In October 2023, Bangladesh witnessed a rise in private sector credit growth to 10.09%, up from September’s 9.69% but notably lower than the 13.91% recorded in October 2022. Analysts express concern that this marginal growth may not truly signify effective economic development.
The economic slowdown over the past two years, coupled with USD shortages affecting imports, has led to reduced credit demands. Observers note a shift in banks’ lending focus towards the public sector, potentially driven by year-end targets.
While private sector credit exhibited positive growth in the first half of the year, exceeding 11%, a decline was observed post-June 2023, attributed to tight monetary policies aimed at curbing inflation. Despite a slight increase in deposit growth to 9.5% in September, banks continue to grapple with liquidity issues, with the central bank providing over Tk 17,000 crore in support.