Rapid rise in bad loans pushes Bangladesh's NPL ratio to 32.26%

Bangladesh’s non‑performing loan ratio has accelerated to 32.26 percent, positioning the country just behind Ukraine on the global bad‑debt leaderboard. The report notes that in a three‑month window the stock of defaulted loans increased by 31,000 crore taka, reaching 5.89 lakh crore taka by the end of March 2026. This surge represents roughly one‑third of the nation’s total credit exposure of 18.25 lakh crore taka. When restructured and specially monitored assets are counted, distressed holdings climb to 11.2 lakh crore taka, equivalent to about 61 percent of the banking system’s liabilities. Capital adequacy has plummeted to a negative –2.64 percent, dramatically lower than the 12.5 percent regulatory requirement, while regional peers maintain healthier ratios.