Bank Resolution Bill passed in parliament amid opposition objections

The Bank Resolution Bill, 2026, was passed in parliament by voice vote today (10 April) amid strong objections from opposition members regarding its amendments.

The bill was passed during the 13th meeting of the first session of the 13th National Parliament after Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury placed it before the House.

Opposition Member of Parliament Saiful Alam Khan Milon raised objections when the finance minister sought permission to present the bill. He argued for retaining the Bank Resolution Ordinance, 2025.

Objecting to the amendments, he said, “The Bank Resolution Ordinance, 2025, is not an ordinary legal document; it is the security shield for the hard-earned savings of crores of people in Bangladesh; repealing this ordinance means destroying the protection system of millions.”

He added, “If this ordinance is repealed, bank looters will get the opportunity to escape through legal loopholes. In the past, massive amounts of money from general taxpayers were spent to save crisis-ridden banks. This ordinance prevents the wastage of public money and shows the way to resolve crises from private sources; if it is repealed, the tax money of common people will once again face risk.”

Saiful Alam further said, “In many banks, powerful individuals operate from behind the scenes and loot banks without having their names on the boards. Banks like Islami Bank and others have been affected through anonymous ownership in the name of S Alam. This ordinance created provisions to legally recognise shadow directors and bring them under accountability. This is a landmark step, and if it is repealed at this moment, the strategists will once again receive protection.”

In response, Finance Minister said, “Capital restoration through private initiatives is essential to reduce the massive financial pressure on the government in the banking sector; this will protect the interests of innocent general shareholders and increase the confidence of investors in the capital market.”

Referring to the proposed mechanism, he said, “We have created a ‘new window’ or an Alternative Resolution Option to resolve the crisis of banks, through which an opportunity will be created to recover assets and liabilities with the assistance of investors without relying on liquidation.”

He added, “Discipline, stability and good governance in the financial sector – these three are well-established party policies of the BNP in managing the financial sector; we will not move from this ideological position.”

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said there were no clause-by-clause amendments to the bill.

Earlier, in the first meeting of the 13th Parliament, 133 ordinances issued during the interim government were sent to a special committee for scrutiny.

The committee later recommended that 15 ordinances, including the Bank Resolution Ordinance, be placed in parliament as amended bills.

The interim government had issued the ordinance on 9 May 2025. It included provisions for addressing capital shortfalls, financial distress, insolvency, and other risks facing scheduled banks, as well as measures aimed at ensuring financial stability.