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and submitted to the central bank, according to BB officials. Each of these entities has loans of more than Tk 100 crore.

Besides, a committee headed by BB Deputy Governor Md Kabir Ahmed has begun drafting a detailed policy for the fund.

Central bank officials said discussions are ongoing between the central bank and the government on the form of support needed to reopen closed factories. Once these discussions are completed, the fund will be formed and the policy issued.

Bankers, however, have sought a government or central bank guarantee in case loans extended to reopen factories turn into defaults or bad loans again.

They have also called for additional collateral from entrepreneurs, on top of existing security, for new lending.

In addition, they have proposed allowing banks to appoint consultants to monitor whether factories are operating properly and whether loan funds are being used as intended.

After the fall of the Awami League-led government in August 2024, the central bank under the interim government introduced an easier loan rescheduling policy for affected factories and industries.