Businesses have sought the US dollar at a fixed rate for import LCs and not to increase the interest rate by much, to maintain a sustainable business environment in the country, reports UNB.
Federation of Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) President Mahbubbul Alam on Monday placed these requests to Bangladesh Bank (BB) Governor Abdur Rouf Taluder, during a meeting.
“We met with the central bank governor with a delegation of top businessmen and expressed our concern on the important issues on behalf of the country’s business community,” he told the news agency after the meeting.
Mahbubbu said many traders have to open Letters of credit (LCs) buying dollars at a higher price than the fixed rate, which impacts import of goods.
The BB’s governor has been requested not to increase the interest rate of bank loans by large margins as the businesses are already facing difficulties in the depreciation of domestic currency taka, he added.
In response, the governor assured the businesses that the interest is now fixed according to the smart rate, there is no option to increase the interest rate to an abnormal level in the current system.
Contacted, BB Executive Director and Spokesperson Md Mezbaul Haque said businessmen expressed their concerns about the interest rate.
The governor assured them that the interest would not rise much, he added.
Bd-pratidin English/Golam Rosul
