FROM PAGE B1

A similar trend was seen in deposit accounts, which dropped in 46 upazilas but more than doubled in 66 others.

Speaking at the event, Abdul Moyeen Khan, a member of the BNP’s national standing committee, said policymakers should take the findings seriously. “As representatives of the people, we understand their pulse better. But we must also take advice from experts,” he said.

Khan said that reform is a continuous process and should evolve in response to changing realities.

Nasiruddin Ahmed, former chairman of the National Board of Revenue (NBR), described financial inclusion in Bangladesh as highly uneven.

He called on the government to respond to the data and formulate policies that would correct the uneven flow of finance.

The PRI study also highlighted sectoral disparities. Between 2019 and 2024, 40 to 42 percent of total loans went to the industrial sector, while agriculture received just 4 to 5 percent.

Bangladesh Bank Executive Director Anis Ur Rahman said if loans in the agriculture sector could be increased, it might be possible to reduce the government’s subsidy burden in the sector.

Md Habibur Rahman, deputy governor of the Bangladesh Bank, also spoke at the event.