Give top priority to farm loans in time
BB governor asks bankers
Bangladesh Bank governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed yesterday asked officials of nationalised and private commercial banks to complete disbursement of loans to farmers in Sidr-hit areas on priority basis by January next year.
Any irregularity and malpractice in loan disbursement will be severely dealt with, he said.
“We are committed to provide necessary financial support to restore economic activities crippled by the November 15 cyclonic, he told bankers at a view-exchange meeting held at the conference room of the central bank's Khulna office. It was presided over by BB's general manager in Khulna Sarder Mohammod Shajahan.
Executive Director of the central bank Khandaker Mazharul Huq also accompanied the governor and was present in the meeting.
Dr Salehuddin Ahmed said agriculture being the vital part of country's economy must be geared up by providing loans to farmers, particularly in Sidr-hit areas.
The loans must be provided at the right time. Otherwise, the entire economy of the country would face a challenge, he said.
The central bank governor said he has asked bankers to give loans to farmers, fishermen, and small and medium level businessmen.
Price spiral of essential commodities can not be checked if we fail to rejuvenate the agriculture sector once again, the governor said.
“It is not the proper time to judge who is loan defaulter in cyclone-hit areas. It is the time to provide easy-term loans to farmers and fishermen”, he said.
The government has set the loan disbursement target at Tk 1300 crore in cyclone-hit areas and Tk 300 crore of it has so far been disbursed, he told the meeting. Untimely loan disbursement will be of no use, he added.
Dr Salehuddin Ahmed expressed his displeasure at failure of private banks to give loans to farmers in affected areas though they were supposed to do so.
“I will call a meeting of private bankers soon to discuss the matter”, he said.
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