Commercial banks in Bangladesh are experiencing an unprecedented surge in liquidity support from the central bank, totaling Tk 3.45 trillion in November 2023. The ongoing trend is driven by mounting pressure on overall liquidity and banks’ persistent credit appetite despite increased deposit portfolios.
In December 2023, the Bangladesh Bank’s liquidity support already exceeded Tk 3.30 trillion. Economists express concerns about potential inflation spikes, emphasizing the need for targeted and judicious distribution of funds to prevent adverse effects on the economy. The excessive liquidity support is attributed to banks’ desperation to adjust year-end balance sheets and cope with liquidity shortfalls amid the growing purchase of high-priced US dollars and increased government bank borrowing.