When the first branch of the Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited (IBBL) was inaugurated some thirty-two and a half years ago on the 30th of March 1983, no one knew that it was going to emerge as one of the best banks in the world and as job opportunity center for quite a few thousand people in itself. Today, some thirty-two and a half years later after its launching, IBBL has employed as many as 13,574 plus people as its workforce in 301 branches-the branch employee ratio being 1:43 plus. UK-based financial magazine, The Banker that has been publishing ranking of the banks across the world since 1970, has now ranked IBBL at the 954th place among leading banks of the world.
IBBL deserves credit for progressing well in respect of ranking. In 2012 when The Banker ranked IBBL within the 1000 best banks of the world it could not be known that the bank would be succeeding well in respect of ranking. In 2013, IBBL got 984th place in respect of ranking. In 2014, it got the 970th position and in 2015, IBBL has got the 954th place in respect of ranking. It means that in four years between 2012 and 2015, IBBL has succeeded in surpassing 46 banks in respect of ranking.
Available statistics show that the net profit after tax of IBBL rose from Taka 4,463.47 million in 2010 to Taka 4,841.45 million in 2011 and Taka 5,338.91 million in 2012. Although the net profit of the bank came down to Taka 4,948.58 in 2013 and Taka 3,999.06 in 2014 it is going to rise again in 2015 as an official of IBBL told this correspondent in the morning on September 20 (Sunday) last.
In respect of job opportunities and number of branches IBBL’s position is worth mentioning.
In 2010 IBBL had 10,349 employees in 251 branches. The figures increased to 11,465 employees in 266 branches in 2011, 12,188 employees in 276 branches in 2012, 12,980 employees in 286 branches in 2013 and 13,574 employees in 294 branches in 2014 last.
Most important achievement of IBBL is that it receives the highest amount of 27% foreign exchange remittance for Bangladesh. Its investment in SME (small and medium enterprise) sector is also highest.The success story of Hasnara Begum of Khas Hawla village of Narsingdi speaks for IBBL’s assistance in respect of rural development projects. Hasnara aspired to become self-reliant doing something after completing education. But before completing education Hasnara Begum was given in marriage. Her husband was a poor farmer. Hasnara Begum’s family was running in hardship. Still she did not lose heart. She wanted to turn the wheel of her luck by dint of her merit and labor. With her small capital she started a small poultry farm in the courtyard of her house. Hasnara wanted to do something bigger. Learning from neighbors she became a member of IBBL’s rural development project. Thus change of her lifestyle started. Taking financial assistance from IBBL, she started cattle breeding, vegetable farming and trolley-letting business. At the moment, Hasnara is the owner of a trolley, three cows and three Kanis of land. Now she is self-reliant.
Now hers is a happy family of two sons and a daughter. With the passage of time her earning is increasing. This is why Hasnara Begum is very grateful to IBBL.
“Taking financial assistance from us about one million families in 20,000 villages have succeeded in becoming self-reliant and this has fulfilled our objective of serving maximum number of people as per Islamic Sariah and maximize well-beings of society eradicating its ill-beings.” said Managing Director of IBBL, Mohammad Abdul Mannan, while talking to this correspondent in the afternoon on September 30 (Wednesday) last.
Deposits in IBBL have steadily increased from Taka 3,000 crore in 2000 to Taka 10,000 crore in 2005, Taka 30,000 crore in 2010 and Taka 61,000 crore in 2015, he said. In five years the number of account holders almost trebled from 4.4 million in 2010 to 10.3 million in 2015, he added.
By I.H.Sharif
