SCB,BRAC University programme builds skilled financial crime professionals

Standard Chartered Bangladesh and BRAC University have jointly celebrated the success of the Financial Crime and Compliance Certification Programme, a capacity-building initiative designed to strengthen Bangladesh's defences against financial crime and raise compliance standards across the banking sector.

The event, titled "Celebrating Success: Training to Combat Financial Crime and Ensure Compliance," brought together senior representatives from Bangladesh Bank, BRAC University, and Standard Chartered Bangladesh. Md Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, attended as chief guest, while Md Mofizur Rahman Khan Chowdhury, executive director and head of BFIU (CC), Bangladesh Bank, joined as special guest.

The initiative was launched to address a pressing shortage of trained financial crime professionals. Initial assessments identified the need for nearly 250 specialists to support growing compliance activities. While credit risk has long been familiar to financial institutions, financial crime risk is a newer and more specialised challenge that is rapidly expanding and requires advanced skills. To respond to this gap, Standard Chartered and BRAC University jointly developed the certification programme, which combines academic rigour with industry expertise.

Since its launch in early 2024, the programme has grown significantly. It has now trained four full cohorts, with 177 participants completing the certification. A further 55 participants enrolled in cohort five mark its transition into a sustained, long-term platform for capacity development in Bangladesh's financial sector. The programme has also opened new pathways for career advancement and professional growth. The first of its kind in Bangladesh, it covers key areas such as money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud detection, ethics, and compliance controls. Participants receive mentorship from experts at Standard Chartered Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, and BRAC Business School.

During the certificate distribution ceremony, Naser Ezaz Bijoy, chief executive officer of Standard Chartered Bangladesh, said, "This programme is a powerful example of academia and industry working together. In 2024, when we migrated our FCC operations, we witnessed a shortage of financial crime professionals while the pertinent risks were growing rapidly. Together with BRAC University we have trained four cohorts, with the fifth underway, to build the talent required to combat financial crime and develop a resilient financial ecosystem. My heartfelt thanks to BRAC University, BFIU, and all participants for making this initiative a success."

Professor Mohammad Mujibul Haque, dean of BRAC Business School, highlighted the severity of financial crime in Bangladesh and thanked representatives from Standard Chartered, BFIU, and BRAC Business School for contributing to the programme's success. He commended participants for their dedication to preventing financial crime and strengthening compliance. Dr Haque, along with Pro-VC Professor Arshad Chowdhury and Treasurer Ariful Islam, reaffirmed BRAC University's commitment to serving society through industry collaboration, professional development, and impactful research.

Financial crime continues to create systemic vulnerabilities in Bangladesh, underscoring the need for strong preventive measures and a well-prepared workforce. By expanding to its fifth cohort, the certification programme is directly contributing to the country's institutional resilience and compliance preparedness.

As a long-term partner in Bangladesh's development, Standard Chartered has played a pivotal role in the country's economic progress for more than 120 years. The bank remains committed to advancing financial inclusion and strengthening safeguards against financial crime.

Established in 2001, BRAC University follows a liberal arts approach to education and aims to prepare students for contemporary professional demands through transformative teaching, training, and global collaboration.