Next steps
Government Watch
Source: BDPolicyLab Watch record and cited public sourcesAs of 2026-07-05
The bank is focused on maintaining asset quality and reducing its non-performing loan ratio while supporting government-led economic initiatives.
Inaugurated the 1,235th branch of the bank, named Dasar Branch, in Madaripur.
Organized a special public loan distribution and collection camp in Rangpur.
Observed World Whistleblower Day with a seminar at the head office.
Signed a service agreement with BASIC Bank PLC to integrate BASIC Bank into the Sonali Payment Gateway.
Received finance ministry approval to extend a credit facility to Shinepukur Ceramics Ltd via exemption from Bank Company Act provisions.
Sonali Bank was established in 1972 by amalgamating and nationalizing the East Pakistan branches of National Bank of Pakistan, Bank of Bahawalpur, and Premier Bank under the Bangladesh Banks (Nationalisation) Order 1972 (P.O. No. 26 of 1972). It was incorporated as a public limited company on 15 November 2007. Government holds 100% of paid-up capital (authorized Tk 6,000 crore; paid-up Tk 4,530 crore). Chairman (in current charge) is Muhammed Mahbubur Rahman as of board listing updated 12 April 2026; head_role of MD/CEO is the operational head and is the primary leadership position tracked. Shawkat Ali Khan assumed MD/CEO role on 30 October 2024 per FID appointment letter dated 21 October 2024; previously MD of Bangladesh Krishi Bank and DMD of Rupali Bank. The bank has 1,233 branches including two overseas branches in Kolkata and Siliguri (India). The Tk 20,000 crore figure in the task prompt refers to the government's capital injection into Sammilito Islami Bank PLC (five-bank Islamic merger); it is not a direct recapitalization of Sonali Bank itself. Sonali Bank's own capital turnaround was achieved through internal means (recovery drives, disciplined lending) without a fresh government injection in FY2025. The BDBL merger MoU (May 2024) is in due-diligence phase; BDBL's own reluctance following a depositor run complicates timeline. NPL figure of 15.51% is provisional for end-2025; IMF ECF benchmark requires SOCBs to reach 10% by June 2026 -- a target analysts consider aggressive given the gap. Tk 6,600 crore BSFIC bond request is pending and material: if granted it would mechanically reduce reported NPLs and provisions, aiding the June 2026 target. Investment income from government bond holdings (Tk 9,799 crore, up 55% YoY) is the primary driver of the 2025 profit record; critics note this represents a quasi-fiscal subsidy arrangement rather than true commercial recovery. All figures cross-verified against at least two primary sources (TBS, Financial Express, Daily Star, New Age, official Sonali Bank website).
Source: 20 primary source linksAs of 2026-07-05