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Environmental degradation has been identified as one of the major impediments for development in Bangladesh. The World Health Organization has ranked Bangladesh fourth among the most polluted countries in the world. Faced with this challenge, the Government of Bangladesh introduced the Green Financing Policy and encouraged banks to participate in offering green financing as part of the efforts to promote environment-friendly economic activities for sustainable economic development. This study aims to examine the financial performance of selected commercial banks that offered green financing in Bangladesh in the period from 2012 to 2014.

In achieving this objective, the paper has divided the various sections of green banking policy under Maqasid Shariah framework of Imam Al-Ghazali, which is preserving faith, life, intellect, posterity and wealth. After that, green performance is compared between five conventional banks and five Islamic banks, according to the secondary data gathered from the annual reports and sustainability reports, as well as verified based on interviews. Finally, based on quantitative and qualitative thematic analysis approach, it is identified which banks meet most of the Shariah objectives along with performing sustainably.

The study finds that none of the banks fully meet the green/sustainable policy requirements; however, the Islamic banks are ahead in preserving faith, intellect and wealth circulation.

This research is mostly based on secondary data; banks’ non-disclosure of green data was an impediment to run in-depth and fair comparisons. However, to check the reliability and validity of secondary data, two heads of sustainable banking department from conventional bank and two from Islamic bank have been interviewed.

Based on the findings, several recommendations are made on ways to expedite green financing, which can ultimately enhance contribution of Islamic banks toward the sustainable economic growth of the country while fulfilling Maqasid Shariah.

Because the green banking policy aim is very much in line with Maqasid Shariah which is the aim of Islamic banks, Islamic banks can presumably contribute more to the sustainable economic growth of the country by aligning their entire operations with green policies.

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is perhaps the earliest initiative to compare Islamic and conventional banks’ green performances in Bangladesh.

This paper aims to critically evaluate whether the policies of green banking set by Bangladesh Bank are Shariah compliant; according to the main sources of the Shariah – Quran and Sunnah.

Green policy and guidelines have been divided into different categories such as environment protection, conservation of resources, risk management, educating people about green financing, transparency and disclosure and investing in green projects according to the common measures as stated in three different phases of the policy and guidelines. Subsequently, these major aspects of the green policy and guidelines are linked to the main references of the Shariah, i.e. the holy Quran and Sunnah of Prophet [peace be upon him (pbuh)].

Various verses of the holy Quran and teachings of Prophet (pbuh) related to the major categories of Green policy and guidelines are being presented to show the compliance with Shariah.

The Green policy and guidelines are very much in-line with Shariah. Though all types of banks in Bangladesh are bound to implement the green banking policy, however, Shariah compliance of green banking policy will be encouraging for all Islamic Banks of Bangladesh for their further and profounder involvement in it.

As green policies are found to be Shariah complaint, the Islamic banks are expected to contribute more to the sustainable economic growth of the country by successfully implementing the green financing policies compare to their conventional counterpart.

Verses of holy Quran and authentic Hadiths related to environmental sustainability concept show that Islam is a green religion as well as green banking policy is Islamic.

Currently, one of the most important dilemmas facing mankind is environmental degradation and natural resource shortage. The adoption of Green Banking practices has been identified as a solution to the growing environmental problems all over the world. However, an important issue being faced by both the conventional and Islamic banking industry is the creation of stakeholder engagement in Green Banking practices. The purpose of this paper is to propose the use of Islamic principles in developing an emotional attachment between Green Banking practices and the Muslim consumer market to facilitate Green Banking adoption.

Based on the theory of self-congruity, the authors have proposed a framework to analyze the congruity between Islamic principles and Green Banking. The argument is built on secondary data by identifying the Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) dimensions of Green Banking and proving its congruence with teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah.

It is observed that the doctrine of Islam established for mankind 1,400 years ago consists of the same principles that are now being implemented in the shape of Green Banking. The dimensions of Green Banking are in line with Islamic teachings and, thus, can easily be adopted and marketed by banks, especially Islamic banks, targeting the Muslim consumers. The congruence of Green Banking with Islamic principles can play a major role in fostering the growth of this imperative ideology for the Green Muslim consumers. Islamic banks can market green products and services on the basis of religious congruity to the Muslim consumer market and create greater acceptability and loyalty.

The proposed model has not been empirically tested.

Limited research exists in the area of Green Banking adoption, especially in Muslim countries. Up until now, academic research has not been conducted on the congruity between the principles of Islam and Green Banking dimensions. This paper attempts to add to the unsaturated research area of Green Banking adoption by Islamic banks and how Islamic banks can gain a competitive advantage by building on the congruity between Green Banking and Islam.