RRH hosts high-level dialogue on IFRS 9 readiness for banks

Rahman Rahman Huq, Chartered Accountants (RRH), a member firm of KPMG International, organised a specialised technical session on IFRS 9 Expected Credit Loss (ECL)-based provisioning on Tuesday to share insights and practical experiences with senior leaders from Bangladesh's banking sector.

The session aimed to support banks as they prepare to operationalise IFRS 9 in line with Bangladesh Bank's regulatory instructions. Managing Directors, Chief Executive Officers, Chief Financial Officers, Chief Risk Officers, and Heads of Credit and Finance from various scheduled banks participated in the programme, which covered international practices, implementation lessons, and approaches to strengthening data, systems, governance, and risk assessment models.

The session also featured a detailed technical walkthrough of IFRS 9-based ECL implementation, offering participants a structured understanding of the methodology and its operational requirements.

In his opening remarks, Adeeb H Khan, Senior Partner at RRH, stated that IFRS 9 represents a fundamental shift in how banks view risk and make decisions. 'IFRS 9 is timely, necessary, and aligned with global developments; but it also demands a new way of thinking. It is forward-looking, data-driven, and grounded in disciplined risk management. This standard touches the very heart of banking—credit decisions, portfolio quality, capital planning, pricing, and ultimately profitability,' he added. 'That is why this conversation must go beyond accounting compliance and address how risk is measured and managed in day-to-day business.'

RRH professionals highlighted key factors observed in successful IFRS 9 adoption across markets, including strong model governance, sound credit data practices, and effective collaboration between risk, finance, IT, and business teams.

Distinguished speakers included M. Mehedi Hasan, Partner, RRH; Raditha Alahakoon, Partner, KPMG Sri Lanka; and Preeti Saharan, Partner, FRM, KPMG India.