{{Short description|Bangladeshi Bank}} {{EngvarB|date=January 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox company | name = Agrani Bank PLC. | logo = Agrani_Bank_PLC_logo.png | image = | type = Public | area_served = Bangladesh | predecessors = Habib Bank Limited <br/> Commerce Bank | founded = {{start date |df=yes|1972 |3|26}} | hq_location_city = Dhaka | hq_location_country = Bangladesh | num_locations = 979 (2025) | key_people = Syed Abu Naser Bukhtear Ahmed (Chairman)<br />Md. Anwarul Islam (''CEO'')<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.agranibank.org/index.php/aboutus/management |title=Top Management |work=Agrani Bank}}</ref> | industry = Banking, Financial services | products = Finance and insurance<br />Consumer Banking<br />Corporate Banking<br />Investment Banking<br />Investment Management | revenue = | operating_income = {{decrease}} US$86.4 million<!-- 743 crore BDT --> | income_year = 2020 | net_income = | net_income_year = | assets = {{increase}} US$14.6 billion | assets_year = 2025 | equity = | num_employees = 11,389 | num_employees_year = 2020 | website = {{url |http://www.agranibank.org}} | footnotes = <ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.agranibank.org/assets/reports/annual/Annual_Repot_2020.pdf |title=Annual Report 2020 |website=Agrani Bank |page=20}}</ref> }} '''Agrani Bank PLC.''' ({{langx|bn|অগ্রণী ব্যাংক}}) is a state-owned commercial bank of Bangladesh established in 1972. Its headquarters is situated at Motijheel in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.<ref name=":0"/> Md. Anwarul Islam is the CEO of Agrani Bank.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-10-14 |title=Agrani Bank business review meeting held in Mymensingh |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/corporates/agrani-bank-business-review-meeting-held-mymensingh-513738 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref> thumb|Head Office of Agrani Bank [[File:Agrani Bank Ltd., Chittagong University Branch (01).jpg|thumb|Chittagong University Branch, Hathazari]]
== History == Agrani Bank Limited was established on 26 March 1972 by combining two abandoned Pakistani banks, Commerce Bank and Habib Bank. The bank is fully owned by the Government of Bangladesh.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Agrani_Bank_Limited |title=Agrani Bank Limited |website=Banglapedia |access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref> M. Fazlur Rahman was the first managing director of the bank.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |title=Agrani Bank in retrospect |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/views/agrani-bank-in-retrospect-1664809668 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Financial Express |language=en}}</ref> Agrani Bank is governed by a board of directors consisting of 12 members headed by a chairman.
In 1995, Agrani Bank installed the first automated teller machine in Bangladesh at the Jatiya Press Club.<ref name=":2" />
In 2006, Purbo Banglar Communist Party, demanded toll from six branches of Agrani Bank.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Outlaws demand toll from Agrani bank branches in Khulna |url=https://archive.thedailystar.net/2006/02/04/d60204012520.htm |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star}}</ref> In 2007, Agrani Bank, led by chairperson Siddiqur Rahman Choudhury, along with two other state-owned banks, Sonali Bank Limited and Janata Bank Limited, were made into public limited companies.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-11-16 |title=Sonali, Janata, Agrani banks become PLCs |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-11812 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |agency=UNB |language=en}}</ref>
{{As of |2009}}, the bank has 11 Circle offices, 34 Divisions in head office, 62 zonal offices and 941 branches including 27 corporate and 40 AD (authorized dealer) branches.<ref name=":0" /> Agrani Bank also has remittance houses in Singapore, Malaysia and Canada. It was corporatized on 15 November 2007 and emerged as Agrani Bank Limited (ABL) taking over the assets, liability and goodwill of Agrani Bank.<ref name="businessweek">{{cite web |url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=32810797 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120924144642/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=32810797 |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 September 2012 |title=Agrani Bank Limited |publisher=BusinessWeek |access-date=5 October 2009}}</ref> The authorized capital of the bank was Tk 8 billion. It is also the owner of the Agrani Bank Ltd football club and Agrani Bank Cricket Club.
