Shikhbe Shobai Startup Bangladesh: The Real Story
Shikhbe Shobai startup Bangladesh, explained. The real founding story, real numbers, and a step-by-step playbook for your own skills startup…
A complete guide to DPS in Bangladesh. Compare interest rates, Islamic options, tax rules, early withdrawal penalties and pick the right bank for your goals.
Most people in Bangladesh know DPS exists. Few actually understand how to choose one. You pick the wrong bank, lock in for five years at a low rate, miss two installments, and suddenly your plan falls apart. This guide covers how DPS works in Bangladesh, compares current interest and profit rates across leading banks, explains the tax rules most people ignore, and helps you find the right scheme for your actual goals.
Quick Answer: A DPS (Deposit Pension Scheme) in Bangladesh is a monthly savings plan where you deposit a fixed amount for a set period, typically 1 to 20 years, and receive your total savings plus accrued interest at maturity. Banks currently offer DPS profit rates ranging from roughly 9% to 12% per annum depending on the bank and tenure. Tax treatment can vary by DPS scheme. Interest or profit from a government-sponsored DPS or a scheduled-bank DPS with prior government approval may fall outside the regular source-tax rule for savings/fixed deposits. Confirm the tax treatment with your bank before maturity.
A DPS, short for Deposit Pension Scheme, is a recurring deposit product where you commit to depositing a fixed amount every month into a dedicated account. At the end of your chosen tenure, the bank returns your total deposits plus the accumulated interest or profit.
Think of it as forced savings with a reward at the end. DPS does not carry stock-market risk, but it is not completely risk-free. Bank health, inflation, taxes/charges, early encashment rules, and provisional profit-rate changes can affect your actual return.
Any Bangladeshi citizen aged 18 or above can open a DPS by visiting a branch or through digital banking apps. Bangladesh bank accounts come in several forms, and DPS is one of the most structured and goal-oriented options available.
It’s straightforward. But the details inside each step — especially around rates, tax, and what happens if you miss a payment — are where most people get tripped up.
Rates change frequently, and banks don’t always publicize them clearly. Based on information available from bank websites and financial comparison sources as of late 2025 and 2026, here’s a snapshot. Always verify the current rate directly with the bank before opening any account.
| Bank | DPS Scheme | Indicative Rate (p.a.) | Min. Monthly | Tenure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| One Bank PLC | PENSAVE / EDUSAVE | Up to 11.00% | Verify with bank | 5 years+ |
| Midland Bank | MDB Digital DPS | Up to 10.50% | BDT 250 | 3 months–20 years |
| EBL (Eastern Bank) | Millionaire Scheme | Verify with bank | From BDT 1,700 | Flexible (long-term) |
| EBL | Secure DPS (with insurance) | Verify with bank | From BDT 500 | Verify with bank |
| BRAC Bank | TARA Flexi DPS | Verify with bank | BDT 500 | 1–10 years |
| Prime Bank | Various DPS schemes | ~9.00%–9.50% | BDT 500 | Flexible |
| NRBC Bank / Bank Asia | Standard DPS | 7.00%–9.00% | Verify with bank | 3–10 years |
| Dutch Bangla Bank | Deposit Plus Scheme | Verify with bank | Verify | 3 months–5 years |
Note: Rates are indicative based on publicly available data as of late 2025–2026. Verify with each bank’s official website or branch before opening.
The best way to compare is to use the top private banks in Bangladesh as your shortlist, then check each bank’s current deposit rate sheet.
Islamic DPS schemes work differently from conventional ones. Instead of a fixed interest rate, they operate on a Mudaraba profit-sharing model, meaning the bank invests your deposits and shares profits based on a declared provisional rate. There’s no riba (interest) involved.
Al-Arafah Islami Bank PLC published a revised deposit rate circular effective August 1, 2024, which puts their Pension Deposit Scheme (PDS) profit rate at 12.00% per annum and their Installment Term Deposit (ITD) at 11.00% per annum. These are among the highest declared rates in Bangladesh’s Islamic banking segment, though they are provisional and subject to revision.
| Islamic Bank | Scheme | Provisional Profit Rate | Min. Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Arafah Islami Bank | Pension Deposit Scheme (PDS) | 12.00% (from Aug 2024) | Verify with bank |
| Al-Arafah Islami Bank | Installment Term Deposit (ITD) | 11.00% (from Aug 2024) | Verify with bank |
| Islami Bank Bangladesh | Mudaraba Pension Scheme (MPS) | Verify with bank | BDT 500 |
| Social Islami Bank | MPS / Savings Scheme | Verify with bank | Verify with bank |
| EXIM Bank | Islamic DPS | Verify with bank | Verify with bank |
Note: Islamic DPS profit rates are provisional, not guaranteed. Confirm current rates with your chosen bank.
