Bangladesh Bank has adopted a short-, medium-, and long-term financing plan to reopen closed factories and increase employment. The initiative aligns with the BNP government’s election pledge to create ten million jobs within the first 18 months. The central bank discussed the plan with 20 commercial banks’ business and credit risk departments in a meeting chaired by Deputy Governor Kabir Ahmed. Banks requested government-backed credit guarantees to mitigate potential lending risks.

According to meeting details, short-term loans will support factories with active utility connections but lacking working capital, while medium-term financing will assist those with disconnected utilities or damaged equipment. Long-term loans will target factories requiring new machinery or utility reconnections. Banks expressed limited capacity for self-financing due to past sectoral losses and sought government or central bank funds. A 19-member committee formed on April 26 was tasked with preparing a full financing report.

The central bank is consulting stakeholders to design low-interest support packages, though the IMF has discouraged new refinancing funds under its ongoing loan program. Priority will go to factories not involved in major financial crimes or money laundering.