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The Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Fazle Kabir said the central bank has taken various steps to reduce the amount of non-performing loans (NPL) in the banking system.
Since the country's economy is growing, the volume of NPL may rise, the governor opined, but also added that it (rise of NPL) is not right.
The governor said these while speaking as the chief guest of an award-giving programme of the Mercantile Bank Limited (MBL) at a city hotel on Monday.
Referring to the observations of various think-tanks and other organisations, he noted that usually NPL rises during December-March period by 1.5 per cent. But this year it has increased a bit over 1.5 per cent.
Mr. Kabir also expressed hope that the banks will establish good governance.
The MBL awarded 'Mercantile Bank Sommanona 2019' to four eminent personalities and one institution for their outstanding contributions to the society on the occasion of the bank's 20th founding anniversary.
The five awardees are - Dr Tofael Ahmed in education, Captain Shahabuddin Ahmed Bir Uttom in freedom fighter and Liberation War-based research, the Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute of Mymensingh in economics and economics-based research, Abul Kashem of Abul Khair Group in commerce and industry, and Mosharraf Hossain Khan in sports (swimming).
The BB governor handed over medal, crest and cheque of Tk 0.3 million to each of the awardees.
In the programme, 'Young Bankers' Appreciation Award 2019' was also conferred to five young bankers, selected through a five-step competitive process.
The award recipients are - Uzzal Kumar Singha, AVP of the IFIC Bank Limited, Sirajul Islam, AVP of the AB Bank Limited, A K M Hossainuzzaman, FAVP of the MBL, Tawhid Khan Mazjlish, FAVP of the Mutual Trust Bank Limited, and Arafat Hossain, FAVP of the Bank Asia Limited.
Mr Kabir handed over crest, certificate and cheque of Tk 0.2 million to each of the recipients.
A K M Shaheed Reza, the MBL Chairman, chaired the programme, while Quamrul Islam, its managing director and CEO, delivered the welcome speech.