Dhaka, Feb. 22 -- Current 2.0-percent mandatory down payment to get default loans regularised has been halved in a latest government measure to stem non-performing loan (NPL) buildup in Bangladesh's banking sector.

Bangladesh Bank (BB) Sunday issued a notification to this effect further easing the loan-rescheduling facility for the struggling borrowers under the policy supports.

The banking regulation and policy department of the central bank sent in the instructions to the commercial banks, directing them to allow half of the 2.0 per cent of the outstanding loans as down payment. And the remaining portion of the down payment may be collected within the next six months.

Under the existing regulation of the loan-rescheduling facility, t...