Dhaka, March 16 -- In the swirling uncertainties of Bangladesh's banking sector, debt scam-ridden Padma Bank is unable to repay depositors, with its accumulated losses climbing close to Tk 10 billion. So, the question arises if a merger with this bank will harm the financial health of the profitable Exim Bank.

Concerns loom over whether the depositors of the Padma Bank will get their money back.

Padma is a conventional bank anyway while Exim follows Shariah, which begs the question: how the diverse banking models of the two entities will be reconciled.

Exim Bank Chairman Nazrul Islam Mazumder said they agreed to the merger because they have a duty to perform for the state. Exim will follow the Bangladesh Bank's guidelines on the merger...