Photo: BSS

KHULNA, July 20, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 56,748 farmers across the Khulna 
division are set to benefit from a government-backed agricultural loan waiver 
programme, bringing relief to thousands of small borrowers burdened with 
decades-old debts.

According to Bangladesh Krishi Bank officials, loans amounting to Taka 41.80 
crore owed by 56,748 farmers in the division's 10 districts have been brought 
under the waiver scheme.

Bangladesh Krishi Bank of Khula Division is divided into two Zonal Office, 
Five districts under the Khulna Zonal Office of Bangladesh Krishi Bank are 
Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jashore and Narail while under the Khulna Zonal 
Office, the remain five districts are Kushtia, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Jhenaidah 
and Magura.

Among the beneficiaries are farmers like Shamsur Rahman, who borrowed Taka 
7,000 from the bank's East Rupsha Ghat branch in Rupsha upazila of Khulna in 
1990. With accumulated interest, his outstanding dues had risen to Taka 
12,171.

Another beneficiary, Md. Soleman Mina, had taken a Taka 6,000 loan in 1992. 
Despite repaying Taka 5,000 under pressure from the bank, he still owed Taka 
5,038. Momin Uddin of Talimpur village, who borrowed Taka 6,000 in 1989, had 
an outstanding balance of Taka 11,774. 

Talking to BSS, all three farmers expressed relief after learning their loans 
would be waived.

Bank officials said the waiver applies to agricultural loans of up to Taka 
10,000 that remained outstanding until the election period, in line with the 
BNP's election manifesto.

Under the Khulna Zonal Office of Bangladesh Krishi Bank, 30,248 farmers in 
Khulna, Bagerhat, Satkhira, Jashore and Narail districts will receive waivers 
amounting to Taka 21.32 crore, said Md Abu Hashem, general manager of Krishi 
Bank of Khulna Zonal Office.

General Manager of the bank's Kushtia Zonal Office Utpal Kabiraj said another 
26,500 farmers in Kushtia, Chuadanga, Meherpur, Jhenaidah and Magura 
districts would receive waivers worth Taka 20.48 crore.

They said the list of eligible borrowers had already been sent to the head 
office for approval, after which the beneficiaries would be formally declared 
debt-free.

In Khulna metropolitan area and the district's upazilas, 6,767 farmers will 
have loans worth Taka 4.13 crore waived. 

Dumuria has the highest number of beneficiaries with 2,711 farmers, followed 
by Koyra with 1,448 and Phultala upazila with 673.

Bank officials said beneficiaries had already been informed about the waiver. 

They added that legal cases previously filed against defaulting borrowers for 
non-payment of these loans had also been withdrawn.

However, officials noted that the waiver does not apply to loans exceeding 
Taka 10,000 or to loans taken after the election. 

As of June 30, more than 2, 03,000 farmers under the Khulna Zone had 
outstanding agricultural loans amounting to around Taka 2,600 crore.