Default loans in banking sector have soared to a historic high of Tk 182,295 crore, with no announced reforms in the new fiscal year’s budget to address this issue. According to Bangladesh Bank data, default loans increased by 25% (Tk 36,662 crore) from January to March 2024, with non-performing loans (NPLs) reaching Tk 50,675 crore compared to the same period in 2023.
Industry experts attribute this surge to irregularities, weak corporate governance, and inadequate central bank oversight. Actual default loan volumes may exceed Tk 500,000 crore when including written-off and rescheduled loans. Notably, state-run banks, particularly Janata and Agrani Bank, have seen significant spikes in NPLs, with Janata Bank alone contributing Tk 30,495 crore.