Dhaka, Feb. 10 -- The non-performing loans in Bangladesh's banks may cross 30 per cent of the total outstanding loans by this financial year-end, the central bank predicts in a cautious half-yearly monetary policy it has crafted.

Such predicted spurt in NPL buildup raises concerns for the banking industry that already sees the bad loans on a worrying upturn for accumulated anomalies over the years. Until September 2024, the country saw classified loans make a quantum leap to Tk 2.85 trillion, accounting for around 17 per cent of the total outstanding loans.

Releasing the latest monetary policy statement (MPS) Monday for the second half of this fiscal (FY'25), the Bangladesh Bank showed the major NPL-contributing factors such as systemic...