How the first branch of a Bangladeshi bank opened its doors on foreign soil | The Business Standard
Skip to main content
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
The Business Standard

Tuesday
June 10, 2025

Sign In
Subscribe
  • Latest
  • Economy
    • Banking
    • Stocks
    • Industry
    • Analysis
    • Bazaar
    • RMG
    • Corporates
    • Aviation
  • Videos
    • TBS Today
    • TBS Stories
    • TBS World
    • News of the day
    • TBS Programs
    • Podcast
    • Editor's Pick
  • World+Biz
  • Features
    • Panorama
    • The Big Picture
    • Pursuit
    • Habitat
    • Thoughts
    • Splash
    • Mode
    • Tech
    • Explorer
    • Brands
    • In Focus
    • Book Review
    • Earth
    • Food
    • Luxury
    • Wheels
  • More
    • Sports
    • TBS Graduates
    • Bangladesh
    • Supplement
    • Infograph
    • Archive
    • Gallery
    • Long Read
    • Interviews
    • Offbeat
    • Magazine
    • Climate Change
    • Health
    • Cartoons
  • বাংলা
TUESDAY, JUNE 10, 2025
How the first branch of a Bangladeshi bank opened its doors on foreign soil

Panorama

Kamrun Naher
03 March, 2023, 12:30 pm
Last modified: 03 March, 2023, 03:32 pm

Related News

  • Budget not promising enough to create favourable environment for business, investment: DCCI president
  • Bank branches near cattle markets asked to carry on transactions till 10pm before Eid
  • 6 troubled banks to be merged by July, govt to take ownership
  • BB governor urges banks to partner with schools to boost banking literacy
  • 9 bank GMs promoted to DMDs of four banks, ICB

How the first branch of a Bangladeshi bank opened its doors on foreign soil

0n 30 March 1972, the late veteran banker Anwarul Amin, with the help of other Bangalee bankers, opened the first international branch in London. In his memoir, he narrates the details, the courage and the challenges

Kamrun Naher
03 March, 2023, 12:30 pm
Last modified: 03 March, 2023, 03:32 pm

Weaponed with just the official pads and the seal of an East Pakistan bank, Anwarul Amin roamed from Dhaka to Karachi to Germany and then London amidst the political unrest and the 1971 Liberation War. He had no idea whether the region named East Pakistan will be liberated or not, whether he will ever be able to get back to his birthland Bangladesh or not. 

But somewhere in the depths of his mind, the hope remained. And with that hope, courage, and extraordinary presence of mind, Anwarul Amin became the first Bangladeshi to open a branch of a Bangladeshi bank abroad.   

The book titled Bideshe Prothom Bangladeshi Banker Shakha Kholar Nepottho Kahini (The background story of opening the first branch of a Bangladeshi bank abroad) authored by Anwarul Amin and published by Ramon Publishers in 2021, tells us the story. 

In this memoir, the renowned veteran banker depicts the historical chronicles of opening the first branch of a Bangladeshi bank, Eastern Banking Corporation (presently known as Uttara Bank) in London in March 1972 amid the political crunches in the global geopolitical climate regarding Pakistan and the new nation Bangladesh.

The Business Standard Google News Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel

Eastern Banking Corporation was established in 1965 with the head office located at Motijheel in Dhaka. After the Liberation War, the bank was nationalised under Bangladesh Banks (Nationalisation) Order 1972 and renamed Uttara Bank.

On 15 September 1983, Uttara Bank became a private limited bank. It is listed on Chittagong Stock Exchange and Dhaka Stock Exchange.

Anwarul Amin's entrance into the banking sector

Born in 1934 in Dhaka, Anwarul Amin was the second-eldest son of Nurul Amin, the chief minister of East Pakistan in 1948. Amin graduated from the Westminster Bank Institute of Banking in England in 1955. After his graduation,  21-year-old Amin returned to East Pakistan to start his banking career with the Muslim Commercial Bank, a bank founded by the Adamjee Group based in West Pakistan. 
Although later he worked at the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and the Industrial Development Bank of Pakistan (IDBP), according to the writer, he has always wanted to work in a Bangladeshi bank. So when Eastern Banking Corporation (EBC) was established in 1965, Amin was elated to join as the deputy chief manager of the newly-established bank.  
In the next two years, the bank expanded its activities across East Pakistan with 60 branches and in 1967 Anwarul Amin opened branches in West Pakistan as well.

