Muhith’s statement on Beximco’s loan repayment sought in JS

A Jatiya Party lawmaker today demanded Finance Minister AMA Muhith's statement in parliament immediately under section 300 of rules of procedure of the House on giving extra facilities to the Beximco Group for repaying its scheduled loan.

Speaking on a point of order, opposition MP Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu cited a media report on Beximco Group on giving the conglomerate special facilities in repaying its scheduled loan and inquired how Beximco Group got extra benefit to repay its huge amount of loan going beyond the banking rules.

“Even a farmer or rickshaw puller gets punishment for loan default. But different businesses including Beximco are getting extra facilities instead of getting punishment for their loan defaults.”

He also urged the finance minister to inform the parliament about the statistics of loan defaulters of the country’s “48 banks”. “We want to know whether the country is on a sinking boat or a floating boat," he added.

Bablu also said the finance minister should inform the House on Farmers’ Bank’s failure to return Tk 508 crore to Climate Change Trust Fund and other depositors’ money.

In response, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed appreciated the opposition MP’s speech in the House on the Farmers’ Bank and loan default issues.

The minister also said the government will have to be cautious and sincere in this regard as banking sector plays a strong role in the economy.

“The government is not remaining silent over those issues. Actions are being taken to address those issues. It would be not right from my side to reply everything as I am a member of the cabinet too,” added Tofail.

“But I must say the government has to be cautious regarding those issues if we want to be a developed country,” Tofail also said.

Speaking on the point of order, Bablu said, “We have heard about loan defaulters. Now we came to know about bank defaults as Farmers’ Bank has become a default bank.”