Speakers on Saturday   asked the zonal and branch managers of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) to speed up its farmers- level lending activities for boosting agricultural production to meet up the national demand. Besides, they said all the credit programmes of the bank should be need-oriented and emphasis should be given on reaching banking services to the doorstep of the farmers.
They were addressing the inaugural session of a daylong zonal and branch managers’ conference 2011 organised by Rajshahi Divisional Office of the bank at Nanking Darbar Hall here.
Nine zonal managers and 184 branch managers from eight districts under Rajshahi division attended the conference.
RAKUB chairman  Prof Dr Shah Nawaz Ali addressed the meeting as chief guest while managing director Prodip Kumar Dutta and director Khandaker Jahangir Kabir Rana spoke as special guests with general manager (Rajshahi division) Abdul Khaleque Khan in the chair.
The speakers laid stress on bringing all the existing agricultural potential sectors under qualitative and quantitative financing for making the country’s northwest region economically solvent.
For the sake of sustainable livelihood development of the farmers and for bolstering the agro-based economy, the speakers called for ensuring accountable, transparent and farmers-friendly banking services as a whole.
Besides, they said the pro-farmers banking in the bank must be ensured for cherished development
of the region after the best use of its existing natural resources.They termed the zonal and branch managers as the vital force for transforming the bank into a profitable organisation and asked them to perform their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty to attain the cherished goal.
“You have to supplement the government effort for boosting the agricultural production, livelihood development of the farmers along with ensuring the food security,” said Prof Shah Nawaz Ali.
Referring to the importance of good planning and efforts, he gave directives to attain cent per cent targets of loan disbursement and recovery, particularly classified loans and deposit collection.
“We have no way out but to boost up agriculture production for food security and to reduce dependence on import,” he reminded.

News: The Independent/ Bangladesh/ 29-Oct-2011