Industries Minister Amir Hossain Amu yesterday acclaimed the Bangladesh Krishi Bank (BKB) for its significant role in turning Bangladesh into a food-autarchy, reports BSS.
He referred to the devastating flood in 1998 when the country witnessed food shortage, but the bank’s credit programme immensely helped overcome the situation in only two years after the disaster, said an official handout. The minister was speaking at a rally of representatives, arranged by the Karmachari Union of BKB in the auditorium of BKB Bhanan in the city. State minister for finance MA Mannan spoke on the occasion as the special guest. 
President of BKB Karmachari Union M Abdullah Khan presided over the function while chairman of BKB Governing Body Alauddin A Majid, managing director M Abdus Salam, director M Mahbubur Rahman Bhuiyan and Jatiya Sramik League president M Sukkur Mahmud addressed the function.
Amu favoured raising manpower of the BKB so that the bank can contribute more to the rural economy.
He called upon the BKB employees and Karmachari Union leaders to work with dedication and sincerity to supplement the government’s efforts in turning Bangladesh into a middle-income country.
The BKB disbursed highest Tk 6,000 core as loans among share croppers, marginal farmers, poor farmers and hard core poor last year. Out of Tk 37 lakh loan recipients, Tk 36 lakh are farmers, the bank sources said.