'Non-performing loans have come down in state-owned banks'

Finance minister AHM Mustafa Kamal on Monday said that non-performing loans has come down in state-owned banks from December last.

"Similarly most of the banks have brought interest rate down to single digit. Others will implement it soon," the minister said this at a meeting with chairman and managing director (MD) of state run banks of the country at the finance ministry's conference room in the secretariat.
Mustafa said that there have been a lot of talks about non-performing loans in media. "I said it won't increase but media said it rose. Actually it did not increase. The review shows non-performing loan has decreased from 2018."
"We will continue communication with the clients to strengthen the bank sector. But who took money from banks illegally; they would be brought under law. The law will continue at the pace of the law. Who did wrongdoing in the sector, they are now in jail with family," he also said.
"We will sit in such meeting after three months to discuss about the banks sector's situation," he added.
According the minister, the percentage of default loans decreased to 25% in June of 2019 from 30.38 % in December of 2018 in Sonali Bank; similarly it came down to 35.18 % from 37.32 % in Janata Bank; 14.50 % from 20.25 % in Agrani Bank; 17 % from 17.92 % in Rupali Bank; 58.25% from 57.55 % in BASIC bank; 56.35 % from 65.54 % in Bangladesh Development Bank in the same period.
Bangladesh Bank governor Fazle Kabir and finance division senior secretary Abdur Rouf Talukder were also present.