United News of Bangladesh

Finance Minister Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury on Sunday informed Parliament that the total amount of default loans in nine state-owned banks stood at Tk 188,701.75 crore as of May 31 this year. Replying to a question from reserved seat Jamaat-e-Islami MP Sabikun Nahar during the question-answer session, the minister said the figure was based on data submitted by the banks to the Credit Information Bureau (CIB) database of Bangladesh Bank. The minister said the nine state-owned banks are Agrani Bank, Janata Bank, Rupali Bank, Sonali Bank, BASIC Bank, Bangladesh Development Bank, Bangladesh Krishi Bank, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank and Probashi Kallyan Bank. He said reducing the high level of default loans is essential to restoring discipline in the country's banking sector. Responding to a question from Jamaat MP Golam Rasul, the finance minister said the government's total outstanding debt stood at Tk 2,206,462 crore as of December 31. Of the total, external debt amounted to Tk 959,311 crore, while domestic debt stood at Tk 1,247,151 crore. Answering another question from Jamaat MP Shahjahan Chowdhury, Amir Khosru said the government repaid foreign loans worth US$4.65 billion during the 2025-26 fiscal year. Of the total, US$3 billion was repaid as principal and US$1.65 billion as interest. In reply to a question from Jamaat MP Mahbubul Alam, the minister said Bangladesh Bank has taken several initiatives to provide easier access to loans for young entrepreneurs. He said the central bank has increased the refinancing fund for new entrepreneurs in the cottage, micro and small enterprise sector from Tk 100 crore to Tk 500 crore. Under the scheme, new entrepreneurs can obtain collateral-free loans of up to Tk 10 lakh at a maximum interest rate of 7 percent, while loans of up to Tk 35 lakh are available against collateral. Replying to a question from reserved seat MP Nilufar Chowdhury Moni, the minister said outstanding customs duties and taxes on imported goods collected by various customs houses under the National Board of Revenue over the past five years amounted to Tk 25,504.3 crore. He added that out of Tk 3,912 crore payable by Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation, Chattogram Custom House had recovered Tk 590 crore by June this year. Responding to a question from Dhaka-18 MP SM Jahangir Hossain, the finance minister said the government had decided to waive agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000, including interest, for farmers across the country covering crops, livestock, fisheries and other agricultural activities. Under the programme, banks had received Tk 1,352.74 crore from the government by July 2 to settle dues for 1,434,482 farmers, he said. In reply to Nilphamari-4 MP Abdul Muntakim, the minister said Bangladesh Bank's regulations stipulate that a bank's fixed assets cannot exceed 30 percent of its paid-up capital. As Sonali Bank's fixed assets are already significantly higher than the prescribed limit, the bank is currently unable to purchase additional fixed assets or construct new buildings, he added. Answering a question from Cumilla-9 MP Abul Kalam, the finance minister said discussions between the Economic Relations Division and the World Bank are underway to prepare the financing pipeline for the 2026-27 fiscal year. He said budget support remains one of the World Bank's financing instruments for Bangladesh, and the government's requirement and target for such support in FY2026-27 will be determined following consultations with the relevant stakeholders. The government will decide the sectors in which any budget support funds will be utilised based on national priorities.