Akij Announces ‘Munafa Digital Bank’ — Bangladesh’s First Shariah-Compliant Full-Fledged Digital Bank
eading Bangladeshi conglomerate Akij Resources Ltd. has announced plans to launch the country’s first fully Shariah-based digital bank, to be named “Munafa Digital Bank.”
The announcement was made during a press conference titled “Akij Resources Digital Ecosystem: Leading the Change,” held on Thursday at the Akij House in Dhaka. Managing Director Sheikh Jasim Uddin outlined the company’s vision for the new venture, emphasizing Akij’s commitment to ethical, technology-driven financial empowerment.
“We believe banking is not just about transactions—it is a tool for financial empowerment and social progress,” he said. “Standing on the strong foundation of our heritage, we aim to build a digital bank that operates with the harmony of technology, ethics, and humanity.”
Sheikh Jasim Uddin further noted that Akij Resources intends to create a comprehensive digital finance ecosystem rather than just a bank. “Our goal is to connect people, businesses, and communities through secure technology—empowering everyone from urban professionals to rural entrepreneurs to participate in the country’s financial advancement,” he added.
Chief Business Development Officer Taufiq Hasan said, “We want to establish a banking service open to all. With the help of technology, our main goal is to bring every citizen under the umbrella of formal banking.”
Chief Digital and Innovation Officer Engineer Md. Firoz Kabir stated that Akij’s technology team is already developing the infrastructure for future banking. “We are building a smart system where banking will be fast, simple, and user-friendly,” he said. “Customers will be able to complete all financial activities without physically visiting a bank.”
Also present at the event were Chief People Officer Mohammad Afsar Uddin and i-BOS Ltd. CEO S.K. Md. Zayed Bin Rashid.
According to Akij Resources, Munafa Digital Bank will be the country’s first Shariah-compliant, completely interest-free, and fully digital bank. The institution aims to establish a transparent, ethical, and accountable banking model where customers can enjoy all digital banking services without any service charges.
