Strengthening professional expertise and upholding ethical practices are essential to ensuring strong governance in Bangladesh's banking sector, experts said at an event today (7 November).

They also noted that specialised education plays a vital role in building professional standards and strengthening institutional governance.

The observations were made at the 6th Graduation Ceremony of the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM) Certification Courses, held at the institute's office in Dhaka, reports BSS.

A total of 1,013 graduates from 11 certification programmes received their certificates at the event, according to a press release. The courses aim to develop a skilled workforce capable of providing specialised services in the country's banking industry.

Delivering the ceremonial lecture, Professor MA Baqui Khalily, dean of the School of Business at the University of Asia Pacific, said knowledge holds little value if not accompanied by morality and ethics.

"Knowledge lacks impact if morality and ethics fail to protect the interests of equity holders and other stakeholders, including depositors, bank growth, and even one's own career," he said.

He added that the current condition of the banking sector reflects both regulatory and moral failures within bank management.

Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Nurun Nahar, attending as special guest, urged graduates to equip themselves with the capacity to work with state-of-the-art digital technologies.

She encouraged them to view the certification as "a promise to continue growing, to share knowledge generously, and to carry the responsibility that comes with expertise".

The event was chaired by SM Abdul Hakim, director general of BIBM, while Dr Mohammad Tazul Islam, director (certification), delivered the welcome address.

In his remarks, Dr Tazul Islam noted that the banking sector, like other industries, is undergoing rapid technological transformation.

"All over the world, banks are taking huge steps towards digitalisation to meet the competition of modern banking and deliver maximum value to customers at affordable costs," he said.

He added that employers across all industries, including banking, now require staff with advanced technical skills who are also flexible and open to continuous change.

The BIBM launched its first international certification – the Certified Expert in Risk Management (CERM) – in 2015, in collaboration with the Frankfurt School of Finance and Management in Germany.

Since then, the institute has introduced ten additional certification programmes, including Certified Expert in Credit Management (CECM); Certified Expert in Trade Services (CETS); Certified Expert in Anti Money Laundering and Financial Crime (CEAF); Certified Expert in E-Banking (CEEB); Certified Islamic Banking and Finance Professionals (CIBFP); Certificate in Commercial Credit (CICC); Certificate in SME Credit (CiSMEC); Certified Professionals in SME Financing (CPSMEF); Certified Professional in Internal Audit and Bank Inspection (CPAI); and Certified Expert in NPL Management & Investment (CENPL).

These courses, developed in collaboration with international and local Islamic finance professionals, continue to be conducted successfully, contributing to the development of skilled and ethical banking professionals across the sector.

Banking governance