Banks asked to submit data on farm loans up to Tk 10,000

The Bangladesh Bank (BB) has asked banks to submit detailed information on agricultural and rural loans of up to Tk 10,000 so the data can be kept ready “for the next government”.

In a recent email from the central bank’s agriculture credit department, banks were instructed to provide comprehensive loan data following what officials described as an urgent directive from a BB board member.

“You are requested to send via email the data -- as of December 31, 2025 -- on agricultural and rural loans up to a maximum of Tk 10,000, including total principal, interest/profit, and outstanding balance,” according to the email seen by The Daily Star.

The central bank’s move to collect the information comes just days after Bangladesh Nationalist Party Chairman Tarique Rahman, on January 29, pledged to waive agricultural loans of up to Tk 10,000, including interest, and to introduce “farmer cards” if his party is voted into power.

Contacted, Arief Hossain Khan, executive director and spokesperson of Bangladesh Bank, told The Daily Star that a director had placed the matter before the board.

When asked about the reason, he said the central bank wants to be able to supply the information quickly if the next government takes any initiative regarding agricultural loans or the agricultural sector.

“It may be coincidental that the issue arose at the same time as a political party chief’s announcement on waiving agricultural loans,” he added.

Officials at the central bank said resentment has grown among agricultural loan departments of banks over the matter.