Khandaker Bazlul Haque, president of Dhaka University Teachers' Association, was appointed chairman of Agrani Bank in September 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2009-09-09 |title=3 state-owned banks get new chairmen |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-105225 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Syed Abdul Hamid was appointed managing director of the bank in July 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2010-07-12 |title=New MD for Agrani Bank |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news-detail-146353 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
An audit in 2013 by Office of Comptroller and Auditor General found that Agrani Bank had 28.85 billion taka in losses due to improper lending.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rahman |first=Md Fazlur |date=2013-08-20 |title=Tk 2,885cr stuck in anomalies |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/tk-2885cr-stuck-in-anomalies |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
In November 2014, Zaid Bakht, research director of Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies, was appointed chairman.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2014-11-17 |title=Agrani Bank gets new chairman |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/agrani-bank-gets-new-chairman-50658 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
In 2015, Agrani Bank re-appointed Syed Abdul Hamid managing director; a post he held since 2014.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-07-10 |title=Agrani Bank re-appoints MD |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/agrani-bank-re-appoints-md-110269 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Agrani Bank branch in Jessore District was robbed of 2.1 million armed robbers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-09-18 |title=Robbers loot Tk 21 lakh from Jessore Agrani Bank |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/country/robbers-loot-tk-21-lakh-jessore-agrani-bank-145219 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
In June 2016, Syed Abdul Hamid, the managing director of Agrani Bank was removed by Bangladesh Bank for providing 7.92 billion taka worth of loans against rules.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url=http://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/agrani-bank-md-axed-over-loan-irregularities-1248568 |title=Agrani Bank MD axed for Tk 792cr loan irregularities |work=The Daily Star |date=2016-06-30 |access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref> Deputy Managing Director Mizanur Rahman Khan was arrested by Anti Corruption Commission of Bangladesh.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://bdnews24.com/economy/2016/06/30/state-owned-agrani-banks-top-official-syed-abdul-hamid-removed |title=State-owned Agrani Bank's MD Syed Abdul Hamid sacked |work=bdnews24.com |access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://businessnews24bd.com/agrani-bank-acting-md-arrested-hours-after-taking-charge/ |title=Agrani Bank acting MD arrested hours after taking charge |website=Business News 24 BD |access-date=2016-07-28 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2016/jul/01/agrani-bank-boss-arrested-first-day-job |title=Agrani Bank boss arrested on first day of job |work=Dhaka Tribune |access-date=2016-07-28}}</ref> Khan was arrested hours after the Ministry of Finance appointed him acting managing director of the bank along with two other officials.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-06-30 |title=ACC arrests 3 Agrani Bank high ups |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/country/3-agrani-bank-officials-held-1248307 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
Following these removals, Mohammad Shams-Ul Islam was appointed the new managing director in August 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://bdnews24.com/business/2016/08/16/new-managing-directors-appointed-to-state-owned-sonali-agrani-and-rupali-banks |title=New managing directors appointed to state-owned Sonali, Agrani and Rupali banks |work=bdnews24.com |date=16 August 2016}}</ref> Upon his appointment, Islam immediately set in place a 100 Day Roadmap to recalibrate bank objectives, emphasizing growth and innovation in product offerings. By December 2016, the bank reported a 300% growth in operating profit, to Tk. 5.5 billion.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://dailycountrytodaybd.com/story/agrani-bank-eyes-tk-20bn-profit-this-yr |title=Agrani Bank eyes Tk. 20 billion profit |website=Daily Country Today Bangladesh |access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref> The parliamentary standing committee on Estimate formed an investigation committee led by Yusuf Abdullah Harun to look into the loans following a report by Bangladesh Bank which found widespread irregularities at the bank.