Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has warned that the country’s banking sector is facing an acute shortage of skilled managing directors (MDs) and senior professionals, posing serious risks to effective governance and long-term financial stability.
He made the remarks while speaking as guest of honour at the 15-year anniversary celebration of the Board of Financial Excellence Limited (FinExcel), held at The Westin Dhaka on Saturday.
The governor underscored the urgent need for structured training, institutional development, and modern risk management practices to overcome the talent gap.
“Finding the right people is becoming increasingly difficult, and as a result we are not fully prepared for the challenges ahead,” Mansur said.
He stressed that the problem cannot be solved overnight, but institutions must establish in-house training academies, inspire employees, and link promotions to knowledge and practical application.
Training and leadership gaps
The governor pointed out that Bangladesh has made progress in training financial professionals, with many rising from modest regional backgrounds to leadership positions.
However, he cautioned that on-the-job training must be structured and guided by specialised organisations like FinExcel to ensure effective capacity building.
Without such efforts, he warned, the sector will continue to suffer from a lack of qualified leaders at the highest levels, including MDs.
“Institutional development for training skilled manpower is not optional—it is essential,” he said.
Risk management and governance weaknesses
Mansur also drew attention to systemic weaknesses in banking governance, exacerbated by political influence and misuse of authority.
“Many businesses collapse not due to market inefficiency but because banks fail to assess risks properly or allow misuse of political authority,” he observed.
The weakness of the financial sector, which now accounts for 52–53% of GDP, reflects shortcomings not only in bank systems but also in boards and management, he added. “Professionalism is absolutely critical if we want to restore confidence in the financial system.”
Technology and the future
Highlighting modernisation challenges, the governor questioned whether Bangladesh should remain dependent on traditional Letters of Credit (LCs) while much of the world has moved on.
He also raised the issue of preparing for digital currencies and expanding financial inclusion through mobile-based systems, noting that while 64% of the population is under financial regulation, 36% remains excluded.
FinExcel’s role
The anniversary event was also attended by Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed as chief guest, who commended FinExcel’s role in strengthening financial knowledge and best practices.
The evening featured discussions on financial empowerment and innovation, followed by a dinner reception for distinguished guests.
Marking its 15-year journey, FinExcel reaffirmed its commitment to promoting excellence in Bangladesh’s financial sector, particularly through training, research, and leadership development.
Bd-pratidin English/ ANI
