TBT DESK: The central bank on Saturday announced a Tk 60,000 crore economic stimulus package aimed at reviving slowing growth, restoring industrial activity and generating more than 2.5 million jobs across key sectors of the economy.
The package was unveiled at a briefing at the headquarters of Bangladesh Bank by Governor Md Mostaqur Rahman, who said the intervention was necessary amid a prolonged economic slowdown and rising financial sector pressures.
He noted that GDP growth has weakened in recent years, while major sectors, including garments, textiles, steel, ceramics, ICT and manufacturing, have faced sustained strain.
Under the plan, commercial banks will lend at market rates of around 10–11 per cent, while the central bank will provide an interest subsidy of 6–7 per cent, effectively reducing borrowing costs for eligible businesses to about 4 per cent.
The stimulus fund is structured through two channels: Tk 41,000 crore in refinancing support sourced from liquidity-surplus banks, and Tk 19,000 crore from Bangladesh Bank’s own resources under a government guarantee.
A significant portion—Tk 20,000 crore—has been allocated for reopening closed industrial and service-sector units, with an estimated 200,000 jobs expected to be created in this segment alone.
Other allocations include Tk 10,000 crore for agriculture and rural activities (targeting 900,000 jobs), Tk 5,000 crore for cottage, micro, small and medium enterprises, and Tk 3,000 crore each for export diversification and the North Bengal agricultural hub.
Separate funds have been earmarked for export-oriented sectors such as leather, footwear, frozen shrimp and fish, alongside support for pre-shipment export credit, cottage industries, startups, creative economy ventures and overseas employment programmes.
Officials said the package is intended to address rising non-performing loans, tight credit conditions, weakened investor confidence and structural constraints in the banking sector, while also supporting demand recovery and industrial reopening.
Deputy governors and senior officials of the Bangladesh Bank were also present at the announcement.
