From heartbreak to hope: BRAC Bank’s bancassurance delivers on its promise

In the BRAC Bank conference room, four-year-old Nabil leaned quietly against his mother, Nazmun Nahar. Recovering from a mild fever, the child seemed unaware of the solemn purpose of their visit. Just a month earlier, Nazmun had lost her husband, Ariful Islam.

Five years ago, Nazmun married Ariful through an arranged match. At the time, he was a graphic designer at a private firm in Dhaka. The couple welcomed their son within a year, and later Ariful left his office job to work as a full-time freelancer. Life was simple but happy.

Then, one ordinary day, Ariful fell ill with what doctors diagnosed as jaundice. He was hospitalised for 23 days and seemed to be recovering — until suddenly, everything changed. Just after his 30th birthday, he suffered a fatal heart attack, leaving behind his wife and son in their home village of Nabinagar in Brahmanbaria.

In the local haor dialect, a violent storm is called Afal. For Nazmun, the shock of losing her husband and facing an uncertain future with her young child felt like falling into one. But a wise decision Ariful made a few months before his death helped her weather the storm.

Through BRAC Bank's bancassurance service, Ariful had taken out a life insurance policy with Pragati Life Insurance. After his death, Nazmun received Tk12.28 lakh under the claim — a process completed within just two days of submitting the required documents.

"Ariful used to do full-spectrum banking with us, including bringing in his freelance dollar income," said Syed Abdul Momen, Additional Managing Director and Head of SME Banking, BRAC Bank. "When he visited one of our branches in April this year, he was advised to take life insurance through bancassurance. He paid only two instalments, but because the insurance was taken through our bank, his family received the full amount quickly. This is what bancassurance is designed to deliver — reliability and peace of mind."

Nazmun said, "I plan to open a fixed deposit with BRAC Bank. The interest will help pay for my father-in-law's medicines and my son's education. My only goal now is to raise Nabil to be a good person."

The cheque was formally handed over by BRAC Bank Managing Director and CEO Tareq Refat Ullah Khan; Pragati Life Insurance Managing Director and CEO Md. Jalalul Azim; and senior officials from both institutions.

BRAC Bank's Bancassurance Initiative

Launched in 2024, BRAC Bank's bancassurance programme integrates banking and insurance services to bring financial protection directly to customers. The initiative offers life, health, motor, and travel insurance — including a 'Credit Shield' plan for loan and credit card holders.

Through partnerships with MetLife Bangladesh, Pragati Life, Green Delta, and Pioneer Insurance, the bank aims to expand financial inclusion and security for families across Bangladesh. For Nazmun Nahar, that promise has already been fulfilled — turning Ariful's foresight into her family's lifeline.