How the first branch was opened in London

On 16 December 1971, when the Pakistani military surrendered to Bangladesh, Amin was in West Germany along with his family. Amin writes in his book that although this was an incident for celebration, he was concerned about one thing – Pakistan will not give us the money from our two Bangladeshi banks (Eastern Markentile bank and EBC), the money that was deposited in international banks. 

So he took out the official writing pads and seal that he brought with him while leaving East Pakistan with the permission of his managing director Hamidullah, and wrote official letters to the Swiss banks and the NatWest bank of London where the money was deposited.

In the ongoing uncertain political situation in Pakistan, Amin requested the banks to refrain from any kind of engagement with regional offices in Pakistan without authenticated instructions from Dhaka (Dacca) head office. He also requested that no amount should be withdrawn, surrendered, or transferred without authentication from the Dacca office. 

But the banks replied that they already had received letters from West Pakistan branches. This resulted in Amin contacting a lawyer in London to get legal suggestions, meeting the Swiss banks in January and at the same time opening an account in the London branch of the state bank of India (as India has already recognised Bangladesh as an independent nation).  

With time, as Amin could take out the deposits from these foreign banks, he started to deposit the money in the SIB account until the branch opened. And on the other hand, with the help of his friend, Amin slowly started the paperwork for opening the first branch of EBC in London. 

Initially in 1972, when the work was underway to open the first branch of Bangladeshi bank overseas, Amin set up a temporary office in his friend's work premises in London. Amin writes in his book, "In the meantime, I requested every Banglaee family in Bricklane so that they send money to their families in Bangladesh from my temporary office." That's how the bank was getting popular among the Bangalee community in London. 

Till then, the British government had yet not recognised Bangladesh as an independent nation. So it was not yet possible to open a Bangladeshi bank in London. But that didn't stop Amin from collecting information on the policies pertaining to the matter. And at the same time, he was building his relations with local journalists and writers as well as the bankers of London. 

So when England gave Bangladesh its due recognition, Amin was already prepared to open the branch office. And on 30 March 1972, Amin opened the first international branch of EBC at 64 Queen Street, London.  In the next few months, Amin and his team opened two more branches in Manchester and Birmingham.  

As an independent nation, Bangladesh needed to mark its influence in the world of international banking and finance. And at that crucial time, Anwarul Amin took up the task of opening the first branch of a Bangladeshi bank in the global financial capital, London.
From a historical perspective, the book is an important document that records the pivotal role played by Amin and other Bangalee bankers in the banking and finance industry during the struggle for independence in 1971 and what followed.
At the very forward of the book the writer makes it clear that it's a memoir, a single person's recollection of events, written from personal memories and depictions. So as a reader the very first question that came to my mind is –  should I call it a historical book? 

Surprisingly, with more than 20 black and white photographs, documents, and letters, this 72-page short memoir gives a detailed picture of setting up a bank in London, and as you graze through the simple structured language of the book, you don't feel like anything is missing. 

Amin continued with his banking career after that. Before breathing his last in November 2022, this veteran banker was performing his duties as the chairman of the board of trustees of Impact Foundation Bangladesh. 

The book is available at Baatighar, Aziz Supermarket (Porua), Ramon Publishers, 26 Banglabazar.

Features / Top News

bank / branch

Comments

While most comments will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive, moderation decisions are subjective. Published comments are readers’ own views and The Business Standard does not endorse any of the readers’ comments.

