Sonali Bank posts record Tk8,017cr operating profit in 2025
"As of this year, Sonali Bank no longer has a capital deficit," said the Bank's Managing Director Md Shawkat Ali Khan
State-owned Sonali Bank achieved a milestone in 2025 by recording its highest-ever operating profit of Tk8,017.35 crore, representing a substantial increase of Tk2,322.80 crore over the previous year.
The figures were disclosed by the bank's managing director and chief executive officer, Md Shawkat Ali Khan, during a press briefing held at the bank's headquarters in Dhaka's Motijheel today (13 January).
Shawkat noted that the bank's operating profit in 2024 stood at Tk5,694.55 crore, and he expressed optimism that the net profit for 2025 would exceed Tk1,500 crore after necessary provisioning.
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A significant highlight of the year was the bank successfully addressing its chronic capital deficit. "For a long time, capital shortfall was a major challenge for state-owned banks," the MD said. "As of this year, Sonali Bank no longer has a capital deficit. Being free from this burden is a massive achievement for us."
The bank's Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio now exceeds the minimum regulatory requirement of 10%, providing a strong foundation for future business expansion.
On asset quality, Shawkat said the bank's non-performing loan (NPL) ratio had fallen to 15.4% as of 25 December. The bank aims to reduce this to 11-12% by 2026 and bring it down to single digits within the next three years, between 2026 and 2027, he said.
The MD said that Tk745 crore has already been recovered from the top 20 defaulters, with further recovery processes ongoing. "To mitigate risk, the bank is also decentralising its loan portfolio."
Currently, 37% of total loans are concentrated in five branches; these are being gradually shifted to other branches to reduce credit concentration, he said.
Despite the record profits, the bank still has significant outstanding receivables from various government entities. Specifically, Sonali Bank is owed approximately Tk5,500 crore in LC (Letter of Credit) commissions for its role as the sole financier of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant project. "Recovery of these funds will further strengthen our capital base," Shawkat noted.
Reflecting on past challenges, the MD said that no major irregularities have occurred since the Hallmark scandal, attributing the current stability to strict credit appraisal and improved corporate governance.
