Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Sunday said six state-owned and three specialised banks waived off Tk 8,405 crore in loan interest in 2022.

The six-state owned banks are—Agrani Bank, Bangladesh Development Bank, Basic Bank, Janata Bank, Rupali Bank and Sonali Bank.

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The three specialized banks are—Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Probasi Kalyan Bank and Rajshahi Krishi Unnyan Bank.

In reply to a tabled question from Jatiya Party MP elected from Rangpur Mashiur Rahman Ranga, the minister said, the Boards of Directors of the nine banks approved interest waiver proposal of Tk 8,405 crore in favor of 4,621 customers in 2022.

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The finance minister said in 2022, the interest waiver facility of Tk 1,620.83 crore of these banks has been implemented.

Mustafa Kamal said that there is no opportunity to waive off the principal amount of the scheduled banks.

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He said the interest waiver benefits of state-owned banks have nothing to do with the bankruptcy of any bank.