Nearly 1,000 employees lost their jobs in Bangladesh’s banking sector in the first six months of 2025, with women disproportionately affected, according to the latest Bangladesh Bank report.
Data reviewed on Sunday (21 September) show that the total number of employees in the banking sector fell to 213,267 by the end of June 2025, compared with 214,245 at the end of December 2024 — a net loss of 978 positions.
Women accounted for the bulk of the decline. Their numbers dropped to 35,782 (16.78% of total staff) in June from 37,649 (17.57%) six months earlier — a decrease of 1,867. Over the same period, male employment rose by 889.
The fall was most pronounced in private banks, where female staff numbers shrank by 2,014 to 24,050. By contrast, state-owned commercial banks added 83 women employees, specialized banks 60, and foreign banks four.
A senior Bangladesh Bank official said many of those who lost their jobs were hired during the previous government’s tenure without competitive exams or formal recruitment notices. “After the change in government, a significant number of them — especially women — lost their positions,” the official said.
Despite the overall reduction, women’s representation in higher positions increased slightly, reaching 10.25% in June from 9.73% in December. However, women at entry-level positions declined to 17.66% from 18.87% over the same period.
The report also notes a small drop in female representation on bank boards of directors, from 13.61% in December to 12.97% in June.
