Defaulted loans in Bangladesh have nearly doubled in the last nine months, reaching Tk 4.2 trillion. In just three months, non-performing loans (NPLs) rose by Tk 745.7 billion, far outpacing overall loan growth. Key causes include loan rescheduling, reclassification of large loans, non-renewal of working capital loans, missed rescheduled payments, and interest accumulation on existing defaults. Private banks are worst affected, with some seeing NPL rates up to 98%. Experts urge asset seizures and special tribunals to restore banking sector health.