The non-performing loans (NPLs) in the country’s banking sector rose by Tk 10,964 crore, 8.8 percent in three months to March 31, banking sources said.
The amount of NPL at the end of March 2023 stood at Tk 131620 crore, which was Tk 1, 20,656 crore at the end of December 2022.
The outstanding loans of the banking sector stood at Tk 1496346.43 crore at the end of March, and NPLs made up 7.65 percent of the total loans.
BB data showed the default loans at the state-run commercial banks stood at Tk 57958.57 crore at the end of March, which was Tk 56,460 crore in December 2022.
The amount NPL was Tk 65888.70 crore in the private banks at the end of March, which was Tk 56,438 crore at the end of December 22.
Besides, non-performing loans of specialized banks stood at Tk 4731.72 crore in March, up from Tk 4,709 crore at the end of December 22.
The amount of default loans at the foreign banks stood at Tk 3041.80 crore at the end of March, which was Tk 3,048 crore in December 22.
BB data also showed that the volume of non-performing loans in the country’s financial sector surged by Tk 18180 crore in the one year.
Salehuddin Ahmed, former governor of Bangladesh Bank, told The News Times that the main responsibility of recovery of defaulted loans is of commercial banks. Bangladesh Bank will help them. But currently banks are not careful enough about defaulted loans.
He said the central bank should be tough about recovery of default loans. The BB has to strengthen its oversight of the commercial banks, he added.
During my tenure at the BB the amount of default loan was Tk 22 thousand crore, which is now Tk 131620 crore.
