Dhaka Bank
Corporate brand
UnclaimedA Bangladeshi private commercial bank serving retail, corporate, SME and institutional customers.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Dhaka Bank PLC is a private commercial bank in Bangladesh, established in 1995 and headquartered in Dhaka. It operates under the Dhaka Bank name across the Bangladeshi banking market, serving individuals, businesses, institutions and public-sector-related customers through branch banking, SME service centers and digital channels. The bank’s principal business areas include deposits, lending, trade finance, remittance-related services, cards, payments, corporate finance and other conventional commercial-banking products. The bank was founded by Bangladeshi politician Mirza Abbas. Abdul Hai Sarker was identified as the founding chairman of its board, and the institution developed during a period in which Bangladesh’s private commercial-bank sector was expanding its role in deposit mobilization, industrial finance, consumer banking and international trade. Dhaka Bank’s business has subsequently covered both established urban customers and businesses outside the largest metropolitan centers. Reference material describes a network of 116 branches and several SME service centers around Bangladesh, although branch totals can change and should be verified against the bank’s latest disclosures. Dhaka Bank’s customer proposition spans multiple segments rather than a narrowly specialized niche. Retail customers can access savings and other deposit accounts, personal finance, cards and electronic banking. Corporate and institutional customers are served through working-capital facilities, term loans, project and syndicated finance, trade services, cash management and related treasury or foreign-exchange services. Small and medium-sized enterprises are addressed through dedicated banking services and financing programs. The bank has also participated in large syndicated transactions, including financing connected with power-generation and energy businesses, demonstrating a role in Bangladesh’s project and corporate-finance market. Its history includes several changes in board leadership and senior management. Mirza Abbas’s attempted reappointment as a director was not approved by Bangladesh Bank in 2015 after reported attendance issues; political supporters characterized the decision as politically motivated. Reshadur Rahman Shaheen became chairman in 2010, while Syed Mahbubur Rahman was appointed managing director in November 2015. Abdul Hai Sarker later returned to the chairmanship, including a re-election reported in 2021. Such changes reflect the importance of governance, regulatory approval and board oversight in Bangladesh’s banking industry. Dhaka Bank has also sought external financing and institutional partnerships. In 2017 it entered an arrangement with the International Finance Corporation for a reported US$55 million loan. It later arranged substantial syndicated financing for industrial and energy-sector borrowers, including a reported BDT 5.2 billion facility for Chandpur Power Generations Limited and BDT 9 billion for Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company Limited. The bank has participated in educational and business partnerships and received recognition from JPMorgan in 2022 for banking-related performance. It was also recognized in the 2014 SME Banking Award as a manufacturing-friendly bank. The institution has faced reputational and control challenges connected with alleged employee embezzlement and misappropriation. In 2019, an Anti-Corruption Commission case involved an official in Feni, with reports describing alleged diversion of bank funds and an admission concerning part of the amount. In 2020, separate reporting described allegations involving a former vice president and other officials, including a High Court bail decision and detention linked to alleged misappropriation. These matters are allegations or legal proceedings rather than findings that the bank itself committed wrongdoing. Overall, Dhaka Bank remains a Bangladesh-focused commercial-bank brand with a broad customer base, a significant branch and SME-service footprint, and activities spanning ordinary banking, corporate finance and structured lending.
History
Dhaka Bank was established in Bangladesh in 1995 by Mirza Abbas, a Bangladeshi politician. Abdul Hai Sarker served as the founding chairman of the board. The bank was created during the expansion of Bangladesh’s private commercial-banking sector, when privately owned institutions were taking a larger role in mobilizing deposits, financing domestic commerce and supporting industrial development. From its headquarters in Dhaka, the bank developed a nationwide operating presence. Reference material describes 116 branches and several SME service centers, giving Dhaka Bank a combination of conventional branch distribution and more targeted service infrastructure for small and medium-sized enterprises. Its business has included retail deposits and lending, corporate banking, trade finance, cards, payments, foreign-exchange and remittance-related services, as well as project and syndicated finance. The bank experienced several board-level changes during the late 2000s and 2010s. Altaf Hossain Sarker was re-elected chairman in July 2009. Reshadur Rahman Shaheen became chairman in April 2010. In September 2015, Bangladesh Bank reportedly refused to approve the reappointment of Mirza Abbas as a director after his absence from 11 of 12 board meetings. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party characterized his removal as political vendetta, making the episode both a governance matter and a politically contested leadership change. In November of the same year, Syed Mahbubur Rahman was appointed managing director, and Reshadur Rahman was again reported as chairman. Dhaka Bank expanded its access to institutional funding in March 2017 through an agreement with the International Finance Corporation for a reported US$55 million loan. The institution also became involved in major corporate and infrastructure financings. It arranged a reported BDT 5.2 billion syndicated facility for Chandpur Power Generations Limited, associated with Doreen Group, and helped arrange a further US$40 million for the power project from German banks. It later raised a reported BDT 9 billion syndicated loan for Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company Limited. These transactions illustrate the bank’s participation in Bangladesh’s energy and industrial-finance markets, beyond ordinary branch-based lending. Governance and internal-control issues also appeared in public reporting. In April 2019, the Anti-Corruption Commission arrested a Dhaka Bank official in Feni over alleged embezzlement. Reports said the official admitted diverting BDT 55 million, while the broader allegation involved a larger amount. In 2020, a former vice president faced allegations involving approximately BDT 220 million, and the High Court reportedly denied bail. Two other officials were detained in a separate matter involving alleged misappropriation of approximately BDT 37.7 million. These events concern alleged conduct by individuals and should not be treated as proof that the bank as a corporate entity was criminally liable. In August 2020, Abdullah Al Ahsan was appointed vice-chairman and Abdul Hai Sarker was elected chairman. Sarker was reported as re-elected chairman in July 2021. In 2022, Dhaka Bank was associated with a partnership involving the Canadian University of Bangladesh and was reported to have received recognition from JPMorgan. The bank was also recognized in the 2014 SME Banking Award as the best manufacturing-friendly bank. Dhaka Bank is listed in Bangladesh under the ticker DHAKABANK. Its continuing identity is that of a Bangladesh-focused private commercial bank with a diversified service mix: retail and deposit banking for individuals, financing and transaction services for companies, dedicated support for SMEs, and larger syndicated or project-finance mandates. Exact branch numbers, current executives and current ownership arrangements require confirmation from the bank’s latest annual reports and regulatory filings.
