Savings Certificates Should Be Tradable, Says BB Governor

Representational photo

Bangladesh Bank Governor Ahsan H Mansur has emphasised the importance of making savings certificates tradable, enabling investors to treat them as liquid and flexible financial assets.

Speaking at a seminar on Monday at the Dhaka Stock Exchange (DSE), he said, “If savings certificates become tradable, it would greatly benefit investors by providing them with more options to manage their portfolios.”

The governor highlighted that, in addition to savings certificates, treasury bonds should also be made more accessible to households and fully tradable to enhance their attractiveness.

He suggested that large infrastructure projects, including toll-based roads, highways, metro rail systems, and bridges, could be financed through the issuance of bonds. “By issuing bonds, the government can raise significant funds for infrastructure development without overburdening the banking system,” he noted.

Mansur warned that continued reliance solely on bank financing by both the government and private sector could create systemic pressures within the financial sector. “A well-developed bond market is crucial to diversifying funding sources and ensuring a stable financial system,” he added.

Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed also addressed the seminar, noting that the government is actively working to promote the bond market, including Shariah-compliant sukuk instruments, to broaden investment opportunities and strengthen the capital market.

The seminar on bond and sukuk markets was jointly organised by the Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC) and the DSE, reflecting a shared commitment to developing a more robust and accessible financial market in Bangladesh.