The amount of default loans of state-owned banks has reached Tk 55,095 crore as of January 2018, Finance Minister AMA Muhith yesterday told parliament.

The government has taken various steps to identify the defaulting persons and organisations, he said while replying to a tabled starred question from MA Awal, a lawmaker from Tariakat Federation.

He said cases are being filed against the defaulters to collect loans under the Money Loan Court Act, 2003.

Bangladesh Bank has already given several instructions to banks, including ones on strengthening the loan recovering unit and realising classified loans through alternative dispute resolution, he said.

In reply to another question, the finance minister said the government has no plan to waive interest on farm loan.

According to data from the central bank, total non-performing loans in the banking sector stood at Tk 74,303 crore as of December last year. The eight state-run banks—Sonali, Janata, Agrani, Rupali, Bangladesh Krishi, Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan, Basic and Bangladesh Development—have Tk 42,752 crore of classified loans at the end of last year.