Top Stories

  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus and BNP Acting Chairman Tarique Rahman. Photos: Collected
    Yunus-Tarique meeting in London on Friday can be a major turning point: Fakhrul
  • An Israeli soldier passes a bun to Greta Thunberg onboard the Gaza-bound British-flagged yacht ‘Madleen’ after Israeli forces boarded the charity vessel as it attempted to reach the Gaza Strip in defiance of an Israeli naval blockade, in this still image released on June 9, 2025. Israel Foreign Ministry via X/Handout via REUTERS
    Greta Thunberg deported from Israel after Gaza aid boat seized
  • Photo shows the Land Cruiser Prado car belonging to former member of parliament (MP) Anwarul Azim Anar found in Kushtia. Photo: TBS
    Luxury car of ex-AL MP Anar, who was killed in Kolkata, found in Kushtia

MOST VIEWED

  • On left, Abdullah Hil Rakib, former senior vice president (SVP) of BGMEA and additional managing director of Team Group; on right, Captain Md Saifuzzaman (Guddu), a Boeing 787 Dreamliner pilot for Biman Bangladesh Airlines. Photos: Collected
    Ex-BGMEA SVP Abdullah Hil Rakib, Biman 787 pilot Saifuzzaman drown in boating accident in Canada
  • A photo showing the former president on his return to Dhaka today (9 June). 
Source: Collected
    Former president Abdul Hamid returns to Bangladesh from Thailand
  • File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar
    Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do
  • Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus leaves for a four-day visit to the United Kingdom from the Dhaka airport on 9 June 2025. Photo: CA Press Wing
    CA Yunus leaves for UK; discussion expected on renewable energy investment, laundered money
  • Inside the aid ship stormed by Israeli forces on 9 June 2025. Photo: BBC
    Israeli forces stormed aid boat carrying Greta Thunberg bound for Gaza: Freedom Flotilla Coalition
  • Enhanced surveillance at Ctg airport amid rising global Covid-19 cases
    Enhanced surveillance at Ctg airport amid rising global Covid-19 cases

Related News

  • Budget not promising enough to create favourable environment for business, investment: DCCI president
  • Bank branches near cattle markets asked to carry on transactions till 10pm before Eid
  • 6 troubled banks to be merged by July, govt to take ownership
  • BB governor urges banks to partner with schools to boost banking literacy
  • 9 bank GMs promoted to DMDs of four banks, ICB

Features

File photo of Eid holidaymakers returning to the capital from their country homes/Rajib Dhar

Dhaka: The city we never want to return to, but always do

1d | Features
Photo collage shows political posters in Bagerhat. Photos: Jannatul Naym Pieal

From Sheikh Dynasty to sibling rivalry: Bagerhat signals a turning tide in local politics

2d | Bangladesh
Illustration: TBS

Unbearable weight of the white coat: The mental health crisis in our medical colleges

5d | Panorama
(From left) Sadia Haque, Sylvana Quader Sinha and Tasfia Tasbin. Sketch: TBS

Meet the women driving Bangladesh’s startup revolution

6d | Panorama

More Videos from TBS

Israel has taken the aid ship 'Madeleine' to its port

Israel has taken the aid ship 'Madeleine' to its port

1h | TBS World
Dr. Yunus and Tarique Rahman's meeting will not solve all problems: Mirza Fakhrul

Dr. Yunus and Tarique Rahman's meeting will not solve all problems: Mirza Fakhrul

52m | TBS Today
Khadi in a New Form Amid Various Crises in Fashion

Khadi in a New Form Amid Various Crises in Fashion

3h | TBS Stories
US and China to meet in London for trade talks

US and China to meet in London for trade talks

17h | TBS World
EMAIL US
contact@tbsnews.net
FOLLOW US
WHATSAPP
+880 1847416158
The Business Standard
  • About Us
  • Contact us
  • Sitemap
  • Advertisement
  • Privacy Policy
  • Comment Policy
Copyright © 2025
The Business Standard All rights reserved
Technical Partner: RSI Lab

Contact Us

The Business Standard

Main Office -4/A, Eskaton Garden, Dhaka- 1000

Phone: +8801847 416158 - 59

Send Opinion articles to - oped.tbs@gmail.com

For advertisement- sales@tbsnews.net