Dhaka, June 22 -- The startling revelation that Bangladeshi deposits in Swiss banks soared to CHF 589.54 million (approximately Tk 8,832 crore) in 2024 should serve as a wake-up call for policymakers.
According to a report published in this newspaper on Friday, the Swiss National Bank's (SNB) latest figures show a 33-fold increase from the previous year - a spike driven almost entirely by deposits from Bangladeshi banks, not individuals.
This dramatic surge, the second-highest in five years and fifth-highest since 1996, is particularly puzzling given Bangladesh's limited trade engagement with Switzerland.
As former World Bank economist Zahid Hussain rightly noted, the lack of substantial import rules out trade-related transactions, point...