A Jatiya Party lawmaker yesterday demanded that Finance Minister AMA Muhith immediately give a statement in parliament on extra facilities provided to Beximco Group for repaying rescheduled loans.

Speaking on a point of order, Ziauddin Ahmed Bablu, an MP of the main opposition, also called on Muhith to inform the House on Farmers Bank's failure to return Tk 508 crore to the Climate Change Trust Fund along with depositors' money.

In response, Commerce Minister Tofail Ahmed told the House that he appreciated the opposition lawmaker's comments on Farmers Bank and loan default issue.

The minister said the government would have to be cautious and sincere in this regard as the banking sector plays a strong role in the economy.

“The government is not remaining silent over these issues. Actions are being taken to address them. But it would not be right for me to reply to everything as I am a cabinet minister.”

Earlier Bablu said, “We have heard about loan defaulters. Now we have come to know about bank defaults as Farmers Bank has become a defaulter.”

He pointed to a media report related to Beximco Group getting special facilities in repaying rescheduled loan and questioned, “Is the banking law not applicable to Beximco Group?”

“Even, a farmer or a rickshaw-puller is punished for loan default. But various corporates, including Beximco, are getting extra facilities instead of punishment for defaulting on loans.”

The lawmaker urged the finance minister to inform parliament about the condition of the country's banks and present statistics about loan defaulters. “We want to know whether the country is riding a sinking boat or a floating boat,” he said.