File photo

DHAKA, March 15, 2026 (BSS) – Bangladesh Bank (BB) has come up with a new directive mandating all scheduled banks to report any dividend declaration against shares within 7 days of the respective board meeting.

The central bank issued the instruction to safeguard the interests of depositors and ensure the overall financial stability of the country's banking sector, said a BB circular issued today.

The directive was issued as a part of the ongoing implementation of Risk Based Supervision (RBS), a strategic move previously notified via SPCD Circular No-03 dated December 24, 2025. 

Under this framework, the central bank is restructuring its various supervision-related departments to align with international regulatory standards.

These measures are intended to consolidate the monitoring of banking activities and enhance the transparency of financial disclosures across the industry.

In a significant shift in regulatory procedure, Bangladesh Bank has redirected the reporting channel for dividends. While reporting was previously guided toward the Department of Off-site Supervision under the 2025 guidelines, banks are now strictly instructed to submit their reports to two newly designated departments like  Bank Supervision Department (BSD) and Supervisory Data Management and Analytics Department (SDMAD).

The central bank has stipulated that every report must be prepared in strict accordance with the format. To ensure the highest level of institutional accountability, the report must be signed by the Managing Director (MD) or Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the respective scheduled bank. Compliance with this 7 days reporting window is mandatory for all dividend declarations against shares.

The circular, identified as SPCD Circular No-05, highlights that the central bank considered several critical factors before issuing these updated regulations. The primary objectives include rReviewing the overall condition and financial health of the country's banking sector; protecting the primary interests of the general depositors; and ensuring the robust financial capacity of banks and maintaining consistent returns for investors.

Bangladesh Bank further clarified that while the reporting destination has changed, other instructions contained in the earlier DOS Circular No-01, dated March 13, 2025, remain in full effect.