RAKUB disburses agri-loan in N-region

RAJSHAHI, Mar 28 (BSS): Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) has disbursed Tk 6.26 billion as loan to boost rural economy as well as create employment through enhancing agricultural and non- agricultural production everywhere in the country's northwestern region during the first eight months of the current 2010-11 fiscal. Side by side with the disbursement, the bank has also realised Tk 7.23 billion including Tk 1.50 billion classified and other outstanding loans. RAKUB Managing Director Pradip Kumar Dutta said the bank has set a target of disbursing Tk 11.40 billion as loan and recovery of Taka 1168 crore including Tk 6.57 billion classified loan through 365 branches in all the 16 districts of the region. He said the present government has earmarked the huge money for RAKUB for disbursing as crop and rural uplift loan only in the northwest Bangladesh during the current fiscal and we are very much positive to attain the disbursement target. To build a poverty- free Bangladesh, he said the bank has enhanced its lending activities in multipurpose potential fields for boosting agriculture production, intensifying food security and flourishing poultry and dairy sectors to reduce protein deficiency. Besides, he said, the bank has disbursed Tk 380 million loans on two per cent interest rate for boosting production of different import dependent crops like pulse, oil-seed, spice and maize in the region. Some 134.5 million poor and marginal farmers are getting all the government subsidy facilities after opening account of Tk 10 with the RAKUB branches and they are enjoying extra benefit on the both the credit and deposit. "We have adopted special credit program for encouraging the people for setting up solar power, biogas and waste purification plant for generating eco- friendly and alternative power to face the power supply deficit," he said adding that credit is being extended to the sector on a priority basis. As the largest development partner in agriculture as well as agro-based industry sector of the northwest region, currently the bank has adopted multipurpose development programs, which are being implemented at the grassroots to make the credit programs easier. "We are giving more emphasis to enhancing credit flow towards exploring the potential sectors of the region," Pradip Datta said adding that the level best effort is on to ensure transparency and accountability in all the banking activities.