Mashrur Arefin

Mashrur Arefin is a distinguished Bangladeshi banker and business leader who serves as the Chairman of the Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) — the apex body of the country's commercial bank executives — and as the Managing Director & CEO of The City Bank Limited. He was elected ABB Chairman on 5 January 2026, bringing over three decades of banking experience across multiple local and international financial institutions to the role.

🎓 Education

Mashrur Arefin has a strong academic background spanning English literature and business administration, with international education experience:

• 📚 M.A. in English Literature — University of Dhaka
• 📖 B.A. in English Literature — Aligarh Muslim University, India
• 📊 MBA — Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
• 🏫 SSC & HSC — Barishal Cadet College

💼 Banking Career

Mashrur Arefin started his banking career in 1995 as a management trainee at ANZ Grindlays Bank Limited, where he worked in the bank's Australia headquarters. Over the following decades, he built an impressive career across multiple leading local and international banks:

• 🏦 ANZ Grindlays Bank (1995 onwards) — Started as Management Trainee, worked in Australia HQ, later became Head of Consumer Finance, Bangladesh
• 🌍 Standard Chartered Bank — Worked in Qatar operations
• 🇦🇺 ANZ Banking Group — Worked in Melbourne, Australia
• 💳 American Express Bank, Bangladesh — Served as Director
• 💰 Citibank N.A. — Served as Resident Vice President, Bangladesh
• 🏦 Eastern Bank Ltd — Head of Consumer Banking

🏛️ City Bank Leadership

Mashrur Arefin joined The City Bank Limited in 2007 as Head of Retail Banking. Over the next decade, he held several senior positions including Chief Communications Officer and Chief Operating Officer, before being appointed Managing Director & CEO in January 2019.

Under his leadership as MD & CEO, City Bank has strengthened its position as one of Bangladesh's leading private commercial banks, with significant digital banking initiatives, expanded retail and corporate banking services, and strategic investments in technology and human capital. He also serves as a Director of the bank's subsidiary remittance company in Malaysia and its merchant bank subsidiary.

🏆 ABB Chairmanship

On 5 January 2026, Mashrur Arefin was elected as the Chairman of the Association of Bankers, Bangladesh (ABB) — the apex body representing the chiefs (MDs/CEOs) of all scheduled commercial banks in Bangladesh. The ABB serves as a respected and trusted platform that bridges banks with key regulatory and policy-making bodies including:

• 🏛️ Bangladesh Bank — the central bank
• 📊 Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission (BSEC)
• 💰 Ministry of Finance
• ⚖️ Ministry of Law
• 📋 National Board of Revenue (NBR)

As ABB Chairman, Mashrur Arefin leads the association's policy advocacy work, representing the banking sector's interests in regulatory dialogues, promoting transparency and stability in the financial ecosystem, and working to enhance the resilience and capacity of Bangladesh's banking sector during a critical period of macroeconomic adjustment and structural reform.

📝 Literary Achievements

Beyond his banking career, Mashrur Arefin is also a respected writer, novelist, poet, and translator in Bangla literature. His literary works include:

• 📖 "August Abchaya" (The Eclipse of August) — His first novel, a fictional work published at the Ekushey Book Fair 2019. Won the Gemcon Literary Prize 2020
• 📖 "Althusser" — His second novel, named after the famous French philosopher Louis Althusser, published at the Ekushey Book Fair 2020
• 📖 "Ishwardi Mayor O Mule er Golpo" — A book of long poem published in 2001, his first book
• 📖 "Prithib Elomelo Sokalbelay" — His second poetry book, published at the Ekushey Book Fair 2020

His writing is known for its experimental prose, syntactic twists, and exploration of new aesthetic possibilities in Bangla literature. He also writes articles on literature for newspaper and literary supplements.

🏆 Recognition

Mashrur Arefin was recognized as "CEO of the Year-2025" in the Financial Institutions category, reflecting his leadership excellence and contributions to Bangladesh's banking sector.