Premier Bank PLC has reaffirmed its commitment to resilient, forward-looking, and sustainable banking practices by successfully hosting its Annual Risk Conference 2025 at the bank’s Head Office in Dhaka. The conference, held under the theme “Proactive Risk Management for Sustainable Growth,” brought together members of the Board of Directors, senior management, and heads of key departments to discuss the evolving and increasingly complex risk landscape of Bangladesh’s banking sector.
Delivering the keynote address as Chief Guest, Dr Arifur Rahman, Chairman of the Board of Directors, emphasised that risk awareness must permeate every layer of the organisation. He noted that prudent risk management is no longer merely a regulatory requirement; it is a strategic necessity that drives sustainable growth, protects depositor confidence, and supports long-term financial stability. In an era marked by global economic uncertainty, stricter regulatory frameworks, and heightened market scrutiny, he highlighted the critical importance of anticipatory risk management over reactive measures.
The conference was presided over by Md Sazzad Hossain, Independent Director and Chairman of the Risk Management Committee, who stressed the significance of strong corporate governance, effective internal controls, and a forward-looking risk culture. He noted that institutions capable of identifying potential vulnerabilities early are better positioned to withstand economic shocks and ensure operational continuity. Special guests Syed Faridul Islam, Chairman of the Executive Committee, and M Nurul Alam, Chairman of Premier Bank Securities Limited, shared insights on board-level oversight, ethical market conduct, and the critical role of discipline in sustaining institutional credibility.
The presence of senior management underscored Premier Bank’s whole-of-bank approach to risk governance. Attendees included Md Monzur Mofiz, Managing Director (Current Charge); Nasim Sekandar, Additional Managing Director; multiple Deputy Managing Directors; the Chief Credit Officer; and Md Naquibul Islam, SEVP and Chief Risk Officer. Their participation reflected the integration of risk management considerations into strategic decision-making across all business lines.
Deliberations centred on interconnected risk areas, including credit concentration, capital adequacy pressures, liquidity stress, funding resilience, governance challenges, and evolving regulatory expectations. Speakers emphasised the alignment of the bank’s risk governance framework with Basel III standards and the latest Bangladesh Bank guidelines, particularly in capital planning and stress testing.
A technical session titled “Minimum Capital Requirement (MCR) and ICAAP: A Case Study” was presented by Mohammed Nasir Uddin, Assistant Vice President of the Risk Management Division, highlighting how provisioning shortfalls can negatively impact the Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) and leverage ratios, reinforcing the importance of proactive capital planning.
Adding an academic perspective, Md Alamgir and Dr Md Shohid Ullah, Associate Professors at the Bangladesh Institute of Bank Management (BIBM), discussed contemporary risk management practices and the growing emphasis on enterprise-wide risk integration.
The conference concluded with a collective commitment to strengthen proactive risk management, enhance capital planning discipline, and uphold strict adherence to Basel III principles, positioning Premier Bank to navigate uncertainty with foresight and prudence.
Key Focus Areas of the Conference
| Area of Focus | Key Emphasis |
|---|---|
| Credit Risk & Capital Adequacy | Managing concentration risk, provisioning, and CRAR |
| Liquidity & Funding | Stress scenarios, funding resilience, and contingency planning |
| Corporate Governance | Board oversight, accountability, and risk culture |
| Regulatory Compliance | Alignment with Basel III and Bangladesh Bank guidelines |
| Capital Planning | ICAAP, leverage ratios, and forward-looking assessments |
Through this strategic initiative, Premier Bank has demonstrated its unwavering commitment to sustainable growth by reinforcing strong governance, disciplined capital management, and a comprehensive enterprise-wide risk framework.