State-owned Janata Bank has initiated auctions of mortgaged land from S Alam Refined Sugar Industries and S Alam Super Edible Oil to recover non-performing loans totaling Tk1,777 crore and Tk1,008 crore, respectively. The auctioned assets include 2,971 and 1,860 decimals of land, with bids closing by 23 January. S Alam Group, a long-time borrower since 2004, owes nearly Tk10,000 crore, of which only Tk2,749 crore is backed by mortgaged assets. Legal action was taken on 1 December, summoning ten individuals linked to the group, including its chairman and family members.
S Alam Group faces allegations of siphoning Tk1.5 lakh crore through banks under its influence, including Islami Bank and Al-Arafah Islami Bank. Amid financial strain, the group has shuttered eight factories due to difficulties in importing raw materials. Janata Bank’s actions highlight systemic concerns over large-scale default loans and regulatory oversight in Bangladesh’s banking sector.