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news |date=22 November 2017 |title=JS committee forms body to probe Agrani Bank 'loan scam |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/js-committee-forms-body-probe-loan-irregularities-agrani-bank-1495072 |access-date=19 October 2022 |work=The Daily Star}}</ref> The other two members of the investigation committee were Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and Waseqa Ayesha Khan.<ref name=":3" /> Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission approved Agrani Banks request to form a billion taka mutual fund.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-01-26 |title=Agrani Bank gets green light for mutual fund |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/banking/agrani-bank-gets-green-light-mutual-fund-1350964 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
Anti Corruption Commission of Bangladesh filled charges against Mizanur Rahman Shaheen and his brother, Mujibur Rahman Milon, for embezzling more than 1.4 billion taka from the bank in March 2018.<ref name="Staff Correspondent">{{Cite news |date=2018-05-25 |title=Agrani Bank Loans: Traders sued by ACC for embezzling Tk 144 crore |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/backpage/agrani-bank-loans-traders-sued-acc-embezzling-tk-144-crore-1581436 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> They are believed to have fled Bangladesh for Canada and Singapore.<ref name="Staff Correspondent"/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Shaheen migrates to Canada and lives in Toronto.... |url=http://corruptionwatch.info/1/post/2020/02/shaheen-migrates-to-canada-and-lives-in-toronto.html |access-date=2022-10-19 |website=CorruptionWatch.info |language=en}}</ref> Former manager of the bank, Nibaran Chandra Tanchangya, was arrested for embezzling money from the Bandarban District branch.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2019-07-22 |title=Former Agrani Bank manager arrested by Anti-Corruption Commission |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/former-agrani-bank-manager-arrested-anti-corruption-commission-1775011 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> It has a branch in Canada which is loss making concern for the bank.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alo |first=Jebun Nesa |date=2017-08-02 |title=Agrani not closing loss-making exchange house in Canada |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/agrani-not-closing-loss-making-exchange-house-canada-1442269 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref>
In December 2020, Zaid Bakht was re-appointed chairman of Agrani Bank for a third time in a row.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-12-15 |title=Zaid Bakht reappointed Agrani Bank chairman |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/zaid-bakht-reappointed-agrani-bank-chairman-2011545 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> In November 2021, Agrani Bank was identified as a weak bank due to 24.63 billion taka shortfall.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-11-29 |title=11 banks weighed down by Tk 27,918cr capital shortfall |language=en |work=The Daily Star |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/banks/news/11-banks-weighed-down-tk-27918cr-capital-shortfall-2905356 |access-date=2022-10-19}}</ref> Haji Selim, member of parliament from Awami League, had grabbed land belonging to Agrani Bank in Moulvibazar, Old Dhaka which he had claimed since 2003.<ref name=":4">{{Cite news |last1=Alam |first1=Helemul |last2=Islam |first2=Shariful |date=2020-10-29 |title=Sell it cheap or face torture |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/sell-it-cheap-or-face-torture-1985813 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> The bank was able to recover the land in 2020 but the building was demolished by Haji Selim.<ref name=":4" /> Bangladesh Bank had discovered an irregular loan by Agrani Bank for 350 million taka to Stylecraft Limited.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Agrani Bank sanctions Tk 35cr in loan to Stylecraft thru anomalies |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/153404/agrani-bank-sanctions-tk-35cr-in-loan-to-stylecraft-thru-anomalies |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=New Age |language=en}}</ref> Bangladesh Bank also fined Agrani Bank for proving loan to a known defaulter, Swiss Quality Paper, subsidiary of the Tanaka Group, with "undue privilege".<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-02-12 |title=2 state-owned banks fined for loan anomalies |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/business/2022/02/12/2-state-owned-banks-fined-for-loan-anomalies |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=Dhaka Tribune |language=en}}</ref>
