Sylhet division has emerged as the worst victim of regional disparity in Bangladesh’s banking system, receiving the lowest inflow of bank credit despite contributing a substantial volume of deposits and having significant economic potential.
Although depositors in the four districts of the northeastern division account for a sizable share of banks’ deposit portfolios, the flow of formal credit to the region remains far below expectations, bankers and central bank officials said.
Data show that Sylhet, spread over 12,558 square kilometres, is not receiving even one-fourth of the deposits it contributes as loans. This imbalance is reflected in the region’s advances-to-deposit ratio (ADR), which at 0.22 is the lowest among all divisions in the country, according to Bangladesh Bank statistics.
The weak credit flow has intensified pressure on businesses, particularly small and medium entrepreneurs, local business leaders said, warning that limited access to finance is constraining growth and investment in the region.
Central bank data show that banks collected deposits worth Tk816 billion from Sylhet division up to September 2025, but loans and advances in the region stood at just Tk181 billion over the same period.
By contrast, total deposits in the banking sector reached Tk20.31 trillion by the end of September 2025, with Dhaka division accounting for the largest share—60.38 per cent, or Tk12.26 trillion. Chattogram followed with Tk3.33 trillion, while Khulna had Tk888 billion, Rajshahi Tk852 billion, Sylhet Tk816 billion, Barishal Tk412 billion, Rangpur Tk410 billion and Mymensingh Tk344 billion.
On the lending side, scheduled banks’ total loans and advances amounted to Tk15.38 trillion as of December 2023. Dhaka again dominated, receiving Tk 12.26 trillion in formal credit. Other regions received significantly less: Chattogram Tk3.38 trillion, Khulna Tk647 billion, Rajshahi Tk643 billion, Rangpur Tk395 billion, Mymensingh Tk215 billion, Barishal Tk188 billion and Sylhet just Tk181 billion.
Seeking anonymity, a Bangladesh Bank official said Sylhet’s investment-to-deposit ratio of 22 per cent was the lowest in the country. “People of Sylhet are not getting even 25 per cent of the deposits they contribute. Is it logical?” the official questioned.
