Dhaka, Aug. 25 -- The taka lost nearly a third of its value in the time Nasima Akter spent waiting for a loan to expand her tailoring shop in Kalihati of Tangail.

Nasima waited for about two long years. At the end of 2023, she finally received a loan of Tk 2 lakh, less than half of what she had sought for buying five sewing machines, for accommodating which she had already invested in space expansion immediately after applying for the loan.

She had no idea that a small business loan could take so long to be granted and involve so much trouble-production of 31 types of documents while keeping the patience to face her unfriendly bank lenders and their rather rude questions.

"This was quite a journey. Getting 31 types of documents is like...