The Supreme Court’s Appellate Division has imposed a status quo on the National Bank’s annual general meeting (AGM) until January 21, 2024, preventing the scheduled digital AGM for 2022 on December 21. Advocates who represented the bank were contesting the High Court’s stay on the AGM, initiated by a director advocating for a physical meeting.
Financially, the bank reported a substantial loss of Tk1,123 crore in the first nine months of 2023, marking a 214% increase from 2022. The consolidated loss per share during January–September 2023 was Tk3.49. This financial downturn was attributed to challenges in loan repayment stemming from a global and local liquidity crunch, with borrowers unable to meet installment payments.
The bank faces a high default loan rate of 29.47% and a staggering provision shortfall of Tk13,797 crore, impacting its capital and lending capacity. National Bank’s shares traded below face value at Tk8.30 each on the Dhaka bourse, indicating significant market challenges and investor concerns.