Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) has disbursed agricultural loans worth around TK 1,641.51 crore in the north-western region during the first six months of the current 2021-2022 fiscal year.
The loans were disbursed through 383 branches in all 16 districts under Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions aimed at increasing crop production and boosting rural economy through recouping the losses caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Apart from this, the specialised commercial bank also recovered loans of Taka 1,758.81 crore including classified loans of Taka 443 crore. It has collected deposits of Taka 446.04 crore during the same period.
Headquartered in Rajshahi, the bank has set a target of disbursing agricultural loans of TK 3,000 crore during the current fiscal year, said Abdul Mannan, Managing Director of RAKUB.
Target has also been set to recover loans of TK 2,800 crore, including classified loans with TK 450 crore, and raise deposit collection to TK 500 crore, he said.
Abdul Mannan said the loans were disbursed among 1,478 entrepreneurs to revive their CMSMEs that have been badly affected by COVID-19 impact.
Under the government's stimulus package, 160 women entrepreneurs received Taka 7.64-crore loan assistance.
Money from the fund has been disbursed among small and medium-scale farmers, including those in the poultry and dairy sector, in rural areas, at five percent interest.
"Small and medium-scale farmers in rural areas received loans from the fund, and they are using the money to yield agricultural products, flowers, fruits, fish and poultry," Mannan added.
In the current fiscal year, BB has also provided Taka 50 crore to RAKUB for distribution to the CMSME sectors and it has already disbursed 70 percent of the targeted loan.
"We are very much hopeful about attaining the cherished targets of disbursing loans in these sectors within the stipulated time," he added.
Small and marginal women entrepreneurs and others who were not capable of paying collateral are being given priority in terms of disbursing CMSME loans.
