DHAKA, Feb 22, 2026 (BSS) - Bangladesh Bank (BB) has extended the deadline for raw jute exporters to apply for loan rescheduling until June 30, 2026, according to a central bank circular issued today. 

The move is designed to provide relief to exporters earning 100 percent foreign currency who have struggled to meet previous regulatory timelines.

The central bank issued the directive, BRPD-1 Circular Letter No-06, to address ongoing complexities in the raw jute export sector.

Officials noted that many exporters were unable to fulfill the mandatory down payment and other conditions by the earlier December 31, 2025, deadline due to these sectoral hurdles.

In a key technical shift for the industry, the central bank has updated the base date for calculating rescheduling requirements. 

To avail of the facility, exporters must now provide a 2 percent down payment based on their total classified (defaulted) loan balance as of December 31, 2025. 

This replaces the previous reference date of December 31, 2024, providing a more current financial snapshot for the rescheduling process.

The facility is strictly reserved for exporters of raw jute who are classified as 100 percent foreign currency earners. By extending the window, the central bank aims to ensure stability in a sector that has faced significant difficulties in fulfilling debt obligations within the original timeframe.

This latest directive was issued by the Banking Regulation and Policy Department (BRPD) under the authority of Section 45 of the Bank Company Act, 1991. It references and builds upon existing guidelines, specifically BRPD Circular Letter No. 27 (dated July 7, 2022) and BRPD Circular Letter No. 21 (dated October 13, 2025). 

The central bank confirmed that all other instructions and conditions stipulated in the previous circulars remain unchanged.

The instruction has been formally dispatched to the Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of all scheduled banks operating in Bangladesh. The directive, signed by Md. Bayezid Sarker, Director (BRPD), is effective immediately.