The New Nation - Internet Edition

UNB, Dhaka

Bangladesh Bank is ready to provide credit information of the prospective candidates in the parliamentary and upazila elections slated for next month.

Loan defaulters are prohibited by law to take part in the elections.

"Our responsibility is to provide credit information to the Election Commission. The CIB (Credit Information Bureau of Bangladesh Bank) has already prepared the information," Bangladesh Bank Governor Dr Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters on Sunday.

He was talking to the reporters following a meeting with an IMF mission, headed by executive director for the Asia Pacific region Thomas Rambough, reviewing the economic developments in view of the current global financial crisis.

The Governor said the central bank earlier directed the commercial banks to mobilize credit information from across the country and they have already sent the information to the CIB. He informed that the CIB has already prepared the list of loan defaulters.

Dr Salehuddin said this is for the first time that the commercial banks across the country participated in preparing the list of defaulters. On previous occasions, the CIB alone prepared the list as part of its routine work.

"It's not the responsibility of Bangladesh Bank to prevent candidates from election. The Election Commission will take necessary steps on the basis of the credit information," he said, replying to a question.

Bangladesh Bank executive director Khandakar Muzharul Haque said the CIB is prepared and waiting for the final list of nominations from the Election Commission. "We'll cross check the CIB report against the candidates and will inform the EC about the defaulter ones only," he added.