For a full comparison of Islamic banking options, the top Islamic banks in Bangladesh guide is a useful reference before you decide.
One practical note: because Islamic DPS profit rates are provisional, your actual return is declared at maturity based on the bank’s investment performance during your tenure. In practice, most reputable Islamic banks have been consistent in meeting or exceeding their declared provisional rates.
A lot of people mix these up. Here’s the honest difference:
| Feature | DPS | Fixed Deposit (FDR) |
|---|---|---|
| How you deposit | Monthly installments | One lump sum |
| Best for | Save gradually over time | Already have a lump sum |
| Interest rate | Usually slightly lower | Often slightly higher |
| Loan against | Up to 90–95% of deposited amount | Up to 90% of FDR value |
| Tenure | 3 months to 20 years | 1 month to 5+ years |
| Minimum | As low as BDT 250/month | Often BDT 50,000+ lump sum |
The core insight: if you have BDT 5,000 lying around each month but don’t have a large lump sum, DPS is your tool. If you’ve just received a windfall, maybe a bonus, a business payment, or savings from abroad, an FDR locks that amount in at a potentially higher rate. Some people run both. An FDR for existing savings, a DPS for monthly discipline. That’s actually smart, not complicated.
This is the part most people either don’t know or get wrong. Here’s the current position under Bangladesh’s National Board of Revenue (NBR) rules:
Tax treatment for DPS interest or profit depends on the type and approval status of the scheme. Under current income tax rules, interest or profit from a deposit pension scheme sponsored by the Government or by a scheduled bank with prior government approval may fall outside the regular source-tax deduction rule for savings and fixed deposits.
Because banks may apply tax rules differently based on the specific product, confirm the tax treatment of your DPS directly with the bank or NBR before maturity.
DPS investment rebate: Under the income tax rules for assessment year 2025–26, DPS contributions qualify for investment tax rebate purposes, up to BDT 60,000 per year. If you’re a salaried person filing annual returns, your DPS deposit (capped at BDT 60,000) reduces your total taxable investment base, which can lower the tax you owe overall.
Excise duty is also applied to bank account balances annually based on balance thresholds. This is separate from source tax and applies to the account balance, not just interest.
This is where DPS plans unravel for many people. Banks don’t advertise the penalties clearly, so read this before signing.
Most banks follow a standard rule: miss three consecutive installments and your account may be force-closed. The amount you receive would be based on premature encashment terms, not maturity terms — meaning a significantly lower effective return.
Early withdrawal penalties (example from Dhaka Bank PLC official terms):
| Closure Timing | What You Get |
|---|---|
| Less than 1 year | Principal only (no interest or profit) |
| 1–2 years | Principal + ~3% interest (savings rate) |
| 2–10 years | Deposits + interest for full completed years at a reduced rate |
Some NBFIs like IPDC Finance state no penalty for premature encashment, but the rate applied still reverts to savings-account level. Don’t open a DPS with money you might need within the first year.
Before choosing a bank, it’s worth checking the red, yellow, and green zone classifications for Bangladesh banks. If a bank is under financial stress, your DPS could face delays or complications even if you’re well within your tenure.
Here’s something most comparison articles skip entirely: you don’t have to break your DPS if you need cash.
Most banks in Bangladesh allow you to take a loan or overdraft against your DPS balance. BRAC Bank’s TARA Flexi DPS offers an overdraft facility of up to 95% of your deposited amount for accounts with more than one year of tenure. Sonali Bank offers up to 90%.
This means if you’ve accumulated BDT 1,00,000 in your DPS and face an emergency, you can borrow up to BDT 90,000–95,000 against it, pay a slightly higher loan interest, and keep your DPS intact with all its maturity benefits.