Agrani Bank was the lone supplier of foreign exchange to the Padma Bridge construction project and had paid more than 1.2 billion USD to suppliers and contractors.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Byron |first1=Rejaul Karim |last2=Habib |first2=Wasim Bin |date=2021-03-16 |title=Agrani Bank sole supplier of forex for Padma bridge |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/news/agrani-bank-sole-supplier-forex-padma-bridge-2061309 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Anti-Corruption Commission began an investigation against the managing director of the bank, Mohammad Shams-Ul Islam, in February 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |title=ACC investigate allegations against Agrani Bank MD |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/163441/acc-investigate-allegations-against-agrani-bank-md |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=New Age |language=en}}</ref> In August 2022, Md Murshedul Kabir, was appointed Managing Director of Agrani Bank replacing Mohammad Shams-Ul Islam.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-30 |title=Kabir joins Agrani Bank as MD |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/banks/news/kabir-joins-agrani-bank-md-3106196 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> SWIFT asked Agrani Bank to suspend all transaction with Russia following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Uddin |first=AKM Zamir |date=2022-03-04 |title=Suspend transactions with Russian banks |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/business/economy/banks/news/suspend-transactions-russian-banks-2975331 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Daily Star |language=en}}</ref> Bangladesh Bank fined Agrani bank for failure to recover loan from Dolly Construction Limited.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-05 |title=Agrani Bank fined for inaction over Dolly Construction's loan irregularities |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/banking/agrani-bank-fined-inaction-over-dolly-constructions-loan-irregularities-453678 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref> Previously, a 2020 investigation by Bangladesh Bank revealed that Agrani bank had failed to report the loan account of Dolly Construction to the central bank's Credit Information Bureau (CIB) database.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-11-20 |title=When getting loans is so easy |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/bangladesh/corruption/when-getting-loans-so-easy-160432 |access-date=2025-12-25 |website=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref>
== Board of directors == {{Update section|date=December 2024}} {| class="wikitable mw-collapsible" |+ !Name<ref>{{Cite web |title=Agrani Bank PLC. |url=https://www.agranibank.org/index.php/aboutus/bod# |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=www.agranibank.org}}</ref> !Designation !Reference |- |Syed Abu Naser Bukhtear Ahmed |Chairman |<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Agrani Bank PLC. |url=https://www.agranibank.org/index.php/aboutus/bod# |access-date=2024-12-13 |website=www.agranibank.org}}</ref> |- |Khondker Fazle Rashid |Director |<ref name=":5" /> |- |Mohammad Masud Rana Chowdhury |Director |<ref name=":5" /> |- |DR. Md. Fazlul Hoque |Director |<ref name=":5" /> |- |Kabirul Ezdani Khan |Director |<ref name=":5" /> |- |Mohammad Sultan Mahmud |Director |<ref name=":5" /> |- |Md. Anwarul Islam |Chief Executive Officer |<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thedailystar.net/news/bangladesh/crime-justice/news/sc-stays-jail-sentences-agrani-bank-md-3-officials-3528366 | title=SC stays jail sentences of Agrani Bank MD, 3 officials | date=25 January 2024 }}</ref><ref name=":5" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-30 |title=Md. Murshedul Kabir appointed Agrani Bank MD and CEO |url=https://www.tbsnews.net/economy/banking/md-murshedul-kabir-appointed-agrani-bank-md-and-ceo-486570 |access-date=2022-10-19 |work=The Business Standard |language=en}}</ref> |}
==See also== {{Portal|Companies|Banks}} * List of banks * List of banks in Bangladesh
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * [http://www.agranibank.org/ Official website] * [http://en.banglapedia.org/index.php?title=Agrani_Bank_Limited Agrani Bank], Banglapedia
{{Banks in Bangladesh}}
Category:Banks established in 1972 Category:Banks of Bangladesh Category:Organisations based in Motijheel Category:Government-owned banks of Bangladesh Category:Banks of Bangladesh with Islamic banking services Category:Bangladeshi companies established in 1972