There are two major economic problems that have been plaguing Bangladesh for a long time: Rising non-performing loans (NPLs), and money getting laundered out of the country.

Finance Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal today told the parliament that as of March this year, the amount of defaulted loans in the country was Tk 126,369 crore.

State-run Janata Bank’s provisioning shortfall has hit a whopping Tk 8,256 crore, the highest-ever deficit for any bank in the country, putting depositors’ money at risk.