PM asks pvt banks to support minnows

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Wednesday asked the private banks to be more sincere in providing loans at low interest to small business enterprises to offset the Covid-19 fallout, reports UNB.

"In our incentive packages, we've taken measures to extend financial assistance to various small businessmen by providing them with loans at low interest. But I think our private banks need to be a little more sincere in this regard," she said while addressing a function virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban.

Some 35 commercial banks under Bangladesh Association of Banks (BAB) provided 25,95,000 blankets to the Prime Minister's Relief and Welfare Fund to help the poor during the upcoming winter.

On behalf of the Prime Minister, Principal Secretary Dr Ahmad Kaikaus received the donations from top representatives of the banks at the Prime Minister's Office.

The Prime Minister said though the beginning may be a little difficult for the banks due to cost hike, the banks will ultimately be benefited when the small enterprises are revived.

Expressing apprehension over the second wave of Covid-19, the PM said the Covid-19 situation has largely been brought under control in Bangladesh, but the resurgence in Covid infection is seen in many countries including European ones.

Noting that the country's reserve of foreign currency is US$ 40 billion, she said the government has a target to increase the reserve to US$ 50 billion during the golden jubilee of the country's independence.

"We can do many development works ourselves without borrowing from others. Or, we can do these with loans from our local banks.... We've also taken measures to do at least some works with our own finance. You will know the details very soon," she said.

Noting that the government's goal is that no one will remain homeless and landless in the country in the Mujib Borsha, the PM asked the BAB representatives to help the homeless and landless people in their respective localities by providing them with houses.

"If there is any homeless or landless person in your area, you can give them houses," she said adding the government has been providing houses to the homeless and landless families.

"There will be no more poverty in our country, if we all work together and work in our own areas," she went on.