Tk 48,040 Crore in Allocated Funds Remains Unspent Across 15 Schemes Worth Tk 60,000 Crore

Banks have disbursed Tk 11,959 crore 82 lakh against 15 financing schemes worth Tk 60,000 crore. The schemes aim to create jobs, support small and medium entrepreneurs, raise farm output, boost exports and keep the rural economy moving. Another Tk 2,559 crore 97 lakh is in process. In all, the money disbursed and in process stands at Tk 14,519 crore 79 lakh.

So about 24.20 per cent of the total allocation is disbursed or in process. The other 75.80 per cent has not yet reached borrowers. These facts come from the progress report on the 15 schemes as of a few days ago.

The schemes are of two types, refinancing and pre financing. A few schemes have disbursed a large amount, but many show limited progress. Three schemes show no disbursement at all. However, the pre shipment credit refinancing scheme has disbursed Tk 6,917 crore against an allocation of Tk 5,000 crore.

Highest disbursement in three schemes

Bangladesh Bank data show that the pre shipment credit refinancing scheme has an allocation of Tk 5,000 crore. The disbursement shown against it is Tk 6,917 crore, which is higher than the allocation.

A special scheme to create entrepreneurs in the cottage and micro sector has an allocation of Tk 5,000 crore. It has disbursed Tk 2,500 crore. The working capital refinancing fund for the CMSME sector also has an allocation of Tk 5,000 crore. It has disbursed Tk 907 crore 73 lakh.

The pre financing scheme to support large industries and the service sector has an allocation of Tk 20,000 crore. It has disbursed Tk 560 crore 93 lakh, and Tk 929 crore 50 lakh is in process. This is the scheme with the highest allocation among the 15. But its disbursement is still very low compared with the allocation.

Slow pace in farm and job schemes

A refinancing scheme aims to raise farm output, ensure food security through economic activity in rural areas and create jobs. It has an allocation of Tk 10,000 crore. It has disbursed Tk 292 crore 90 lakh. The disbursement is small against such a large allocation, so questions have risen about the progress of this scheme.

A financing scheme to create jobs abroad has an allocation of Tk 1,000 crore. It has disbursed Tk 200 crore. A special refinancing scheme aims to build farm based special economic hubs in the northern region. It has an allocation of Tk 3,000 crore but has disbursed only Tk 48 crore 67 lakh.

A scheme for startup financing has an allocation of Tk 500 crore. It has disbursed Tk 32 crore 59 lakh. The table also shows another Tk 5 crore in process under this scheme.

Zero disbursement in three schemes

Three of the 15 schemes show no disbursement as of a few days ago. These are the refinancing scheme for export diversification, the financing scheme to bring momentum to rural economic activity, and the scheme to finance the export oriented frozen shrimp and other fish sector.

The export diversification refinancing scheme has an allocation of Tk 3,000 crore. The scheme to bring momentum to rural economic activity has an allocation of Tk 1,000 crore. The scheme for the export oriented frozen shrimp and other fish sector has an allocation of Tk 2,000 crore. The three schemes together hold Tk 6,000 crore, and none of it has been disbursed so far.

Picture of the other schemes

A pre financing scheme for the creative economy has an allocation of Tk 500 crore. It has disbursed the full Tk 500 crore.

A refinancing scheme supports green factory buildings and green industries, along with export and job creation. It has an allocation of Tk 1,000 crore, and Tk 527 crore 47 lakh is in process. But it has not disbursed any money yet.

A scheme to finance the export oriented leather goods and footwear sector has an allocation of Tk 2,000 crore. Tk 98 crore is in process under it. A financing scheme to create jobs for unemployed youth has an allocation of Tk 1,000 crore. The table shows the full Tk 1,000 crore in process, so the whole allocation of this scheme is moving toward disbursement.

Question of using the full allocation

The 15 schemes hold a total allocation of Tk 60,000 crore. The money disbursed and in process together comes to Tk 14,519 crore 79 lakh. So progress against the allocation is still less than one fourth.