Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) has elected entrepreneur Anis Ahmed as its chairman, placing one of Bangladesh’s leading private banks under the leadership of a business executive known for building a multinational logistics and supply chain group while investing in technology startups.
The bank’s board unanimously elected Ahmed as chairman with effect from 27 July, EBL said in a statement on Monday. He previously served on the board’s Executive Committee and earlier chaired its Risk Management Committee.
Ahmed is the founder and group CEO of Singapore-headquartered MGH Group, which operates in 26 countries across supply chain solutions, logistics, aviation, container terminals, food and beverage retail and financial services.
Beyond his corporate role, Ahmed has backed several technology ventures in Bangladesh, including ride-sharing platform Obhai, insurtech startup Waadaa Insure and accommodation platform Jatra, reflecting his interest in fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.
Setting out his vision for the bank, Ahmed said EBL had entered “a new era of banking” in which the board would actively support women in senior leadership roles while accelerating the bank’s digital transformation.
“Our goal is to make EBL a daily lifestyle brand for customers, built on EBL’s rock-solid financial strengths,” he said.
Ahmed also highlighted the work of the Suhana and Anis Ahmed Foundation (SAAF), which supported 268 July freedom fighters and expanded preventive healthcare programmes to 10,000 underprivileged students in 2025.
The foundation has also established a 31-bed children’s haematology ward at Bangladesh Medical University to improve treatment outcomes for young patients.
EBL said Ahmed’s international business experience and strategic leadership would help strengthen the bank’s position in Bangladesh and South Asia while supporting long-term value creation for customers, shareholders and the communities it serves.
