B Mirror Report: State-owned Sonali Bank will provide a loan of Tk 10,000 crore to National Bank PLC, guaranteed by Bangladesh Bank, to help the private lender address its ongoing liquidity crisis and meet depositors’ withdrawal demands.

The decision was confirmed by sources at the central bank on Monday.

National Bank has already started accepting applications from depositors seeking to withdraw their money. Around 7,500 customers applied for deposit withdrawals in the first two days after the application process began.

The bank has announced that depositors will be able to withdraw money according to their needs from October 15.

The development follows a meeting on October 8 between Bangladesh Bank Governor Md Mostakur Rahman and National Bank Chairman Professor Dr Melita Mehzabin and Managing Director Zafar Ahmed. Several deputy governors of the central bank also attended the meeting.

During the meeting, National Bank’s chairman told the governor that recent measures taken by Bangladesh Bank had helped improve governance at the lender. She also highlighted positive changes in senior management aimed at improving the bank’s efficiency and operational capacity.

Governor Mostakur Rahman said the central bank was closely monitoring National Bank’s liquidity situation and its ability to meet depositors’ withdrawal demands.

He directed the bank’s management to take necessary measures to protect depositors’ interests, maintain public confidence in the banking system and ensure orderly operations.

The governor also instructed National Bank to ensure adequate cash supplies at all its branches and ATM booths from October 15 so that depositors can withdraw their money as needed.