The Daily Corporate Desk
Dhaka, 23 September 2026:
Eastern Bank PLC (EBL) Chairman Anis Ahmed is set to receive 1.64 crore shares of the bank as a gift from his father, M. Ghaziul Haque, according to a corporate disclosure published on the Dhaka Stock Exchange.
The transfer, involving shares equivalent to around 1% of Eastern Bank’s total shares, is expected to be completed outside the regular trading system of the Dhaka Stock Exchange by 29 October 2026.
Anis Ahmed currently holds a 3.98% stake in EBL. Following the transfer, his ownership will rise to more than 5%, according to reports based on the bank’s disclosures and 2025 annual report.
Gifted shares valued at around Tk38 crore
Eastern Bank shares closed at Tk23.20 on the Dhaka Stock Exchange on 23 September. At that market price, the shares to be transferred are worth approximately Tk38 crore. EBL’s share price rose 1.75% during the day following the disclosure.
The transfer will increase Anis Ahmed’s direct shareholding and make him the largest individual shareholder among the bank’s directors, according to The Daily Star.
Comes as directors’ combined stake falls below regulatory threshold
The share transfer comes against the backdrop of a recent decline in the combined ownership of EBL’s sponsors and directors.
At the end of August 2026, sponsors and directors collectively held 29.44% of the bank, below the regulatory minimum requirement of 30%.
The additional shares transferred to Anis Ahmed are therefore expected to help restore the combined sponsor and director holding above the required threshold.
Anis Ahmed became EBL chairman in July
Anis Ahmed was elected chairman of Eastern Bank on 27 July 2026. Before taking the chairmanship, he served on the bank’s Executive Committee and previously chaired its Risk Management Committee.
He is the founder and Group Chief Executive Officer of MGH Group, a Singapore-headquartered multinational business group operating across 26 countries. The group has interests spanning supply-chain services, logistics, financial services, food and beverage retail, and other businesses.
According to EBL, Ahmed has also been involved in technology-focused ventures and entrepreneurship in Bangladesh.
EBL reports strong 2025 performance
The latest share transfer follows a period of solid reported financial performance at Eastern Bank.
At its 34th Annual General Meeting in June, EBL approved a 28% dividend for 2025, comprising a 25% cash dividend and 3% stock dividend. Shareholders also highlighted the bank’s financial performance, corporate governance and digital transformation initiatives.
With the proposed transfer, Anis Ahmed’s personal stake in EBL will increase significantly, while the transaction is also expected to have an impact on the overall shareholding position of the bank’s sponsors and directors.
Source: The Business Standard, The Daily Star, Eastern Bank PLC and Dhaka Stock Exchange
