BPC\\\'s debts to state-run banks, agencies stand at Tk 34b

FE Team | Published: April 18, 2015 00:00:00 | Updated: November 30, 2026 06:01:00

Rezaul Karim
Biman Bangladesh Airlines (BBA) along with some state-run agencies owe nearly Tk 20 billion to Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) while debts of the BPC to state-owned banks and agencies stand at Tk 34 billion, sources said.
BBA and Bangladesh Shipping Corporation (BSC) owe about Tk 14 billion and Tk 3.61 billion respectively to BPC.
Meanwhile, BPC has over Tk 230 million in dues with the Chittagong Port Authority (CPA), over Tk 340 million with the Bangladesh Railway (BR), Tk 240 million with Power Development Board (PDB), Tk 200 million with Bangladesh Chemical Industries Corporation (BCIC) and Tk 1.11 billion with Bangladesh defence service till date, a competent source said.
On the other hand, the BPC owes about Tk 34 billion to three state-owned banks, National Board of Revenue (NBR), Petrobangla and other state-run agencies, he said.
"We have reminded and persuaded the Biman to realise the dues repeatedly; but BBA could not pay the same as yet," Chairman (secretary in-charge) of the BPC A M Badrudduja told the FE.
The country's lone oil importer and distributor will be able to pay its debts if the BBA provides the dues, he said.
When asked about reduction of the existing fuel prices now, he said: "I know nothing about the issue."
"The BBA is making profit as fund crisis of the national flag carrier is reducing slowly. So, we hope all our outstanding bills would be cleared gradually", a source told the FE on Friday, preferring anonymity.
The BPC is also making profit by not adjusting fuel prices in the country in line with their prices in the international market. But its debts to the state-owned banks and other agencies are putting an extra strain on the BPC, an official said.
The BPC is likely to provide Tk 57.38 billion as tax, VAT (value added tax) and income tax to the government treasury in the current fiscal year (FY), its data showed.
The BPC has revised the target this FY according to which it would import 5.85 million tonnes of petroleum products instead of 5.74 million tonnes projected earlier. Some 5.45 million tonnes of fuel products had been procured by the corporation in the FY 2013-14, the data mentioned.
The government has kept Tk 24 billion as petroleum subsidies for the current FY, a high official of the ministry of finance said.
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