Staff Correspondent:

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Dr Ahsan H Mansur on Monday said that Risk Based Supervision (RBS) in all banks will begin from January 1, 2026 to ensure a sound, resilient, and future-ready financial system.

“The initial phases of the RBS framework have been successfully piloted with a number of banks. A full rollout under the pilot programmes to all 61 scheduled banks is scheduled to be started by July 2025. BB will implement RBS across all scheduled banks starting from January 1, 2026,” he said.

The BB chief said this while speaking at a press conference at the central bank headquarters in the city.

Ahsan H Mansur said BB is pleased to announce a major restructuring of its regulatory framework for bank supervision to enhance efficiency, strengthen oversight, and align with international best practices.

“A comprehensive RBS framework is in process of development including policy documentation, risk matrix and model supervisory report. This framework will enable a more targeted and effective approach to manage inherent risks such as credit, market, operational, legal and regulatory and strategic risks,” he added.

To support the rollout of the RBS framework, he said, the central bank is undergoing a comprehensive organizational restructuring.

“This includes the formation of bank-specific team focused several bank supervision departments along with some specialized departments, such as the Supervisory Policy and Coordination Department, Supervisory Data Management and Analytics Department, Technology Risk and Digital Banking Supervision Department, and ML/TF Risk Supervision Department,” he added.

To ensure a smooth and effective transition, Mansur said, departmental reorganization is in process along with necessary logistical arrangements.

He said that targeted training programmes are being conducted for senior management, expert pools and bank supervisors of both head office and branch-level of Bangladesh Bank.

“Bangladesh Bank is actively collaborating with international development partners including the IMF, the World Bank and IFC to facilitate advanced training, technical assistance, and knowledge sharing. Officials of all scheduled banks will be covered in the capacity building programme of BB,” he added.

He mentioned that a new Rationalized Input Template (RIT) and a centralized supervisory dashboard are being developed to support data-driven supervision.

These efforts are focused on integrating existing systems and building a unified supervisory data management platform to enhance analytical capability and decision-making, he added.

He said a standardized supervisory cycle has been introduced, covering risk assessment, planning, supervisory engagement, intervention, and follow-up communication.

This structured process will improve the consistency and effectiveness of regulatory actions, he added.

To facilitate smooth transition to RBS, he said, a meeting was held on Monday with BB Senior management, concerned Executive Directors and Directors to discuss the restructuring process and the corresponding implementation timeline.

These restructuring initiatives were also communicated with the CEOs of all scheduled banks, he added.

He said this transformation marks a significant step toward fostering a stronger culture of compliance, risk awareness, and technological innovation within the banking sector.

“We are confident that these reforms will enhance the stability and integrity of the financial system and support sustainable economic growth,” he added.

He said, “We extend our sincere appreciation to all stakeholders for their continued support and collaboration throughout this important journey.”