the board of directors and appointed former Bangladesh Bank official Md Ataur Rahman as chairperson.
Aftermath
The available reference does not describe the new board's mandate, duration, or financial-restructuring results.
Recent events
- 2022
Bangladesh Bank permits rescheduling of SB Exim defaulted loan[1]
Regulation · Other
Bangladesh Bank allowed the rescheduling of a 1.99 billion taka defaulted loan owed by SB Exim.
- 2022
Bank launches Sharia-based banking services[1]
Product launch
Bangladesh Commerce Bank introduced Sharia-based banking services in July.
- 2022
Board chairman re-elected[1]
Leadership change
Rashid Ahmed Chowdhury was re-elected chairman of the bank's board in October.
- 2018
Bangladesh Commerce Bank reported with high bad-loan ratio[1]
Other
The bank was reported to have bad loans equivalent to 31.6 percent of its loan portfolio.
Bangladesh Bank dissolves board and appoints new chairperson[1]
Leadership change · Regulation
Following the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led Awami League government, Bangladesh Bank dissolved the bank's board and appointed former Bangladesh Bank official Md Ataur Rahman as chairperson.
Sources1 sources
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