BRPD-1 Circular No. 03: Loan/Investment Rescheduling/Restructuring of Shipbuilding Industry

Bangladesh Bank
Head Office
Motijheel, Dhaka-1000
Bangladesh.
Ref No.: BRPD-1
Banking Regulation and Policy Department-1
January 20, 2026
BRPD-1 Circular No.-03 Date: ------------------ 06 Magh 1432

To,
Managing Directors / Chief Executives
All Scheduled Banks Operating in Bangladesh

Dear Sir,

Subject: Rescheduling/Restructuring of Loan/Investment Accounts of the Shipbuilding Industry.

2. You are requested to refer to BRPD Circular No.-12, dated: June 20, 2023, BRPD Circular Letter No.-38, dated: September 12, 2023, and BRPD Circular Letter No.-63, dated: November 27, 2023.

3. In this regard, the deadline for submitting an application to the concerned bank for a 2.5% down payment based on the existing loan position as of June 30, 2023, was fixed at December 31, 2023. However, due to geopolitical instability, military unrest in Europe, supply chain disruptions, and various uncontrollable reasons such as sluggish global economic growth, the cash flow of export-oriented and local shipbuilding industrial units has been adversely affected. The impact is expected to continue.

4. Now, to keep the shipbuilding industry sector active, considering it as a promising export-oriented sector alongside alternative import substitution products, and in the interest of loan recovery, the following guidelines shall apply for rescheduling loans of genuinely affected export-oriented and local shipbuilding industrial units after due consideration of each case based on its merits:

a) Banks may grant special rescheduling for up to 10 (ten) years with a maximum tenor of 2 (two) years, subject to a 3% down payment on the outstanding balance of classified loans/investments as of December 31, 2025, in the export-oriented and local shipbuilding industry sector, kept as non-performing. The down payment of 3% shall be collected with the rescheduling application along with 1.5% and the remaining 1.5% within the next 06 months. The interest/profit and unpaid interest (compensation profit in the case of Islamic Shariah-based banks) kept as non-performing shall be transferred to a separate account.

b) Interest charged against the loan during the grace period shall be payable on a monthly/quarterly basis.

c) Interest kept as non-performing shall be repaid in separate monthly/quarterly installments interest-free upon completion of the full grace period.

d) Special restructuring facilities may be provided for loans previously rescheduled under BRPD Circular No.-12/2023, with a maximum tenor of 02 (two) years added to the remaining tenure, subject to a 2% down payment (1% with the restructuring application and the remaining 1% within the next 06 months).

e) For new loan facilities to be availed to keep the business and export programs of shipbuilding industrial units running, there shall be no requirement to provide a Compromise Amount against the specially rescheduled/restructured loans mentioned above.

f) Installments of specially rescheduled/restructured loans shall be payable on a monthly/quarterly basis, and if the customer defaults on installment payments, the loans shall be classified regularly.

g) In the case of specially rescheduled/restructured loans, banks shall maintain applicable provisions for unclassified (standard or SME as per bank's own assessment) borrowers and shall obtain approval from their Board of Directors regarding the guidelines mentioned in this circular.

h) This circular's facilities shall not be provided for loans created through fraud or willful defaulters.

i) In case of default in paying the initial down payment or six monthly/two quarterly installments after the implementation of specially rescheduled loans, the bank may cancel the said special rescheduling/restructuring facility and may take necessary legal steps for loan recovery. Such loans shall not be eligible for any further rescheduling/restructuring facilities in the future.

j) Customers may apply for rescheduling/restructuring under this circular by depositing the required amount for the initial down payment to the concerned bank within June 30, 2026. After the expiration of this deadline, no application under this circular shall be considered.

k) The bank shall decide the customer's application within 60 (sixty) days from the date of receipt of the application.

l) In providing the said special rescheduling facility, banks shall determine whether the customer is genuinely affected due to reasons beyond their control through special due diligence. During special due diligence, if the bank is satisfied that the customer is genuinely affected, it may consider the damage amount based on due consideration as qualitatively classifiable as of December 31, 2025.

m) Islamic Shariah-based banks shall take necessary measures to comply with the mentioned guidelines in their investment sector by following Shariah guidelines.

5. These instructions are issued under the powers granted under Section 45 of the Bank Companies Act, 1991.

6. These instructions shall come into force immediately.

Yours faithfully,
(Md. Bazlul Sarker)
Director (BRPD)
Phone: 9530252