According to the latest data from Bangladesh Bank, deposits across 61 banks stood at Tk 17.31 trillion by the end of August, down from Tk 17.42 trillion in July. By the end of July, cash outside banks amounted to Tk 2.90 trillion, rising by Tk 19.97 billion to Tk 2.92 trillion in August. Bangladesh Bank spokesperson Husne Ara Shikha said, “Following the government’s fall in August, there was an impact on bank deposits. However, confidence in Islamic banks is gradually returning, and deposits are beginning to increase." Zahid Hossain, a former lead economist at the World Bank’s Dhaka office, said: “There has been a long-standing distrust towards Islamic banks.
