Standard Chartered Bangladesh and BRAC University jointly celebrated the success of the Financial Crime and Compliance (FCC) Certification Programme, an initiative designed to strengthen the country’s defences against financial crime and enhance compliance standards across the banking sector, a press release said.
The event, titled “Celebrating Success: Training to Combat Financial Crime and Ensure Compliance,” brought together senior representatives from Bangladesh Bank, BRAC University, and Standard Chartered Bangladesh. Md. Zakir Hossain Chowdhury, Deputy Governor of Bangladesh Bank, attended as Chief Guest, while Md. Mofizur Rahman Khan Chowdhury, Executive Director and Head of BFIU (CC), Bangladesh Bank, joined as Special Guest.
The trail started identified a significant need for nearly 250 Financial Crime Professionals to support expanding compliance activities. A major challenge quickly become evident: Bangladesh had very few trained specialists in this domain.Credit risk has been a familiar area for the country’s financial institutions, but Financial Crime Risk is newer, more specialised challenge—one that is expanding quickly and demands specialised skills. To deal with the situation, the programme co-developed by Standard Chartered and BRAC University. The certification programme combines academic rigour with industry expertise to address the growing complexities of financial crime.
Since its launch in early 2024, the programme has expanded significantly – growing to a sustained initiative that has now trained four full cohort. A total of 177 participants have successfully completed the programme, and the enrolment of 55 in cohort 5 marks the programme’s transition into a long-term capacity building platform for Bangladesh’s financial sector. Also, it opened a doorway to the participants for career growth and professional development. The first of its kind in Bangladesh, it covers key areas including money laundering, terrorist financing, fraud detection, ethics, and compliance controls. Participants received mentorship from experts at Standard Chartered Bangladesh, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU), and BRAC Business School.
During the certificate distribution ceremony, Naser Ezaz Bijoy, Chief Executive Officer, Standard
Chartered Bangladesh, said, “This programme is a powerful example of academia and industry working together. In 2024, when we migrated our FCC operations, we witnessed a shortage of financial crime professionals while the pertinent risks were growing rapidly. Together with Brac University we have trained four cohorts with the fifth underway to build the talent required to combat the crime and develop a resilient financial ecosystem. My heartfelt thanks to BRAC University, BFIU and all participants for making this initiative a success.”
Professor Mohammad Mujibul Haque, Dean, BRAC Business School (BBS), BRACU, highlighted the severe problem of financial crime in Bangladesh and expressed his gratitude for those from SCB, BFIU and BBS who have contributed towards the success of the program. He appreciated all participants for their dedication in preventing crime and ensuring compliance. Dr. Haque, along with Pro-VC Professor Arshad Chowdhury and Treasurer Ariful Islam, shared their commitment to serve the society through collaboration with the industry in grooming competent professionals and undertaking impactful research and advocacy in areas critical to our nation’s sustainable wellbeing.
Financial Crime continues to create vulnerabilities within Bangladesh’s ecosystem, underscoring the need for strong preventive measures and a well-equipped workforce. The certification aims to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills needed to detect and prevent illicit activities, reinforcing the resilience of the country’s financial system. With the expansion to the 5th cohort, the program is directly contributing to the country’s compliance readiness and institutional resilience.
As Bangladesh’s long-term partner in progress, Standard Chartered has played a pivotal role in the nation’s economic development for over 120 years. The Bank remains committed to advancing financial inclusion and strengthening safeguards against financial crime.
Established in 2001, BRAC University follows a liberal arts approach to education and is committed to preparing students to meet the demands of contemporary professional life through transformative education, training and global collaboration.
