Speakers in an overall banking related review meeting asked the zonal managers of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) to speed up its farmers-level lending activities for boosting agricultural production to meet the gradually increasing national food demand, BSS reports. They mentioned all the credit programmes of the bank should be need-oriented and emphasis should be given on reaching banking services to the farmers doorstep. They were addressing a daylong 1st five months performance evaluation meeting of all the zones of the bank held in the bank`s training institute in the city on Sunday. All the 18 zonal managers and audit officers and others concerned from both Rajshahi and Rangpur divisions were present at the review meeting.Managing Director Monzur Ahmed addressed the conference as the chief guest Deputy Managing Director Dr Abdul Khaleque Khan in the chair. General Manager (ICC, Accounts and Recovery) Abdul Quasem, General Manager (Operations) Reaz Uddin Miah, General Manager (Administration) Abdul Latif, General Manager (Rajshahi Division) Mahmud Hasan and General Manager (Rangpur Division) Mukhlesur Rahman also spoke. The speakers laid stress on bringing all the existing potential sectors and sub-sectors of agriculture and its processing under qualitative and quantitative financing for making the country’s northwest region economically vibrant. Emphasis should be given on ensuring accountable, transparency and farmers-friendly banking services as a whole for the sake of sustainable livelihood development of the farmers and for bolstering the agro-based economy. ‘You have to supplement the government effort for boosting the agricultural production, livelihood development of the farmers along with ensuring the food security,’ said Managing Director Monzur Ahmed. Referring to the importance of good planning and efforts, he gave directives to attain cent per cent targets of loan disbursement and recovery, particularly classified loans and deposit collection. ‘We have no way but to boost agricultural production for food security and to reduce dependence on import,’ he reminded them.