The decision came yesterday at a meeting between Bangladesh Bank (BB) Deputy Governor Nazrul Huda and high-ups of banks that disburse loans in agricultural sector.

The banks have set a target of distributing Tk 7698 crore in agricultural loans in the current fiscal. Of it, Tk 1078 crore will be disbursed by private commercial banks. Agricultural loans amounting to Tk 5292 crore were disbursed in the last fiscal.

"We know that this is an ambitious target. But, we will put our best effort to achieve it," Nazrul Huda told the reporters after the meeting. He said each bank would form a special cell led by a director to monitor the disbursement of loans.

He said the banks were asked to make necessary preparations without any delay so that they can disburse loans after floods.

Considering the present flood situation, the central bank asked the banks to reschedule previous agro loans, if anyone becomes defaulter.

"We will closely monitor the loan distribution process so that farmers are not harassed," he said.

The meeting was attended by high officials of different Nationalised Commercial Banks (NCBs), Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB), Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB), Bangladesh Rural Development Board (BRDB), Bangladesh Shilpa Bank Limited (BSBL) and private as well as foreign banks.

Among the NCBs, Sonali Bank will disburse Tk 625 crore while Janata Bank Tk 400 crore, Agrani Bank Tk 480 crore, Rupali Bank Tk 40 crore, BKB Tk 3550 crore, RAKUB Tk 800 crore, BRDB Tk 711 crore, BSBL Tk 13.50 crore and different foreign and private banks Tk 1078.84 crore as agricultural loans after floods.