'RAKUB to ensure transparency in lending activities'

Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) will ensure transparency and accountability in its lending activities so that the borrowers can derive the total benefits of the services.

Audit committee members of RAKUB’s Governing Council said this while taking part in the discussion of the committee’s 56th meeting virtually on Thursday with Council Director and Rajshahi Divisional Commissioner Humayun Kabir Kandaker in the chair, reports BSS.

The meeting chair Humayun Kandaker and two other council directors Sudhendra Nath Roy and Tofazuddin Ahmed joined the meeting from their respective offices.

RAKUB Deputy Managing Director Muhammad Idrish, General Manager Ruhul Amin, Divisional Audit Officer Muhammad Arifuzzaman and Compliance Department Head Shahidul Islam were present at the meeting held at the bank’s board room.

The specialized commercial bank is also expected to play a due role to recoup the existing losses being caused by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) and flood in the country’s northwest region.

The meeting unequivocally called for providing loans to the potential and other worst affected agricultural sectors so that the borrowers can get back to their normal life after the best uses of their borrowed money through facing the adverse impacts of the pandemic situation.

Through its 383 branches at present, RAKUB has been operating its activities as the largest development partner in all the 16 northwest districts of Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions targeting the agricultural sector and all its sub-sectors.

Deputy Managing Director Muhammad Idrish said RAKUB is working for bringing all existing agricultural potential sectors and sub-sectors under qualitative and quantitative investments for making the region’s agro-based economy more vibrant.

He told the meeting that the government has allocated Taka 319 crore for RAKUB from the Prime Minister’s stimulus package fund for agriculture. Distribution of the fund is progressing successfully.
Besides, RAKUB has set a target of disbursing agricultural loans worth Taka 2,850 crore in the country’s northwest (NW) region during the current 2020-2021 fiscal year to facilitate increasing crop production and enhance rural economy.

The meeting noted that the bank’s administrative and operational activities must be more transparent and accountable for boosting agricultural production.

Terming the farmers as the vital force to boost up the agricultural productions, they expressed their commitment to protecting the farmers’ interests as a whole.

The meeting reviewed the overall activities of the bank and took some important decisions relating to its operational and administrative matters.