- 2022
Energy and institutional-finance activity
[1]The bank was associated with major syndicated energy-sector financing, a university agreement and JPMorgan recognition.
- 2021
Abdul Hai Sarker re-elected chairman
[1]Abdul Hai Sarker was reported as re-elected chairman of Dhaka Bank.
- 2020
New vice-chairman and chairman
[1]Abdullah Al Ahsan was appointed vice-chairman and Abdul Hai Sarker was elected chairman.
- 2017
IFC financing agreement
[1]Dhaka Bank entered an agreement with the International Finance Corporation for a reported US$55 million loan.
- 2015
Founder’s director reappointment rejected
[1]Bangladesh Bank reportedly declined Mirza Abbas’s reappointment as a director after repeated board absences.
- 2010
Reshadur Rahman Shaheen becomes chairman
[1]Reshadur Rahman Shaheen was elected chairman in April 2010.
- 2009
Altaf Hossain Sarker re-elected chairman
[1]Altaf Hossain Sarker was reported as re-elected chairman of Dhaka Bank in July.
- 1995
Dhaka Bank founded
[1]Dhaka Bank was established in Bangladesh, with Mirza Abbas identified as founder and Abdul Hai Sarker as founding board chairman.
Products and positioning
A broad-based private commercial bank focused on Bangladesh, combining retail, corporate, SME and structured-finance services.
Consumer banking
Retail banking
Dhaka Bank’s retail business serves individuals through deposit accounts, personal finance, cards, payments and electronic banking. The segment is designed to cover everyday transactional needs as well as savings and borrowing requirements. Specific account names, eligibility rules and current digital features can change and should be checked against the bank’s official product materials.
Business banking
Corporate banking
Corporate banking is a core Dhaka Bank activity, supporting companies and institutions with working-capital facilities, term lending, trade services, cash management and other banking relationships. The bank has also participated in large syndicated transactions, including financing for power-generation and energy-sector borrowers.
Small and medium-sized enterprise finance
SME banking
The bank provides dedicated services and financing for small and medium-sized enterprises through SME service centers and its broader branch network. Its SME orientation has been recognized in industry awards, including a 2014 award identifying Dhaka Bank as a manufacturing-friendly bank.
Commercial banking
Trade finance
Trade-finance services support importers, exporters and other businesses engaged in domestic and international commerce. The offering may include documentary instruments, working-capital support and related transaction services, although the bank’s current product specifications should be confirmed from official disclosures.
Structured finance
Syndicated and project finance
Dhaka Bank has acted as an arranger or participant in large syndicated and project-finance transactions. Reported examples include financing for Chandpur Power Generations Limited and Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company Limited, showing the bank’s involvement in infrastructure and energy-sector funding.
Controversies
2020
Alleged misappropriation involving former vice president
A former Dhaka Bank vice president faced allegations involving approximately BDT 220 million. The Bangladesh High Court reportedly denied bail in the matter. The allegations concerned individual conduct and do not establish corporate wrongdoing by Dhaka Bank.
2020
Officials detained over alleged fund misappropriation
Two bank officials were reportedly detained in a separate case involving alleged misappropriation of approximately BDT 37.7 million.
2019
Feni official embezzlement case
The Anti-Corruption Commission arrested a Dhaka Bank official in Feni over alleged embezzlement. Public reporting said the official admitted diverting BDT 55 million, while the reported allegation involved a larger amount.
Brand decisions
2022
Arrange Chandpur power-generation financingOtherBackground
A power-generation project required large-scale debt financing involving multiple lenders.
Action taken
Dhaka Bank arranged a reported BDT 5.2 billion syndicated loan for Chandpur Power Generations Limited and helped arrange an additional US$40 million from German banks.
Aftermath
The transaction reinforced Dhaka Bank’s role in Bangladesh’s corporate, infrastructure and energy financing markets.
Reported financing. BDT 5.2 billion syndicated loan and US$40 million from German banks (2022)
2022
Arrange Bashundhara energy-sector syndicated loanOtherBackground
Bashundhara Oil and Gas Company Limited sought large-scale financing for its business activities.
Action taken
Dhaka Bank raised a reported BDT 9 billion syndicated loan for the company.
Aftermath
The financing demonstrated the bank’s participation in large domestic corporate transactions.
Reported syndicated loan. BDT 9 billion (2022)
2017
Secure IFC institutional financingStrategyBackground
Dhaka Bank sought external institutional funding to support its banking activities in Bangladesh.
Action taken
The bank signed an agreement with the International Finance Corporation for a reported US$55 million loan.
Aftermath
The agreement expanded the bank’s relationship with a major international development-finance institution. The precise use of proceeds and final financial terms require confirmation from primary disclosures.
Reported loan amount. US$55 million (2017)
Recent events
Sources3 sources
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