Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- Four state-owned commercial banks (SoCBs) have disbursed about BDT 5.50 billion loans among tanners to help them procure raw hide of sacrificial animals during Eid-ul-Azha.
The top management of the Sonali Bank has already approved BDT 1.50 billion for three parties to help them purchase raw hide during the Eid.
“We’ve already disbursed the loans to the clients,” a senior official of the Sonali Bank told BBN on Sunday.
He also said the Sonali Bank provided BDT 910 million to the same parties in 2013.
The management of the Janata Bank Limited has provided BDT 2.50 billion as loans against 23 parties this year for the purpose. The state-run bank provided BDT 2.20 billion to the same parties for the same purpose last year.
The Agrani Bank has provided around BDT 1.0 billion as loans this year to three parties, a senior official of the SoCB said.
The Rupali Bank has disbursed around BDT 500 million to four clients. The bank provided around BDT 450 million to the same parties in 2013.
Only those parties, which already repaid their earlier dues, are qualified for fresh loans in line with the existing guidelines issued by the SoCBs.
Under the guidelines, those who failed to repay their previous loans will not be entitled to the fresh credit for purchase of raw hide, according to SoCB officials.

BBN/SSR/AD-05Oct14-1:07 pm (BST)