The loan interest will typically be higher than your DPS rate. But it keeps your savings goal alive while giving you access to funds during genuine emergencies. Most people don’t know this option exists until they’ve already broken their DPS and taken the penalty.
For digital-first users, opening a bank account online in Bangladesh is now possible at several banks, and some extend the same process to DPS enrollment.
If you’re an NRB (Non-Resident Bangladeshi) looking to save in Bangladesh while living abroad, some banks offer Probashi DPS options. Businessglobalizer has resources on NRB banking and account management in Bangladesh that are worth reviewing if that applies to you.
Don’t just chase the highest rate. Here’s what actually matters:
Also check how many DPS accounts you can hold. Most banks allow multiple accounts, though some cap total monthly installments per customer. EBL, for instance, caps total installments at BDT 13,000 per customer across all DPS accounts.
A DPS (Deposit Pension Scheme) is a monthly recurring deposit plan offered by banks in Bangladesh. You deposit a fixed amount each month for a chosen period, usually 1 to 20 years. At maturity, you receive the total amount deposited plus accumulated interest or profit. Source tax is deducted automatically before the maturity amount is credited to your account.
As of late 2025 and 2026, Al-Arafah Islami Bank’s Pension Deposit Scheme (PDS) was offering 12% provisional profit per annum, and One Bank’s PENSAVE scheme was offering up to 11% for 5-year tenures. Midland Bank’s Digital DPS was offering up to 7.50%–9.50% p.a. for longer tenors. Rates change, so always verify directly with the bank before opening.
It varies by bank. Midland Bank’s MDB DPS allows a monthly installment of just BDT 250. Most other private banks start from BDT 500 per month. Some specialized DPS products, like EBL’s Millionaire Scheme, start from around BDT 1,700 per month for a target maturity of BDT 1 million.
Missing one or two installments usually results in a temporary irregular status and your indicative maturity amount may reduce. If you miss three consecutive installments, most banks will automatically close your DPS account and settle at premature encashment rates, which are significantly lower than the agreed DPS rate.
DPS tax treatment depends on the specific scheme. Interest or profit from a government-sponsored DPS or a scheduled-bank DPS with prior government approval may fall outside the regular source-tax deduction rule for savings and fixed deposits. DPS contributions may also qualify for investment tax rebate, subject to the annual limit and overall tax rebate rules.
Islamic DPS is a Mudaraba-based savings scheme offered by Islamic banks. Instead of a fixed interest rate, the bank shares profits earned from investing your deposits. It’s Shariah-compliant with no riba (interest). Banks like Islami Bank Bangladesh, Al-Arafah Islami Bank, Social Islami Bank, and EXIM Bank offer these products.
Yes. Most banks allow you to borrow against your DPS balance. BRAC Bank’s TARA Flexi DPS offers an overdraft of up to 95% of your deposited amount for accounts with over one year of tenure. Sonali Bank offers up to 90%. This lets you access cash in an emergency without breaking the DPS and losing your maturity benefits.
You can, but the returns will be significantly lower. If you close within the first year, most banks return only your principal with no interest. Between years 1 and 2, you typically receive interest at roughly the savings account rate (around 3%), not the DPS rate. After that, you may receive accrued interest for completed years at a reduced rate.
Yes, most banks allow multiple DPS accounts per customer. However, some set limits on the total monthly installment across all accounts. EBL, for example, caps total DPS installments at BDT 13,000 per customer. Check your bank’s specific policy before opening a second account.
A DPS is one of the simplest, lowest-risk savings tools available to anyone in Bangladesh. No market swings, no uncertainty about where your money is. You put in a fixed amount every month, and the bank does the rest. The problem isn’t the product — it’s the decisions around it. Which bank, which tenure, which rate, and whether you’ve actually read the early withdrawal clause.
Before you walk into any branch, know your monthly budget, confirm the bank’s zone classification, get your e-TIN sorted, and use the bank’s own DPS calculator. Those four steps alone will put you ahead of most people opening a DPS account today. Which bank are you leaning toward?
Shikhbe Shobai startup Bangladesh, explained. The real founding story, real numbers, and a step-by-step playbook for your own skills startup…
Learn how FDR in Bangladesh works, current interest rate ranges for 2026, Islamic bank options, tax rules, and how to…
In Bangladesh, a scheduled bank is a bank that is included in the official “scheduled banks” list maintained under Article…