Bangladesh

(last updated 12/14/09)

Overview of Regulatory Environment
The main institutions providing microfinance services in Bangladesh include: 1) NGO-MFIs, 2) Grameen Bank (organized independently under the Grameen Bank Ordinance of 1983), and 3) commercial and specialized banks. NGO-MFIs are regulated by the Microcredit Regulatory Authority and register with the NGO Affairs Bureau if they receive foreign funds. Banks (excluding Grameen Bank) are regulated by the Bangladesh Bank.
	Read this INFORMATIVE PROFILE of the legal and regulatory environment for microfinance in Bangladesh from the Comparative Database on Regulation and Supervision.
Financial Regulators
Bangladesh Bank
Microcredit Regulatory Authority

Recommended Reading
»	Microfinance Industry Report: Bangladesh Credit and Development Forum, Banking with the Poor Network, SEEP Network (2009)
»	Bangladesh Microfinance Country Profile Credit and Development Forum (CDF) (2006) Asia Resource Centre for Microfinance (ARCM)
»	Regulatory Architecture for Microfinance in Asia: Bangladesh Miah, M. (2006) Asian Productivity Organization

Laws and Regulations Related to Microfinance and the Financial Sector
Banking Companies Act No. 14 of 1991
Banking Companies (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 1993
Banking Companies (Amendment) Act No. 25 of 1995
Bangladesh Bank Order No. 127 of 1972 (as amended through 2003)
Microcredit Regulatory Authority Act 2006
Societies Registration Act of 1860 (as amended through 1978)
Trusts Act of 1882 (as amended through 2000)
Voluntary Social Welfare Agencies (Registration and Control) Ordinance No. XLVI of 1961 (as amended through 1973)
Companies Act 1994
Grameen Bank Ordinance No. XLVI of 1983 (as amended through 2008)
Prudential Regulations for Banks: Selected Issues (as of 2009)
Laws and Regulations Related to Branchless Banking
Payment and Settlement Systems Regulations 2009
Related Links
Enterprise Survey: Bangladesh Snapshot of how firms view the effect of economic and regulatory policies on growth, productivity and efficiency (World Bank/International Finance Corporation)
FIRST Information Exchange: Bangladesh Individual country information on financial sector donor projects, a brief description of the financial sector, and links to financial sector reports and diagnostics from international organizations. (Financial Sector Reform and Strengthening Initiative)