Bangladesh’s banking sector has recorded a continued rise in the number of accounts holding deposits of Tk 10 million or more, underlining growing economic disparity and unequal distribution of income.

According to a recent Bangladesh Bank report, more than 128,000 bank accounts now contain deposits of at least Tk 10 million.

Economic experts say worsening financial pressure on ordinary people is reducing savings among lower- and middle-income groups, with many forced to use previously saved funds. At the same time, the wealthiest groups and large business owners are experiencing rapid income growth, leading to higher-value bank deposits.

Bangladesh Bank has explained that these figures do not mean all such account holders are individual millionaires. The accounts include those of government bodies, private institutions and business entities, and a single person or organisation may maintain multiple high-value bank accounts.

By September 2025, the number of deposit accounts in the country stood at 174,596,700, an increase of about 5.6 million since June. However, although the number of millionaire accounts has risen, their total deposits have fallen from Tk 880,772 crore at the end of June to Tk 821,562 crore at the end of September, marking a decline of nearly Tk 59,000 crore within three months.

Analysts say this sustained trend reflects serious income inequality. While one section of the economy continues to advance, a much larger segment of the population is facing ongoing financial hardship, affecting daily living standards.

Historical figures show that Bangladesh had only five millionaire depositors in 1972. The number grew to 943 in 1990, 19,163 in 2008, 93,890 in 2020 and 122,081 in 2024, before reaching 128,000 by September 2025.