BSS, Rajshahi :
Activities of Samabai Bank in Rajshahi remained suspended for nearly 10 years. As a result, marginal farmers and small entrepreneurs are being trapped by the loan sanctioned at high interest rate by the NGOs.
Sources close to Samabaya Bank said the activities of Samabai Bank were closed as the bank failed to repay a loan of Tk 55 lakh to the government. As a result, activities of 186 units of Samabaya Samity in various areas of the district remained stalled. At the same time, a substantial amount of money sanctioned to the field levels through various samabayas also remained unrealised for a long time.
Only in Godagari upazila there were 20 units of Samabai Samity. Only two of these remained somehow active through the own initiatives of the members and others are now almost non-existent. Out of two active units, one is situated at Rishikul Union Bohumukhi Samabai Samity Limited.
Years ago, farmers and small entrepreneurs used to get small agriculture and other small loans through these Samabai Samities at a nominal interest rate. There was also no scope to becoming loan defaulter to any member because the loan was being sanctioned through forming co-operative societies.
As the activities of the Samabai Bank remained closed for nearly 10 years, almost all the co-operative societies formed years ago no longer exist. As a result, farmers and small business entrepreneurs were drawing loan from various NGOs at an exorbitant, multiple interest rate and are turning paupers.
Farmers of the district, however, demanded to restart activities of the Samabai Bank as early as possible to save the existence of the farmers of the region.
The sources said the last loan issued from the own fund of Samabai Bank Limited was in 2005 while the government disbursed its last loan through the Samity in 1990-’91.
The amount of disbursed loan through various branches of the bank was only taka 1.3 crore during the tenure 1972 to 1991 whereas Rajshahi Samabaya Bank repays loan with interest taka 27 lakh 62 thousand 270 during the same time.
Out of rest 76 lakh four thousand and 730 government paid taka 20 lakh 88 thousand and 649 as subsidy.
However, the government has ordered Central Samabai Bank to repay rest taka 55 lakh 16 thousand and 81 to Rajshahi Samabaya Bank and to start its activities again.
Meanwhile, due to closure of loan activities, the committee of Rajshahi Central Samabai Bank has also been dissolved. Similarly, none was now interested to remain as a member of the committee due to closure of activities of the bank, said Saber Ali, President of Rajshahi Samabaya Bank Limited.
