In order to meet customers’ withdrawal demands, Bangladesh Bank (BB) was compelled to lend Tk3,500 crore to the banks. Lending figuresUpon investigation, it was found that 21 banks have taken Tk3,500 crore in loan from the central bank, including Tk546 crore on December 18, Tk763.55 crore on December 19 and Tk924.46 crore on December 20. Sources said that AB Bank Ltd had borrowed the most, with Tk400 crore, followed by Eastern Bank Ltd with Tk183 crore, Trust Bank Ltd with Tk50 crore, National Bank Ltd with Tk97.5 crore, NRB Bank with Tk41 crore, Uttara Bank Ltd with Tk27 crore and Standard Bank Ltd with Tk25 crore. Central bank sources said that from September 2016 till September 2018, the banks had distributed Tk242,106 crore as loans, but got only Tk164,365 crore in returns. President of the Association of Bankers’, Bangladesh (ABB) and Managing Director of Dhaka Bank Ltd Syed Mahbubur Rahman told Bangla Tribune that banks borrowing from the central bank have definitely increased in recent times.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 25, 2018 15:45 UTC