The government has canceled the decision to reduce the profit rate of savings certificates, retaining the previous rate. On Sunday (January 4), the Finance Department asked the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) to issue a notification to this effect, and the IRD will now do so.
As a result, the profit rate that investors in savings certificates used to get from July 1 to December 31, 2025, will be given for the next six months at the same rate.
On December 28, a notification was issued to reduce the profit rate of all types of savings certificates from January 1 to June 30, 2026. This put ordinary middle-class and limited-income investors in trouble. In such a situation, the previous rate was retained.
The profit rate is relatively high in the case of low investment. The profit rate is low in the case of high investment. In this case, the limit has been set at Tk 7,50,000. If this amount is less than or equal to this amount, the profit rate will be higher. In the case of investments exceeding Tk 7,50,000, the profit rate will decrease. As part of income and debt management, the government regularly sets the profit rate of savings certificates.
Among the types of savings certificates under the National Savings Department in the country, the most popular is the family savings certificate. So far, the profit rate for investments of less than Tk 700,000 at the maturity of five years was 11.93 percent; that has been maintained. And for investments exceeding Tk 700,000, the profit rate was 11.80 percent, that is also correct.
In pensioner savings certificates, the profit at the end of the fifth year, i.e. at the maturity, for investments of less than Tk 700,000, was 11.98 percent; that has still been maintained. The profit rate for investments exceeding Tk 7,50,000 remains 11.80 percent.
The profit rate of five-year Bangladesh Savings Certificates was 11.83 percent at maturity for investments of less than Tk 7,50,000; which remained the same for the next six months. The profit rate for investments of more than Tk 7,50,000 was 11.80 percent; that too is correct.
In addition, the profit rate at maturity for investments of less than Tk 7,50,000 in three-monthly profit-based savings certificates is 11.82 percent and for investments of more than Tk 7,50,000, the profit rate is 11.77 percent.
Meanwhile, the customers of savings certificates are mainly the average middle-class families of the country. They break the savings certificates in times of danger and manage it. Again, a part of the monthly household expenses comes from the profits of savings certificates.
Due to the increase in the prices of goods, high inflation has prevailed in the country for more than two years. Although inflation has decreased slightly for a few months, it is still in the range of 8-9 percent.
The profit rate is re-determined after six months. The interest rate on savings certificates was kept unchanged for almost a year after the decision to reduce the interest rate was canceled.
