DHAKA: The Bangladesh Bank (BB) is likely to announce an investment-friendly monetary policy on Thursday for the second half of current fiscal keeping the existing inflation rate under control.

BB Governor Atiur Rahman will unveil the policy at Jahangir Alam Conference Room of the bank at 2:00am.

This time, the policy will give privileges to businesspeople. Increase of classified and big loans flow will be kept available. In the meantime, BB has finalized loan restructuring policy two days ago.

Under the policy, big borrower would get a maximum of 12 years to repay loans above Tk 500 crore.

To get the facility, TK 1000 crore loan borrowers must make a down payment of 2 percent of the loan for the first time, while 1 percent down payment for borrowers who took over TK 1000 crore loan.

A big borrower has to apply for it by June 30 this year.

BB sources told banglanews that commercial banks informed the central bank that they are facing crisis in providing and collecting loans due to political instability.

The commercial banks then requested the BB for a special opportunity after considering their issue. As part of this plan, the BB has kept the loan rescheduling opportunity available.

Bangladesh Bank thinks that political instability is likely to hamper investment and import-export of the country. In these circumstances, keeping the rate of growth is considering as the biggest challenge. This monetary policy will give emphasis on investment in private sector including banking.

As said by Atiur, the monetary policy for the second half of current fiscal will be investment-friendly, keeping inflation rate controlled.

Violence, instability may hinder the growth. But the policy will be formulated by keeping eye so that short-term loss can not hamper country’s overall economy, according to the governor.

When contacted, BB Secretariat general manager AFM Asaduzzaman banglanews told that this monetary policy will be used to attract more investment as well as focus on making the banking service available to commoners.

The policy will keep eye to fulfill that people’s basic demands. For this reason, issue of price hike of daily essentials will also be considered, he added.

BB announced its last monetary policy for the first half of current fiscal on July 26, 2014, terming it an investment-friendly one.

BDST: 1120 HRS, JAN 28, 2015