The number of bank accounts in Bangladesh with deposits of at least Tk 1 crore fell by 719 in the first quarter (Q1) of 2025, reversing a previous upward trend, according to Bangladesh Bank data.
Industry insiders attribute the decline to heightened anti-corruption efforts by the interim government. Investigations into former ministers, MPs, and other influential figures have reportedly led to the freezing or scrutiny of numerous accounts, prompting many large depositors—both individuals and institutions—to withdraw funds out of caution.
While overall bank deposits and account numbers continued to rise, the drop in high-value accounts stands out. From December 2024 to March 2025, total bank accounts increased from 16.32 crore to 16.57 crore, and total deposits rose by Tk 39,793 crore to Tk 19.23 lakh crore.
In contrast, accounts with over Tk 1 crore in deposits fell from 1,22,081 to 1,21,362 during the same period. Despite this drop, deposits in those accounts grew from Tk 7.75 lakh crore to Tk 7.84 lakh crore, a Tk 8,653 crore increase.
Bangladesh Bank clarified that such high-value accounts include both personal and institutional ones, and individuals or entities may operate multiple accounts.
Historically, the number of Tk 1 crore accounts has surged since independence—from just five in 1972 to over 1.22 lakh by the end of 2024, reflecting the long-term rise in wealth accumulation in the country.
Bd-pratidin English/FNC
